In a study released by IPR Daily and incoPat Innovation Index Research Center, Huawei remains the top Chinese corporate patentee in China for the first half of 2020. The number of Chinese patent grants (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) in the first half of 2020 at the China National Intellectual Property Administration totaled 217,222, and Chinese applicants accounted for 81% of these patents. In the first half of 2020, there were 11 Chinese companies with more than 1,000 patents. …
China to Allow Foreigners to Take Chinese Patent Bar Exam
On August 12, 2020, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MofCom) released the “Overall Plan for Comprehensive Deepening of the Service Trade Pilot Program” (全面深化服务贸易创新发展试点总体方案). For the first time, foreigners will be allowed to take the Chinese patent bar exam and, if passed, receive a patent agent qualification certificate. With the certificate, foreigners can work at Chinese patent agencies as well as become partners/shareholders in Chinese patent agencies.
China’s National People’s Congress Releases Second Draft of Amended Copyright Law
On August 17, 2020, China’s National People’s Congress released the Amendments to the Copyright Law (Second Deliberation Draft) (中华人民共和国著作权法修正案（草案二次审议稿)) for comment. The deadline for comments is September 30, 2020.
China’s Patent Filings Flat in July 2020 After Earlier Upsurge
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently released intellectual property filing data for July 2020 showing a stabilization in patent filings after the recent upsurge. Invention patent application filings were flat compared to June 2020 at 134,188 filings while utility model applications were down slightly at 268,928 versus 276,598 filings in June 2020. However, both numbers are significantly higher than July 2019 by 13.5% for invention patent application filings and 28% for utility model application filings.