Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, December 18, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, December 18, 2025

December 18, 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.

China’s Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Network: Xinjiang’s New Patent Regulations

Recently, the “Regulations on the Promotion and Protection of Patents in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region” passed review and was promulgated. With eight chapters and 46 articles, it offers innovative measures in multiple patent – related dimensions. It strengthens policy guidance for high – quality patent creation, promotes transformation and application, constructs a strict protection system, improves public services, expands service functions by building an overseas response mechanism, and clarifies legal responsibilities. The revision shifts the focus from quantity to quality and from application to utilization, providing legal support for Xinjiang’s innovation – driven development. Xinjiang will enhance publicity and implementation to promote the construction of an intellectual property – strong region on the Silk Road Economic Belt.

OPPO Licenses Cellular Communication Standard Essential Patents to Audi

On December 10, 2025, OPPO, a leading global smart device manufacturer, announced a global patent licensing agreement with Audi. OPPO will license its cellular communication standard essential patents to Audi’s global product line to enhance the user experience of Audi’s connected car products. OPPO’s patent licensing director said the cooperation promotes seamless connectivity and cross – industry collaboration. Audi’s Chief IP Licensing Officer noted the constructive and balanced negotiation. This is OPPO’s third bilateral patent licensing agreement with a large automotive manufacturer, showing the growing recognition of its patents in the automotive field. As of January 2025, OPPO ranked eighth globally in 5G patent comprehensive strength. By September 2025, it had over 117,000 global patent applications and more than 65,000 authorized patents. OPPO will keep investing in core technologies and cooperate with partners for innovation.

China’s Intellectual Property Protection Network

Since the beginning of this year, Tianshui City in Gansu Province has deeply implemented the trademark brand strategy, achieving remarkable results in brand cultivation, application, protection, and management. The city now has 19,545 effective trademark registrations, including 17 well – known Chinese trademarks, 18 geographical indication certification trademarks, and 14 geographical indication protection products, boosting economic development.

For brand cultivation, Tianshui recommended trademarks of 6 enterprises, a regional public brand, and a trademark brand guidance station for the “Thousand Enterprises and Hundred Cities” action. It also proposed 8 trademarks for Gansu’s key protection list and supported local brand trademark registration.

In geographical indications, 9 agricultural products were approved as national protection products. The construction of a national demonstration area in Gangu County was supported, and projects got special funds, promoting rural industrial revitalization.

China’s Intellectual Property Protection Network: Guizhou’s Trademark Statistics in the First Three Quarters of 2025

On December 9, Guizhou Daily reported that from January – September 2025, Guizhou had 86,704 trademark applications (14,945 for agricultural products, 17.2% of the total) and 47,920 trademark registrations (8,799 for agricultural products, 18.4% of the total), according to CNIPA and a third – party system. In different regions, Guiyang led with 30,500 applications and 16,210 registrations, accounting for 35.2% and 33.8% of the provincial total respectively. Zunyi followed with 23,154 applications and 13,342 registrations, and Bijie ranked third with 7,068 applications and 4,313 registrations. Additionally, there were two geographical indication trademark registrations in the first three quarters: Rongjiang Watermelon and Rongjiang Chinese Fir.

25 Enterprises First to Get “Nantong Home Textiles” Collective Trademark Authorization

On December 14, at relevant meetings, 25 outstanding home textile enterprises were the first to obtain the authorization for the collective trademark “Nantong Home Textiles” and will jointly use this regional brand. Home textiles are a key industry in Nantong, with an annual market transaction volume exceeding 250 billion yuan and a national market share above 50%, and products sold to over 150 countries and regions. To promote quality – driven development, relevant parties guided the chamber of commerce to apply for the collective trademark, which was approved in September. Enterprises applying to use it must submit various documents and sign a contract after verification. The chamber of commerce’s person – in – charge said the collective trademark represents credibility and a commitment to consumers.

2026 World Intellectual Property Day Theme Announced

Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced the theme for the 2026 World Intellectual Property Day: “Intellectual Property and Sports: On Your Marks, Get Set, Innovate!”. Celebrated annually on April 26, the 2026 event will focus on the relationship between intellectual property and sports, exploring how IP fuels creation and innovation in the sports realm. Sports intersect with multiple fields like fashion, entertainment, and more. IP, including patents and trademarks, powers the sports culture, inspiring people globally. It spurs innovation, cross – industry links in sports, and drives creativity, tech progress, and economic growth. WIPO urges everyone to honor creators, inventors, and entrepreneurs on this day, as their passion and creativity ensure the future prosperity of sports for the world.

Applying for a patent

On December 17, 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Organisation for Economic Co – operation and Development (OECD) renewed their cooperation framework by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Paris. EPO President António Campinos and OECD Secretary – General Mathias Cormann were present.

The long – standing collaboration on patent statistics and innovation analysis continued. They launched a joint study on quantum technologies and agreed to strengthen cooperation, aiming to create high – quality resources for innovation ecosystems and policies, in line with the EPO’s Observatory.

Campinos stressed the importance of the renewed partnership, highlighting the complementary capabilities of the two organizations and shared priorities in supporting innovation.

The renewed partnership, combining the EPO’s patent intelligence and the OECD’s economic indicators, is crucial for understanding emerging technologies, and will lead to new methodological approaches and joint work in various areas, marking a new chapter in EPO – OECD relations.

Changes to the registration of general authorisations take effect

On December 16, 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) implemented changes to general authorisation registration. It enhanced MyEPO, its online service for the patent – granting process, with a new feature for registering and managing general authorisations for employees of a party to proceedings, providing a more streamlined and user – friendly experience. The EPO now only registers general authorisations for employees of an entity that is a party to proceedings, as part of simplification measures. It has stopped registering and updating those for professional representatives, legal practitioners and associations. In exceptional cases, the EPO will ask the new representative to file an authorisation. Employees of a party to proceedings (non – professional representatives or legal practitioners) still need authorisations, and the EPO will continue to register and update them. Registration numbers of general authorisations registered before December 1, 2025, remain valid for them. The EPO also provided links to related information.

Maxeon Initiates Third Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Aiko in Germany

On December 10 local time, Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd., a TCL Zhonghuan subsidiary, filed a new patent infringement lawsuit against Aiko Solar at the Munich Regional Court I in Germany. It accuses Aiko and its European distribution network of infringing the German part of its core patent EP2297789B1, related to Aiko’s second – and third – generation Back Contact (BC) component products in the European market. Maxeon named four European distributors as co – defendants, asking the court to order the defendants to stop infringing, provide sales data, pay compensation, and have the distributors destroy their German inventory.

The Munich Regional Court I is efficient in handling complex technology patent disputes. As N – type battery technology becomes mainstream, IP disputes around BC and other technologies are increasing. Maxeon’s new lawsuit is for strategic protection of its core BC patent family. With three parallel lawsuits, it may reshape the European high – end component market. This lawsuit also shows the challenges Chinese PV companies face, highlighting the need to shift to a “technology – oriented” approach. Disputes in the PV industry often end in settlement and licensing.

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