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CNIPA Releases Guidelines on Trademark Registration for Industrial Cluster Brands and Regional Brands
On January 8, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Guidelines on Trademark Registration for Industrial Cluster Brands and Regional Brands (关于产业集群品牌和区域品牌申请注册商标的指引). The Guidelines explain acceptable use of place names for collective trademarks and certification trademarks. Generally, place names of administrative divisions at or above the county level cannot be used as trademarks. […]
CNIPA Releases Work Report of the 2026 Directors’ Conference – Intensify Crackdown on Patent Applications that Violate Good Faith and Malicious Trademark Squatting
On January 7, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Excerpt from the Work Report at the 2026 National Intellectual Property Office Directors’ Conference (2026年全国知识产权局局长会议工作报告（摘编）). The Excerpt details IP achievements made during the 14th Five-Year Plan (running from 2021-2025) and lists key key tasks for 2026 including improving examination quality, conducting a rectification […]
CNIPA Revokes Four Chinese Patent Firms’ Licenses for Fabricating Applicants Using Stolen Personal Data
On January 4, 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced it had revoked 4 Chinese patent firms’ licenses for filing ‘irregular’ patent applications using fabricated patent applicants based on stolen personal data. The firms in question had purchased stolen personal data from a Xu XX, who had been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison […]
CNIPA and MIIT to Focus on Strengthening IP Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry
On December 31, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the Opinions on Further Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection in the Photovoltaic Industry (国家知识产权局 工业和信息化部关于进一步加强光伏产业知识产权保护工作的意见). The Opinions specify 11 key tasks: promote high-quality patent filing; improve the efficiency of patent pre-examination and examination; strengthen Intellectual Property risk […]
CNIPA: The Added Value of Patent-Intensive Industries Nationwide in 2024 was 18,038.1 Billion RMB, Accounting for 13.38% of GDP
On December 31, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the Announcement No. 661 of the CNIPA and the NBS on the Added Value of Patent-Intensive Industries Nationwide in 2024 (国家知识产权局 国家统计局关于2024年全国专利密集型产业增加值数据的公告（第661号）) indicating the added value of patent-intensive industries in China in 2024 was 18,038.1 billion RMB, […]
CNIPA Releases Interpretation of the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Trademark Use
On December 30, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Interpretation of the Notice on Strengthening the Management of Trademark Use 《关于加强商标使用管理的通知》解读) follows up on the Notice from the General Office of the CNIPA on Strengthening the Management of Trademark Use. The Interpretation provides examples of six types of illegal and irregular trademark […]