Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, August 26, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, August 26, 2025

August 26, 2025 global, meritsip 0 Comments

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.

Multiple Incentive Policies Promote Development! Xi’an Introduces Implementation Rules for Promoting Intellectual Property Development and Protection

Recently, Xi’an introduced the “Implementation Rules for Promoting the Development and Protection of Intellectual Property in Xi’an” to implement the innovation – driven strategy. Covering the whole intellectual property chain, the rules aim to build Xi’an into a national intellectual property – strong city.

For effective supply, it focuses on patent quality, rewarding top universities, research institutions with high – value patents, and those winning patent awards, and supporting local patent transfer.

In patent transformation, it targets enterprises, offering special funds for qualified projects and promoting the integration of intellectual property and standards.

To create an innovative environment, it supports the construction of trading markets and public service projects, and encourages the development of the service industry. These rules will stimulate innovation and enhance the internationalization of intellectual property protection and services.

Patentee Invalidity Declaration Requestor Qualification: Can “Straw Men” No Longer Be Used?

In April 2025, the CNIPA released a draft amendment to the Patent Examination Guidelines, stating that invalidity declaration requests not made with “genuine intention” won’t be accepted, sparking a debate on excluding “straw men” and patent holders as requestors. The author disagrees with excluding “straw men”. Under current law, using them is not prohibited, and they are necessary for real requestors, especially small or startup companies, to avoid direct confrontation. The new requirement mainly targets false – name filings. If a “straw man” is used with consent, it should be valid, and self – invalidation by patent holders to correct flaws should meet the “genuine intention” criterion. The author questions the rule’s implementation, like proving “genuine intention” and handling existing cases. The “genuine intention” requirement needs CNIPA clarification; otherwise, requestors may hesitate to use “straw men”. Generally, except for false identity cases, requestor qualification doesn’t affect invalidation.

Today’s Court Session! Unitree Robotics Faces Its First Invention Patent Lawsuit

On August 26, 2025, Hangzhou Unitree Robotics Co., Ltd., a leading firm in the humanoid robot industry, encountered its first invention patent lawsuit. Founded in 2016, it focuses on R & D, production, and sales of high – performance general – purpose legged/humanoid robots and dexterous robotic arms, leading the global quadruped robot market.

Hangzhou Luweimei Daily Chemical Co., Ltd., a traditional daily – chemical retail and wholesale enterprise established in 2005, sued Unitree Robotics for “infringing invention patent rights”. The case was heard at the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court on the same day. Luweimei has only two patents on Qichacha: an authorized “electronic dog” and a “conference simultaneous intelligent system” in the substantive examination stage.

Unitree Robotics started its IPO tutoring on July 18 with CITIC Securities. It plans to evaluate listing conditions by October and promote IPO preparations. This lawsuit at a sensitive time may bring uncertainties to its capital market journey. The case outcome is uncertain, and IPRdaily will keep monitoring.

Notice on Handling Patent Agency Liability Insurance

Recently, the All-China Association of Patent Agents issued a notice on handling patent agency liability insurance to enhance agencies’ risk – resistance, safeguard clients’ rights, and simplify the insurance – handling process. Key points include: 1. Insurance Scheme: Patent agencies are the policyholder and insured. The main insurance benchmark rate is 300 yuan/year/patent agent, and the additional one is 150 yuan/year/patent agent. Liability limits, deductible, a one – year insurance period, and a variable retroactive period are specified. 2. New Insurance and Renewal: New insurance requires registration on the management system and filling in the form; renewal is done directly on the system. System address, payment account, and ways to receive policies and invoices are provided. 3. Newly Added Staff: Agencies should fill in an application on the system, upload materials, and mail the stamped original form. 4. FAQs: Answers are given for common questions on information filling, retroactive period, and dispute handling. 5. Other Information: A WeChat official account is recommended for insurance and claims guidance, and relevant contact information is provided.

Commercial Secrets | Supreme People’s Court: Second-instance Ruling Revised, Fully Supporting a Claim of 60 Million Yuan! The Final Judgment in the Xi’aifu Commercial Secret Case

The Supreme People’s Court revised the second – instance ruling in the Sichuan Xi’aifu commercial secret infringement case. Shangfu Company used Xi’aifu’s trade secrets without permission. The court estimated the profit contribution rate of the technical secret to Shangfu’s production and sales of carbon N products at 1/3. Shangfu’s total infringement profit from March 2019 to October 21, 2022, was 76.207 million yuan, and Xi’aifu’s reasonable expenses in the first and second instances totaled 894,189 yuan. As the sum exceeded Xi’aifu’s 60 – million – yuan claim, the court fully supported it. Liu Moumou and Shangfu were jointly liable. The court also specified the calculation standards for delayed performance fines for non – monetary obligations in the judgment, such as fines for violating non – disclosure obligations, failing to destroy relevant materials, or remove infringing equipment.

Yushu Technology Facing Patent Lawsuit at a Critical Moment of Going Public

Yushu Technology is facing a patent lawsuit at a crucial time for its planned IPO. On August 26 at 9:30 am, Hangzhou Luweimei Company will sue Yushu Technology for infringement of invention patent rights in the Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court. Yushu Technology started its listing guidance on July 7, 2025, with CITIC Securities as the guidance institution. Its controlling shareholder and actual controller is Wang Xingxing, holding 34.7630% of the shares.

Facing a patent lawsuit before going public is not new, with similar cases like Meituan in 2018, Jinli in 2022, and Weisai New Materials in 2023. The plaintiff, Hangzhou Luweimei, has two patents, and it’s likely the involved one is the “electronic dog” patent, which belonged to its affiliated company, Jianlin Electronics, half a year ago. Jianlin Electronics has sued well – known companies before. Yushu Technology is expected to actively respond through various means.

KIPO Releases 2024 Intellectual Property Statistical Yearbook

On July 31, 2025, the Korea Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) released the 2024 Intellectual Property Statistical Yearbook. It analyzed South Korea’s IP activities and industrial trends, and summarized the application and authorization of industrial property rights. In 2024, the total domestic applications were 560,629 (up 0.7% year – on – year), while domestic authorizations were 333,925 (down 7.1% year – on – year). Patent activities of large and medium – sized enterprises concentrated in manufacturing, while SMEs had a more diversified application structure. South Koreans submitted 282,523 patent applications to IP5 in 2024 (up 2.7% year – on – year). The U.S. received the most South Korean patent applications (44,432), and applications to China and Europe increased by 5.1% and 4.2% respectively.

Newsletter on Intellectual Property and Business News

This newsletter presents a range of intellectual property and business – related news. The Supreme People’s Court Intellectual Property Tribunal will hold hearings on two patent – related cases on August 27. Taijin New Energy’s R & D investment and patent validity raise questions about its innovation attributes. The Nanning Agency of CNIPA will relocate on August 29.

Cha颜Yuese apologized again for suspected plagiarism. Didi’s overseas platform sued Meituan’s overseas platform in Brazil for trademark infringement, with three lawsuits in a month. Lanzhou released an IP pledge financing enterprise white – list, and Xinjiang announced trademark infringement cases.

Overseas, KIPO released the 2024 IP Statistical Yearbook, and Google Australia settled an antitrust case by paying A$36 million.

“Thousands of Enterprises, Hundreds of Cities” Trademark Brand Value Enhancement Action: Second Batch Application and First Batch Evaluation Launched! Specialized and Sophisticated Small and Medium – sized Enterprises Given Priority in Application

Recently, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) announced the second – batch application and first – batch evaluation of the “Thousands of Enterprises, Hundreds of Cities” Trademark Brand Value Enhancement Action. For the second – batch application, enterprises, regional trademark brand entities, and trademark brand guidance stations must meet the Action Plan’s conditions. Specialized and sophisticated small and medium – sized enterprises have priority. Entities in the first batch and geographical indication entities are ineligible. The application process includes provincial IP bureaus’ application, review and recommendation, and CNIPA’s re – review, publicity, and confirmation. For the first – batch evaluation, provincial IP bureaus should organize participants to report annual construction and summarize action measures, achievements, and experiences. The CNIPA will comprehensively evaluate based on submitted materials. Provincial IP bureaus must submit materials by September 15, and the action should avoid being a form of demonstration, competition, or assessment.

[Guide Received] Urgently in Need of a Ready-made US Registered Trademark (R Mark)? How to Choose Without Pitfalls?

This article provides guidance for cross – border e – commerce sellers on the US site to select ready – made US trademarks and avoid risks. As the trademark registration process is long and complex, many sellers opt to buy registered trademarks, yet the market is filled with low – quality ones.

For long – term Amazon brand operations, sellers are advised not to buy ready – made R marks. There are risks such as lack of real commercial use records, high – risk labeling by platforms and USPTO, legal compliance issues under the “First – to – Use” principle, and potential economic losses.

If a purchase is necessary, a six – item verification checklist should be followed, including checking sub – items, use evidence, owner background, historical usage, attorney compliance, and critical deadlines.

Alternative suggestions include using Amazon IP Accelerator to speed up the process, starting brand filing with a pending trademark by submitting a usage plan, and separating core product self – registration from buying ready – made marks for non – core products.

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