Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, January 09, 2026

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, January 09, 2026

January 9, 2026 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 Protects Intellectual Property Network

Recently, Nanchang’s Market Supervision Administration in Jiangxi integrated a large AI model into the “Nanchang Intellectual Property Public Service Platform”. By upgrading the “Patent Search” module, it offers intelligent and professional IP services for enterprises and R & D staff, facilitating innovation achievement transformation.

The AI large – model patent interpretation tool has three main functions: intelligent interpretation, interactive Q&A, and strategic decision – making support. After users query a patent and enter the details page, clicking “Patent Interpretation” starts the service. The AI analyzes patent documents, generates a report, outlines technological context, extracts innovation points, and elaborates on applications, enabling users to grasp patent essence and market value.

It also provides interactive Q&A for various IP – related questions. This move is in line with Nanchang’s “Artificial Intelligence +” plan and digitalizes IP services, enhancing public – service accuracy and efficiency. Nanchang’s Market Supervision Administration will further optimize services, boost business entities’ innovation with digital intelligence, and safeguard Nanchang’s high – quality economic development.

China’s Protection of Intellectual Property Rights

Recently, the Intermediate People’s Court of Xiamen, in collaboration with relevant departments, conducted a remote integrated trial of a patent invalidation request and a civil infringement dispute for the first time. This solves the problems of long cycles and idle procedures in cross – way administrative and civil procedures, marking a new stage in intellectual property protection.

During the trial, the patent office’s panel examined the invalidation request, while the court’s panel observed and sorted out disputes. Then, the court held a hearing on the civil case. After mediation, the parties reached industrial cooperation and withdrew the lawsuit and request, with the whole process taking only 3 working days.

Before the trial, the Xiamen court used the protection center’s technical force, disassembled and compared products, and studied technical features, providing a basis for infringement determination.

China’s Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Network

From January to November 2025, Henan Province added 74,305 authorized patents, including 13,133 invention patents, 48,286 utility model patents, and 12,886 design patents. By the end of November, the effective number of invention patents in Henan reached 100,592, up 8.62% year – on – year. The effective invention patents in different entities like universities, research institutions, etc. had specific numbers. As of November, the number of industrialized effective invention patents in provincial universities and research institutions was 1,784, with an industrialization rate of 6.67%, double that of 2023. At the 2025 cross – regional patent transformation event in six central provinces in Zhengzhou, 10 cooperation projects were signed, worth over 40 million yuan. In the future, Henan aims to build a national high – ground for intellectual property protection, improve the IP – related system, and support new – quality productive forces cultivation.

10 Projects in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, Receive Provincial Patent Transformation Grants

Recently, the Shanxi Provincial Intellectual Property Office announced the funding for the 2025 Patent Transformation Program. Ten projects in Yuncheng City were selected and received special grants from 100,000 to 200,000 yuan to promote patent technology industrialization. For example, there’s an application from CRRC Yongji Electric Co., Ltd.

In July, the provincial government released relevant policy measures, proposing 11 incentive measures in IP protection and creation. The policy supports the patent transformation program to aid SMEs’ innovation. Eligible projects in key industrial fields can get up to 500,000 yuan, and others can receive up to 200,000 yuan. The program focuses on high – value patent transformation, connecting technology commercialization steps and positively impacting industrial chain upgrades.

China’s Intellectual Property Protection Network

Recently, the Xining Market Supervision and Administration Bureau (Intellectual Property Office) in Qinghai Province held a press conference on the patent navigation results of Xining’s photovoltaic industry. The goal was to stimulate business innovation, clarify industry development and IP operation paths, optimize the industrial structure, and strengthen infringement risk defense.

The results, based on provincial strategy and local industrial realities, analyzed the photovoltaic industry chain from multiple angles, sorted out the global tech evolution and domestic competition, located Xining’s position in the national chain, pointed out deficiencies, and proposed a three – in – one development direction. They offered scientific references for industrial layout, industry – university – research cooperation, talent building, and IP operation.

A face – to – face communication session at the conference addressed enterprises’ IP difficulties and demands. This event showed Xining’s patent navigation achievements and bridged the industrial, innovation, capital, and talent chains. The bureau will promote result implementation, strengthen support and service, and improve the IP protection system to boost business innovation.

Qinghai Province’s Haixi Prefecture: Initial Success in the Construction of “One-Stop” Patent Rights Protection Consultation Window

The Haixi Prefecture Market Supervision Administration in Qinghai Province has set up a front – end service mechanism for full – chain intellectual property protection and business environment optimization. It has promoted the operation of patent infringement dispute administrative adjudication consultation windows in prefecture – level and 7 regional government service halls, creating a “one – stop” rights protection system across the prefecture.

Since its operation, the window offers professional services with trained full – time staff. Through online/offline publicity, it has received over 60 consultations and distributed over 1,700 materials. It provides clear answers on common issues and has a mechanism for complex questions, enhancing public awareness, simplifying procedures, reducing costs, and improving dispute – resolution efficiency.

Next, the administration will optimize window services, build professional capacity, improve the multi – mediation system, and strengthen publicity to create a better business environment for innovation and property rights protection.

China Protects Intellectual Property Network: Zhoukou Ends Remote Trademark Business History

On January 6, Feng Chunmei of a family farm in Zhoukou became the first to submit a trademark registration application at the local acceptance window. This allows Zhoukou business entities to handle trademark business locally. Feng returned to her hometown in 2010 and set up a farm in 2019. In 2025, when planning to create her own brand, she had to go to Luohe due to the lack of a local window. After a previous rejection, her plan was put on hold. Now, she completed the submission on the same day. Zhoukou has over a million small and medium – sized business entities, with over 20,000 cross – regional trademark – related matters annually. The remote handling restricted brand cultivation. In late 2025, the window was approved by the CNIPA with the efforts of the local market supervision bureau. The bureau’s official said they will cooperate to build an integrated pattern for brand cultivation.

China National Intellectual Property Administration to Strengthen Governance of “Clever Trademarks”

According to the National Intellectual Property Director’s Meeting on January 7, China has established a new – generation trademark examination system. The number of valid domestic trademark registrations has reached 50.816 million. Among the world’s top 5000 brands, Chinese brands are worth $1.81 trillion, ranking second globally. In 2025, China focused on enhancing the quality and efficiency of intellectual property examination and continuously improving trademark examination quality, with 420,600 trademarks registered throughout the year.

CNIPA Director Shen Changyu said that the intellectual property department has been combating patent applications, trademark squatting and hoarding that violate the principle of good – faith. In 2026, it will strengthen the governance of “clever trademarks”, step up efforts against malicious trademark squatting violating good – faith, better guide regional brand trademark registration applications, and promptly handle trademarks with significant negative impacts.

China Protects Intellectual Property Rights

On December 31, 2025, the trademark business acceptance window of the CNIPA in the Nanning Area of the Guangxi Free Trade Zone opened, filling the gap in exclusive trademark services there and marking a breakthrough in the intellectual property public service system. It’s an achievement of the Nanning Intellectual Property Protection Center’s “full – chain, integrated” service system.

Since 2025, the center, in cooperation with the Nanning Wuxiang New Area Management Committee, promoted the window’s application and preparation. It’s the first of its kind in a Guangxi free trade zone and the third national – level platform of the Nanning center, enhancing the intellectual property public service network.

Integrated with the center in business and resources, the window focuses on enterprise needs and business environment optimization in three ways: eliminating service bottlenecks, strengthening full – chain protection, and promoting industrial upgrading.

The Nanning center will continue to meet key industries’ needs, optimize services, and integrate trademark acceptance with other intellectual property services for business innovation and a better environment.

China’s Intellectual Property Protection Network

On December 26, 2025, the 2025 Shaanxi Brand Development Exchange Conference was held in Xi’an. It announced the evaluation results of the “Good Trademarks in Shaanxi 2025” and the list of the top 100 Shaanxi brands in 2025. 122 trademarks were awarded the “Good Trademarks in Shaanxi 2025” title, and 11 were named “Trademarks with the Greatest Growth Potential in 2025”.

In April, the Shaanxi Brand Building Promotion Center organized relevant evaluations covering various brand types. The total brand value of the top 100 Shaanxi brands in 2025 was 540.761 billion yuan, with 13 brands over 10 billion yuan. The total value of regional brands was 611.967 billion yuan, and 7 geographical indication products had a brand value over 10 billion yuan.

Currently, there are 270 “Good Trademarks in Shaanxi” across multiple fields.

Beijing’s Well – known Enterprises Can Apply for Preventive Trademark Protection

Starting from January 1st, 2026, the “Beijing Guidelines for Preventive Protection of Enterprise Names (Trial)” took effect. It aims to prevent imitation or misuse of well – known enterprises’ business marks in Beijing, and the scope also covers public institutions and social organizations.

There are three application methods for enterprises: departmental recommendation, self – declaration, and active protection by the registration authority. Eligible enterprises must be registered in Beijing, own the business marks with influence and meeting name – specification requirements, and have no mark disputes.

The registration authority classifies and protects the marks. If an applied – for name is similar to a protected one and may mislead the public, registration in the same industry will be denied. The municipal authority can recommend national – level protection for widely – influential marks.

There is a time limit for this preventive protection with a dynamic management mechanism. Protection will end if a mark fails to meet the conditions or was obtained through false materials.

EU Opens Registration of Craft and Industrial Product Names under New Geographical Indication Mechanism

Since December 1, 2025, European manufacturers can register product names under the EU’s new geographical indication (GI) protection mechanism for handicrafts and industrial products. This extends GI protection, previously for food and beverages, to non – agricultural products, completing the EU’s GI unified market. The system protects iconic products, preserves traditional skills, boosts employment, and helps consumers identify authentic products. It also strengthens regional economies and curbs counterfeiting. Producers can apply through associations or individually, with a “product specification”. The registration has national and EU – level reviews. Some countries are exempt from the national phase. The European Commission can intervene. The EUIPO’s CIGI center offers assistance. A new EU regulation established a unified protection system, and existing national – level GI certifications will expire in December 2026.

Copyright and Artificial Intelligence: UK Government Issues Progress Statement

The UK government has issued a progress statement on the copyright report and impact assessment as required by the Data (Use and Access) Act. By March 18, 2026, it must release a report on copyrighted works’ use in AI development and an economic impact assessment, review policy options from the copyright and AI consultation, and make recommendations based on feedback.

A consultation on potential UK copyright framework revisions for AI model training was held from December 17, 2024, to February 25, 2025. Four options were presented, with Option 3 being the government’s preference. Over 11,500 responses were received, with 88% on “Citizen Space” supporting Option 1 and only 3% supporting Option 3. The creative industry opposed Option 3, while the tech industry favored Option 3 and 2.

In 2024 (July – September), the government held round – table meetings, set up expert and parliamentary working groups. Their opinions will be in the copyright report. The report and economic assessment, detailing responses to the consultation, will be submitted to Parliament by March 18, 2026.

The Sedona Conference Releases Draft Jury Instructions for the Defend Trade Secrets Act

The Sedona Conference has released the first comprehensive draft jury instructions for the 2016 Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) and is seeking public comments by January 17, 2026. The three – year drafting process aims to offer clear guidance on key issues in DTSA cases, as the US federal trade secret legal system is evolving and sometimes contradictory.

Since DTSA’s 2016 implementation, the development of appellate case law in US federal courts was delayed by the COVID – 19 pandemic. From 2017 – 2022, 9,600+ trade secret cases were filed, but only around 300 had jury verdicts, indicating a need for exemplary instructions.

The draft, written by The Sedona Conference’s Trade Secret Working Group, covers core DTSA concepts and uses a template format. Key issues include defining trade secrets, determining “reasonable measures” for secrecy, proving misappropriation of combined trade secrets, the nature of mere possession of trade secrets, and damages.

These draft instructions offer a framework for DTSA claims and could impact judicial practice before the final version is approved.

USPTO Reminds Examiners and Applicants to Consider and Use Eligibility Statements Prudently

On December 4, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a memorandum on the use of Statements of Material Evidence of Eligibility (SMED) for examiners, applicants, and practitioners, especially for “applied technologies” in AI and medical diagnosis. The memorandum, effective immediately, doesn’t change existing procedures. USPTO Director John Squires has aimed to prevent emerging technologies from being restricted by judicial interpretation of US patent eligibility laws. In 2025, he issued related reminders and participated in a ruling. The examiner – focused memorandum clarifies SMED review, restates rules, gives examples for applicants to overturn invalidity judgments, and offers training resources. The applicant – and – practitioner – focused one reviews best practices and pitfalls of submitting SMEDs, stressing their submission as independent documents. The guide aims to improve review transparency, strengthen records, and support consistent application of eligibility principles.

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