Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, December 15, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, December 15, 2025

December 15, 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.

Shanghai Jinshan District Intellectual Property Office Organizes Special Report Meeting on Industrial Patent Navigation

Recently, the Intellectual Property Office of Shanghai Jinshan District held a special report meeting on the patent navigation of the “new energy vehicle key components industry”. Deputy District Mayor Luo Mingyun attended and spoke. The meeting heard a report on the industry’s patent situation, technological trends, and Jinshan’s position globally, nationally, and locally. It also pointed out Jinshan’s advantages and disadvantages and proposed development path suggestions. Participating units exchanged views and gave constructive suggestions. Luo Mingyun emphasized improving understanding, focusing on key points, and applying results. Relevant responsible persons from multiple departments and administrations attended the meeting.

Fujian Issues Guidelines for Administrative Adjudication of Patent Infringement Disputes

Recently, the Fujian Provincial Market Supervision Administration (Intellectual Property Office) issued the “Guidelines for Administrative Adjudication of Patent Infringement Disputes”. Focusing on six key tasks, it aims to enhance the province’s administrative adjudication ability and improve the system.

In recent years, Fujian has deepened the standardization of such administrative adjudication. It jointly issued an opinion with the provincial Department of Justice, carried out county – level pilot projects, and implemented a law – enforcement model. A cooperation agreement on technical investigators was signed with the provincial court. Since 2024, 165 administrative protection technical investigators were hired, handling 254 cases. The number of filed cases reached 1156 (a 32.3% year – on – year increase), and 1110 cases were closed (a 32.1% year – on – year increase). Two cases were selected as national typical cases.

Next, the administration will further strengthen administrative adjudication, improve the system, and promote its role in business environment and development.

Guangzhou in Guangdong Province Surpasses 200,000 Valid Invention Patents

According to CNIPA data, by the end of October 2025, Guangzhou’s valid invention patents reached 200,565, exceeding 200,000. In recent years, Guangzhou has used intellectual property as the core engine to build an innovation ecosystem and stimulate market entity vitality. The local Party committee and government promoted the revision of relevant regulations, introduced a full – chain policy system, set up special funds, built public service platforms, and provided one – on – one guidance to key enterprises to cut innovation entities’ institutional transaction costs. The role of enterprises as the main innovation force has been strengthened. In the past five years, the proportion of enterprises’ valid invention patents in the city’s total rose by 11.7 percentage points, and the number of enterprises with over 100 invention patents reached 131. Universities and research institutions also played an important role. Three local universities each have over 6,000 invention patents, and local universities and research institutions won 16 awards in the 25th China Patent Award selection.

Henan Sanmenxia Market Supervision Bureau Continues to Increase Efforts in Handling Patent Infringement Cases

Since this year, Henan’s Sanmenxia Market Supervision Bureau has focused on full – chain IP protection and improved law – enforcement efficiency. It has increased efforts in handling patent infringement cases, closing 3 administrative adjudication cases and issuing 10 rights – protection opinions, a zero – to – one breakthrough that supports business environment evaluation. To overcome the previous lack of case – handling ability, the IP working group invited provincial experts for on – site guidance, using a “learning while doing” approach. These achievements not only accumulate experience but also show the determination in IP protection. In the future, the bureau will strengthen professional law – enforcement teams, deepen full – chain protection of IP like invention patents, and create a better innovation and business environment for the city’s innovation – driven transformation.

Shen Changyu Meets with French Minister Anne Genevard in Beijing

On December 5, Shen Changyu, Director of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), met with Anne Genevard, French Minister of Agriculture, Food and Food Sovereignty, in Beijing. Shen said Xi Jinping’s talks with Macron on December 4 guided China – France relations and provided strategic guidance for IP cooperation. Since the renewal of the China – France geographical indications cooperation protocol last year, both sides have achieved landmark results. China is willing to implement the outcomes of the two leaders’ talks and promote in – depth cooperation in geographical indications. Genevard said the French Ministry values cooperation with CNIPA, and there’s broad consensus on protecting geographical indication products. The past cooperation has been practical and fruitful, and she hopes for greater future cooperation. Both sides exchanged views on topics like the latest situation of geographical indication protection, system improvement, and future cooperation. Relevant department heads from both sides attended the meeting.

Ningxia Launches “Point-to-Point” Service for Intellectual Property Protection of Foreign-Related Enterprises

To implement the joint meeting system of Ningxia’s intellectual property strategy, strengthen collaboration among member units, improve the foreign-related IP protection system, and enhance local foreign-related enterprises’ risk response ability, the Ningxia Joint Meeting’s member unit (Ningxia Council for the Promotion of International Trade) organized a public legal service team for small and medium-sized export-oriented enterprises. They carried out a special service activity on “going global” IP protection.

The service team visited six foreign-related enterprises. IP experts provided “one-on-one” face-to-face guidance to enterprise representatives, addressing issues like high patent application rejection rates, unstable application quality, overseas trademark squatting, and insufficient patent value transformation. They offered professional guidance on international trademark registration, patent mining, high-quality patent applications, risk prevention, and infringement dispute handling. The service solved enterprises’ practical problems, and participating enterprises hoped for continuous one-on-one guidance.

Next, the joint meeting office will coordinate, integrate member units’ professional advantages, and offer in-depth point-to-point guidance based on enterprises’ overseas IP protection needs, aiming to improve service levels and support Ningxia’s foreign-related enterprises’ international development.

Fujian Issues the Work Guide for Administrative Adjudication of Patent Infringement Disputes

Recently, the Fujian Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (Intellectual Property Office) issued the Work Guide for Administrative Adjudication of Patent Infringement Disputes. It focuses on six key tasks, clarifying the acceleration of the technical investigator system construction and exploring the establishment of work mechanisms. The aim is to enhance the province’s administrative adjudication capabilities and improve the system.

In recent years, the bureau has deepened standardization, issued relevant opinions, carried out pilot projects, and implemented a new law – enforcement model. It also established a shared technical support mechanism. Since 2024, 165 administrative protection technical investigators were recruited, handling 254 cases. There were 1156 newly – filed administrative adjudication cases (up 32.3% year – on – year) and 1110 closed cases (up 32.1% year – on – year). Two cases were selected as national typical cases.

Next, the bureau will strengthen administrative adjudication work, improve the system, and promote its role in business environment and development.

The 4th Qinchuangyuan High – value Patent Competition Held in Xi’an, Shaanxi

Recently, the final of the 4th Qinchuangyuan High – value Patent Competition took place in Xi’an. Projects from the growth and startup groups won first prizes. As an important event for IP transformation in Shaanxi, it’s been held for four consecutive sessions and is a key platform for integrating the “four chains” in IP. Co – hosted by multiple provincial departments with the theme “Intelligent Innovation Engine, Patent Leadership”, 346 projects from strategic emerging industries entered since July. After over five months, 33 projects reached the final. At the final, teams presented via roadshows and defenses, and a jury of 14 experts evaluated and guided. An “AI event assistant” was set up, and finalist teams will get post – event services. So far, it has attracted over 1,000 enterprises, 100 service agencies, achieved 551 million yuan in patent transformation, and promoted 8 award – winning teams to settle in Shaanxi, showing positive effects.

EPO and AIPPI Reinforce Co – operation at Annual Meeting

On 1 December 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) held their annual high – level meeting in Munich. EPO Vice – President Nellie Simon and AIPPI President Lorenza Ferrari Hofer, along with senior representatives from both organizations, attended. Simon welcomed the AIPPI delegation, commended its global role, and congratulated on the Yokohama World Congress success, emphasizing AIPPI’s patent – law contributions.

AIPPI presented resolutions from the Yokohama Congress on compulsory licensing, AI, and copyright, which the EPO appreciated for its balance. AIPPI offered to support EPO’s user outreach and encouraged its continued participation in expert fora.

The EPO updated on the Quality Action Plan 2025, noting improvements from various measures. Digital transformation efforts were discussed, aiming for a paperless Patent Granting Process by 2027. The EPO also reported on the Unitary Patent, which has received over 75,000 requests for unitary effect since June 2023, and the future framework for unitary supplementary protection certificates.

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