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China’s National Intellectual Property Administration Releases 2024 Annual Report – U.S. Origin Chinese Invention Patent Applications Down 1.9%
On August 27, 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released its 2024 Annual Report (2024 年度报告). The Report summarizes actions taken by CNIPA is 2024 as well as 2024 statistics. For example, CNIPA states that the “Guidelines for Patent Applications Related to Artificial Intelligence” and the “Implementation Plan for a Unified Recognition System for […]
Tencent Awarded 89.1 Million RMB in Copyright Cases
In decisions dated August 12, 2025 and August 22, 2025 from the Guangdong and Chongqing High People’s Courts, respectively, Tencent was awarded 89.1 million RMB in total in two copyright infringement cases against short video app Kuaishou. Users had repeatedly posted clips of two shows: Deyun Laughter Club (德云斗笑社) and Lost You Forever (长相思) with […]
CNIPA Publishes Compilation of Key Points of Decisions in Typical Patent Reexamination and Invalidation Cases (2024)
On August 11, 2025 through August 18, 2025, China’s Reexamination and Invalidation Review Department of the Patent Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Compilation of Key Points of Decisions in Typical Patent Reexamination and Invalidation Cases (2024) (专利复审无效典型案件决定要点汇编(2024)). CNIPA stated that the release was “to focus on explaining the application of […]
Laches for Thee, But Not for Patentee; (un)Settled Expectations in Patent Enforcement
In the world of patent law, equity sometimes feels like a one-way street. For patent owners enforcing their rights in court, the defense of laches—essentially, “you waited too long”—has been significantly curtailed, thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision. Yet, when it comes to challenging those same patents at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board […]
Beijing Internet Court: Digital Avatars are Works of Art and Protected by Copyright
On August 18, 2025, the Beijing Internet Court announced a decision that the digital avatars are works of art and qualify for copyright protection. Avatars A and B were jointly produced by four entities, including plaintiff Ju XX Company and plaintiff Yuan XX Company. Plaintiff Ju XX Company is the copyright holder, while plaintiff Yuan […]
Beijing E-Town (Yitang) Sues Applied Materials for Trade Secret Theft Requesting 99.99 Million RMB
On August 14, 2025, Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd. (北京屹唐半导体科技股份有限公司) announced in a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) that the Beijing Intellectual Property Court has accepted its complaint against Applied Materials (AMAT) for trade secret infringement and appropriating patent application rights. E-Town is requesting damages of 99.99 million RMB. E-Town alleges that […]