Revised Patent Law Passed, Effective Next June
The 22nd Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) voted and passed the revised patent law on October 17. The ensuing No.55 Presidential Order signed by President Xi Jinping announced the decision. The law will enter into force on June 1, 2021.
Supreme Court Accommodates to Country's Further Opening-Up, Hardening Protection Over Tech-Rich IPRs
The Supreme People's Court (SPC) of China makes some changes in trial practice to suit the advancement of the country's opening-up policy. In a recently-released guiding opinion aimed to enhance judicial protection in the policy-related areas and establish a business climate preaching rule of law, up to international standards and facilitation, trial of IPR cases is singled out with added requirements in hardening protection over IPRs of key fields and essential technologies.
China's IP Undertakings Achieve Remarkble Results
Recently, the just-released "China Intellectual Property Development Status Evaluation Report for 2019" revealed, comprehensive development of IP across the country had achieved remarkable results from 2010 to 2019.
September 1: TIPO introduces operational directions for third parties to participate in patent examination process
TIPO has always strived for the highest standards when it comes to patent quality. As a further sign of this commitment, the office has been working on how to best encourage third parties to submit prior art concerning the patentability of an invention after the publishing of patent applications 18 months following the earliest effective filing date - this reflects similar measures adopted worldwide and serves to enhance the stability of patent rights.
China, EU Sign Agreement on GI Protection
"The signing of the Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs) Protection and Cooperation between China and the European Union (EU) is of great significance. This is an inherent requirement for China to promote high-quality development in the new era, and is the very concrete reflection of building China into an IP power house. It fully demonstrates the Chinese government's firm determination in expansion of opening up and IP protection, which is conducive to establishing a "dual cycle" development pattern in which domestic economic cycle plays a leading role while international economic cycle remains its extension and supplement. It also plays a positive role in promoting opening up in IP sector and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of both domestic and foreign companies. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will continue to beef up GIs protection and prepare the relevant technologies for the follow-up and implementation of such agreement,” said a principal of CNIPA's department of IP protection on September 14 on which the agreement was signed.
