According to recently released annual statistical data from China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), there were 1,828,054 invention patent applications filed in 2024; 3,184,652 utility model applications filed in 2024; and 819,213 industrial design applications filed in 2024. The number of invention patent applications and grants have both climbed annually at a regular pace but grants faced a steep drop in the first half of 2025. Annual utility model applications have grown regularly also, except for a small drop in …
Chinese Invention Patent Grants Down Almost 29% in First Half of 2025
Per statistics released by China’s Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) on July 14, 2025, Chinese invention patent grants are down 28.75% in the first half of 2025 versus the first half of 2024. Specifically, the number of invention patents granted decreased by 159,187 to 394,462 grants. Utility model grants also dropped by 21.71% in the first half of 2025 year-on-year to 756,682 grants (down by 209,832 grants). However, design patent grants increased by 3.12% year-on-year to 314,457 grants (up by 9,503 grants).
Nintendo Only Awarded 200,000 RMB in Copyright Infringement Case Despite 500,000+ Infringing Game Consoles Sold
On July 8, 2025, the Jiangsu High Court announced a verdict in favor of Nintendo against an unnamed defendant in a copyright infringement case. The defendant sold over 500,000 “Single-Player Red and Blue” retro game consoles priced at 78 RMB with 14 pre-installed infringing games (out of 500 games) and another 10,000+ “Premium Octagonal Gift Box” game consoles priced at 178 RMB with 16 pre-installed infringing games (out of 500 games). The Court award Nintendo 200,000 RMB (about $28,000 USD) …
Supreme People’s Court Fines Patentee for Failure to Report Amendment of Claims During Invalidation to Trial Court
In decision (2023)最高法知民终1295号 released on July 3, 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) held that failure to notify a People’s Court (trial court) of a claim amendment made during an invalidation proceeding is subject to a fine. The SPC also reversed the People’s Court’s judgement of infringement based on the amendments made during the invalidation proceeding. Accordingly, a 100,000 RMB win at the first instance turned into a 150,000 RMB loss at the second instance.