Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, July 31, 2025
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 Intellectual Property Protection Network: Hubei’s Event on Patent Litigation and Strategies
On July 25, the Hubei Intellectual Property Protection Center, the (Hubei) Practice Base of the China Intellectual Property Training Center, and the Hubei Intellectual Property Service Association jointly held an event on patent litigation and strategies for domestic and foreign trade enterprises. Over 80 representatives from Hubei’s foreign – related enterprises and experts attended.
Experts shared knowledge on overseas IP protection policies, litigation and dispute resolution, global IP protection strategies, and rapid patent pre – examination services through cases. On – site services for patent pre – examination filing and overseas rights protection were provided. The “Report on Intellectual Property Protection for Belt and Road Enterprises Going Global” was released, guiding enterprises’ overseas IP layout.
The Hubei Intellectual Property Protection Center will use its full – chain service functions. It will cooperate with relevant parties to strengthen overseas IP protection for key export enterprises, offer risk early – warning and public – welfare guidance for key industries, and build a “protective net” for global – going enterprises, supporting Hubei’s role as a central strategic fulcrum.
Source: https://ipr.mofcom.gov.cn/article/gnxw/zl/202507/1992525.html
Wuhan Establishes a Linkage Mechanism between Administrative Mediation and Arbitration for Intellectual Property Disputes
On July 26, a legal salon on “Intellectual Property Protection and the Digital Economy” was held at the Wuhan Arbitration Commission. Co – hosted by multiple organizations, it aimed to promote digital innovation and industry upgrade via IP protection. The Wuhan Market Supervision and Administration Bureau and the Wuhan Arbitration Commission signed a cooperation memorandum during the event. They agreed to set up a linkage mechanism for IP disputes between administrative mediation and arbitration, clarifying its operation, relevant concepts, and details like jurisdiction and procedures. This cooperation is an important step after the joint issuance of related guidelines. The mechanism will smooth the connection between administrative mediation and arbitration, optimize protection efficiency, and offer a better dispute – resolution path for innovation entities, contributing to creating a national IP protection high – ground.
Source: https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2025/7/29/art_57_200821.html
Singapore Intellectual Property Week 2025 – Crossing Borders: The Licensing Rights of Innovation
The 2025 Singapore Intellectual Property Week and the 14th Global Intellectual Property Forum will take place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore from August 26th to 27th, 2025. In an interconnected world, while innovation has no boundaries, regulations do. Modern enterprises face a complex web of legal jurisdictions, tax implications, and intellectual property issues. As markets integrate, protecting and monetizing cross – border innovation is of unprecedented significance. The plenary session will use real cases to explore how successful companies handle different regulatory environments, build international agreements, and turn legal challenges into growth opportunities. The conference theme is “Ideas to Assets: Innovating In Times of Change”. It is anticipated to attract over 5,000 innovators and IP professionals from more than 40 countries and regions to discuss tech innovation and IP hot topics.
Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/RiqV7IXQD3zOzvFp7imY5w
Trademark Office Refund Reminder! Relevant Agencies and Parties Urged to Process Bank Remittance Refunds
Recently, the Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) reminded relevant agencies and trademark parties to process bank remittance refunds. In 2020, after the adjustment of trademark fee payment methods, a refund notice was announced on May 12, 2020, but some have yet to handle it. The refund scope includes unused trademark fees remitted by bank transfer before December 30, 2019. Enterprises/individuals need a refund application form and identification documents. Registered agencies can use the “Online Payment Platform” – “Pre – payment Clearing” module, while unregistered ones need to fill out a clearing confirmation form. Contact information: Financial Department of the Trademark Office, CNIPA, No. 1, Chama South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing; phone 010 – 63218500 – 6; postal code 100055; email sbjcw@cnipa.gov.cn.
Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/r_B47x-Xr8tlMshygxQVLg
Lenovo and Quectel Join Avanci: New Insights for Connected Vehicle Industry Upgrade
Recently, Lenovo and Quectel joined Avanci’s vehicle platform projects as licensors, following China’s three major operators. Many Chinese companies are already licensors of Avanci vehicle projects. As the IoT upgrades, more industry leaders joining Avanci have sparked discussions on value return and its joint – licensing model. In the sixth year of 5G commercialization, China’s large 5G infrastructure and user base promote automotive 5G innovation. Avanci serves as a bridge for patent licensing, with many automakers as licensees. However, Chinese automakers face challenges in the global patent environment when going overseas. Patent lawsuits have triggered discussions on fair competition and the balance between innovation and patent protection, and the industry awaits insights from these lawsuits.
Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/-PgIpL7i_98O8PfWCvpjMw
Inventions for photovoltaics increased more than seventeen-fold in three decades
The EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology report reveals remarkable growth in photovoltaic innovation over the past three decades. Driven by factors such as sustainability, energy security, technological progress, and cost reduction, the field is set to advance further with improvements in materials, storage, and smart – grid.
The report analyzes 30 technologies over five decades, covering 340,000 inventions in four areas. Photovoltaic inventions increased over seventeen – fold in 30 years. Device technologies were dominant from 1990 – 2023, but other sub – areas have also grown. From 2020 – 2023, device – related inventions accounted for 48%, followed by applications, materials, and device management.
China has emerged as the global center for photovoltaic patenting, with filings nearly six – fold higher since 2010 and 80% of new inventions in 2022. Europe excels in deployment – related technologies. Most of the top 20 international patent family applicants from 1990 – 2023 were from Japan.
European startups focus on devices, materials, and increasingly on applications, with high activity in Germany, France, etc. European universities are inventive, especially in devices and materials, with the UK leading in academic patenting. The report also features case studies, like a Portuguese floating solar farm mooring platform.
EPO Welcomes European Commission’s Adequacy Decision for Safe Data Flows
The European Patent Organisation (EPOrg) is the first International Organisation to get an adequacy decision from the European Commission. Such decisions judge if a non – EU entity offers sufficient personal data protection under the GDPR, and were previously only given to third countries.
This decision is significant for safe and free data flow between the EU and the EPOrg, formally acknowledging the EPOrg’s high – standard data protection. Personal data can now flow freely from the EU (including Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland) to the EPOrg without extra safeguards, promoting cooperation.
It assures stakeholders of the EPOrg’s top – notch data protection and individual rights safeguards. EPO President António Campinos sees it as a historic milestone, enhancing trust and legal certainty.
The decision shows mutual recognition of data protection systems, as the EPO already recognized the EU’s data protection as equivalent. A joint statement marked this milestone. The Commission, along with European data protection authorities and the EPOrg, will periodically review the decision’s functioning.
USPTO Announces Accelerated Patent Grant Programs with Three Nations
This week in Geneva, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) made agreements with Belize, Guatemala, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries will accelerate patent grants for applicants who already have a U.S. patent and filed relevant applications in their nations. Coke Morgan Stewart, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting USPTO Director, stated that these programs are vital for the USPTO’s international strategy, contribute to President Trump’s agenda, and facilitate deeper cooperation with trading partners. The agreements help U.S. innovators obtain patents faster in partner countries, enhance cooperation between patent offices, and create new investment and business – expansion opportunities abroad. Partner offices will expedite patent – right grants based on USPTO’s decisions for corresponding applications of U.S. patent – holders.
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