On June 27, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) held their monthly press conference. Two highlights include the status of the “Blue Sky” patent agency rectification campaign and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in patent examination. CNIPA stated that it imposed “centralized rectification of 35 institutions that have been found to have a large number of abnormal applications, and intends to impose heavy penalties such as suspension of business and license revocation.” With respect to AI, CNIPA stated, …
China’s National People’s Congress Passes Amended Anti-Unfair Competition Law
On June 27, 2025, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) passed the newly amended Anti-Unfair Competition Law (中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法). The amended Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL) will be effective October 15, 2025. While China is not a common law country, Article 7 of the AUCL nonetheless provides common law-like protection for unregistered marks that have a “certain influence.” Article 7 is updated to prohibit the use of others’ trademarks as business names or search keywords. However, this revision does not address much needed …
China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases Notice on the Pilot Program to Optimize the Business Environment in the Field of Intellectual Property
On June 23, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) in conjunction with 5 other government departments, released the “Notice of the General Office (Office) of Six Departments including the China National Intellectual Property Administration on the Pilot Work of Optimizing Business Environment in the Field of Intellectual Property” (国家知识产权局等6部门办公厅（室）关于开展优化知识产权领域营商环境试点工作的通知). The pilot will be launched in six cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The Notice includes a list of pilot tasks including: Promote research on intellectual property …
Interview with Liu Yue of the Christian Silvain Foundation on the Highest Damages Awards in a Chinese Fine Arts Case
Marking the conclusion of a long legal battle, the Beijing Higher People’s Court recently affirmed an August 24, 2023 decision by the Beijing IP Court against Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts Professor Ye Yongqing. The Beijing IP Court ruled that Ye infringed the copyright of Silvain in his paintings and ordered Ye to pay Silvain 5 million RMB, publish an apology and cease infringement. That apology was published in China’s Legal Daily on January 23, 2025. The Beijing IP Court found that …