CHINA
May 04, 2017
After establishing specialized IP Courts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the Chinese Supreme People's Court has recently approved the establishment of specialized IP tribunals in the cities of Wuhan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Chengdu, which have been experiencing a substantial increase in complex IP litigation issues.
These new tribunals will have jurisdiction over intellectual property cases and will be formed by judges with substantial experience in this subject.
Also, the Chinese Trade Mark Office announced a reduction of official fees as of 1st April 2017, including the fees for a trade mark application, renewal, opposition and fees for most types of recordals.
Finally, the Chinese Patent office (SIPO) has issued its amended Patent Examination Guidelines, which became effective on 1 April 2017.
The amended guidelines bring several changes and clarifications, in particular in relation to business models and computer implemented inventions. It also affects the possibility to make allowable amendments in invalidation proceedings and introduces changes in the suspension of proceedings before the patent office as a consequence of civil court proceedings.