Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, April 27, 2026
Editor’s Note: Intellectual Property Highlights and Strategies for Innovation
Welcome to the MeritsIP Newsletter. We delve into critical updates in the intellectual property landscape, providing insights and strategies to help you navigate the ever-evolving world of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Read on to stay informed and ahead in the game of innovation.
National Intellectual Property Administration Holds Open Day Event
On April 24, as the 26th World Intellectual Property Day neared, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) held its 21st consecutive open – day event. CNIPA Director Shen Changyu attended and spoke, introducing the administration’s situation and IP work progress. He said that during the 14th Five – Year Plan, the CNIPA implemented Xi Jinping’s instructions, fulfilled relevant tasks, and achieved new results. He hoped the event would help the public understand China’s IP development and contribute to building an IP – strong country. At the event, relevant departments released typical cases in 2025. There were video connections between 15 branch venues and the main venue. Deputy Director Rui Wenbiao presided over the main – venue event. Huang Yuhong, from China Mobile’s Research Institute, spoke as a guest. Representatives from various sectors participated and visited relevant facilities. Open – day activities were also held at branch venues.
Jiangxi Intellectual Property Office Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Beijing Center for Patent Examination Cooperation of CNIPA
On April 21, during the 2026 National Intellectual Property Publicity Week’s Jiangxi sub – venue activities, the Jiangxi Intellectual Property Office and the Beijing Center for Patent Examination Cooperation of CNIPA signed a 2026 – 2030 strategic cooperation agreement to implement the innovation – driven development strategy and build a strong intellectual property province. The two parties will cooperate in improving patent examination quality, co – building talent teams, and promoting innovation achievement transformation. The Beijing Center will assist Jiangxi in optimizing the patent examination process and enhancing service capabilities. They’ll jointly conduct training and capacity – building projects, and promote high – value patent application. This cooperation represents a new stage in Jiangxi’s IP work, creating a model for IP – empowered local economic development and injecting innovation impetus into Jiangxi’s modern industrial system.
Jiangsu Releases Top Ten Typical Intellectual Property Cases in 2025
Recently, the Office of the Leading Group for the Implementation of the Intellectual Property and Trademark Strategy in Jiangsu Province released the top ten typical intellectual property cases in 2025. These cases show Jiangsu’s achievements in intellectual property protection and play a demonstrative, rule – unifying, and warning role.
The ten cases cover various intellectual property fields like patents, trademarks, etc., and focus on key industries and emerging business forms in Jiangsu. They involve disputes in different types of infringement.
The cases integrate multiple protection paths, targeting issues such as abnormal patent applications and cross – border infringement. They reflect the cooperation of Jiangsu’s departments in combating infringement, supporting innovation and upgrading, and guiding the province’s intellectual property protection work.
Bubble Mart Files Trademark and Copyright Litigation in the US
On April 6, Beijing Pop Mart Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries filed a trademark and copyright lawsuit against Cowboy USA Corp. and Cowboy World Corp. in the Southern District Court of New York. The involved trademarks include “POP MART”, “THE MONSTERS”, “LABUBU”, etc., and the copyrights relate to the design and packaging of plush toys. The plaintiff claims the defendants used similar marks to make and sell counterfeit “LABUBU” toys, causing consumer confusion and economic losses. The plaintiff asks the court to rule the infringement, issue injunctions, order profit – return, compensation, and have the defendants bear litigation costs. (Case No.: 1:26 – cv – 02807)
German Court Rules: AI-Generated Designs Not Protected by Copyright
A Munich court ruled that three AI-generated logos lack the human creative input needed for copyright protection. In the EU and UK, a design must have originality from human creative choices to be protected. The court considered the contributions of the human “author” and the AI model in creating the logos and decided they don’t qualify as copyright works. The plaintiff claimed AI is a tool and the logos would be protected without AI. But the court stated human input must objectively and clearly shape the final output. Here, the AI model’s technical activities outweighed the plaintiff’s creative influence. It’s uncertain if other EU courts will follow this approach, and how UK courts will handle similar claims, as they use a similar copyright originality test but also consider the author’s skill, labor, and judgment.
EUIPO Releases Report on European IP Financing
On April 13, 2026, the EUIPO released the report “IP – backed finance in Europe: state of play and future perspectives”. It aims to explore using IP as a financial asset for innovation, growth, and competitiveness.
In Europe, there’s a productivity and innovation gap due to poor innovation commercialization. The financial ecosystem struggles to direct savings to innovation. IP – intensive industries contribute 48% of EU GDP, yet IP assets’ collateral potential is under – utilized. The annual credit gap for EU SMEs is up to €365 billion, and €70 – 150 billion for IP – intensive enterprises. Appropriate rules could unlock €30 – 120 billion in new financing.
Low IP financing penetration results from three obstacles: unique IP asset characteristics, fragmented rules and underdeveloped markets, and high IP valuation costs.
The report proposes 18 actions around three pillars, with five key priorities: making IP visible, giving IP a credible value, converting IP value into credit, establishing an evidence base, and strengthening coordination mechanisms. These actions are urgent as the “Savings and Investment Union” is being built.
Overseas Enterprises’ Intellectual Property Compliance Guidelines
This guideline by the Hainan Intellectual Property Office helps overseas – going enterprises manage intellectual property compliance at the start – up stage and prevent legal risks. It covers various aspects: trademark and geographical indication layout (register first), patent rights (infringement checks before export), trade secrets (confidentiality system), exhibition intellectual property (pre – exhibition check), copyright protection (pre – export checks), basic management and tool utilization, a pre – “Going Global” self – check list, free service support from CNIPA’s platforms in Hainan, and main international treaties for overseas rights protection.
EU Commission Releases New Version of Technology Transfer Guidelines: Will ALNG Reshape the European SEP Licensing Landscape?
On April 16, 2026, the European Commission adopted the revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation and Guidelines, effective May 1, 2026. This nearly four – year revision is an important update to the EU’s antitrust regulatory framework for technology licensing. The final Guidelines removed the clear safe – harbor clause for Licensing Negotiation Groups (LNG) from the draft. The Automotive Licensing Negotiation Group (ALNG) is a well – known LNG. The German Federal Cartel Office and the EU Commission issued comfort letters on ALNG’s compliance in 2024 – 2025. The draft in September 2025 had a chapter on LNG’s competition law assessment with a quantitative safe – harbor, but the final version removed it, increasing compliance uncertainty. The US Department of Justice has a different view, criticizing the EU’s support for ALNG and investigating its members for conspiracy. The difference between the US and Europe lies in market definition and the assessment of SEP implementers’ joint licensing. LNG may offer a collective solution for SEP implementers, but its impact on the SEP licensing landscape depends on global recognition and licensors’ attitudes. The future of ALNG and the DOJ investigation is under close scrutiny.
State Intellectual Property Office Rejects 1.273 Million “Tricky Trademark” Applications
Since 2023, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has rejected 1.273 million “tricky trademark” applications likely to mislead consumers, as announced at a press conference on April 23. The Trademark Law prohibits trademarks with deception that may cause public misrecognition of goods’ quality or origin. CNIPA Deputy Director Rui Wenbiao said CNIPA strictly reviews false applications and rejects those misleading consumers. It also has a special plan for legally – registered trademarks with serious misleading behaviors during use, and 3,351 such trademarks have been invalidated ex officio. Rui called on enterprises to apply and use trademarks in good faith and welcomed public supervision.
2026 World Intellectual Property Day: WIPO Data Shows Booming IP Application in Sports Industry
A WIPO report for World Intellectual Property Day reveals golf, swimming, and racket sports are the most patent – intensive in the sports industry, with above – average IP usage growth. The theme “Intellectual Property and Sports: On Your Marks, Get Set, Innovate!” highlights IP – driven innovation in the sports industry. From 2016 – 2025, there were over 65,700 sports – related inventions, 1.25 million trademarks, and 70,000 designs. All IP types grew strongly, with sports – related patents growing at 7.6% annually, trademarks at 6.1%, and industrial designs at 8.3%. Asia leads in patents and designs, Europe in trademarks. Major golf brands lead patent applications, and low – and middle – income economies have double – digit growth. Technology reshapes sports, and WIPO has an IP and Sports workflow. The winners of the 2026 video competition have been announced, with entries from 43 countries and over 11,000 votes.
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