CHINA
August 01, 2017
In March, the State Council of China issued a guideline on counterfeiting and IPR infringements demanding better market supervision system and improvements to the law, regulations and standards with appropriate information technology utilized in supervision. A group of IPR protection centers will be established to fast-track cases involving IPR infringement, according to the head of the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO).
Additionally, the SIPO has announced that it will develop its PPH programs. Among other things, the PPH requirements on some contents in the PCT International Work Products will be eased and a new PPH pilot program between China and Egypt will be launched.
Finally, the new Rules on TRAB Hearings in Trademark Review Cases issued by the China State Administration for Industry & Commerce recently came into effect. They will include the possibility to request a hearing, where cross-examination will be available, in a procedure which was, up until now, strictly written. However, the TRAB will have sole discretion to allow or reject such petition. It is too soon to evaluate how these measures will affect the trademark practice but they are expected to facilitate and increase the analysis in the prosecution of trademark applications.