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.

Shandong Qingdao Subway Data Achieves Cross – provincial Value Transformation

On November 19, Qingdao Subway completed Shandong Province’s first data intellectual property value transformation. It licensed the intellectual property of its team – building data to a subsidiary, which provided professional data services to a Kunming rail transit enterprise. On November 5, the team – building data got the “Data Intellectual Property Registration Certificate”. After licensing, the subsidiary developed consulting service products applied in a Kunming Metro project.

Data intellectual property pertains to rights over valuable, non – public data sets with IP attributes. Qingdao Subway, a data resource accounting pilot, has a standardized data asset accounting system, with 16 data assets worth over 230 million yuan and an accounting amount of over 6 million yuan.

It also made innovative breakthroughs in data asset capitalization, being the first in the industry to complete it. Now, it aims to issue a 2 – billion – yuan securitization product (1 billion in the initial phase) and is building a data resource management platform for intelligent data management.

State Intellectual Property Administration, Ministry of Public Security, and State Administration for Market Regulation Jointly Launch Special Rectification Campaign in the Intellectual Property Agency Industry

Recently, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued a notice to conduct a three – month special rectification campaign across the country. The campaign aims to maintain the order of the intellectual property agency industry and create a favorable development environment. The notice will severely punish violators, rectify non – standard practices, and expose typical cases. It emphasizes addressing both symptoms and root causes, coordinating efforts at different ends, and optimizing policy evaluation indicators. It requires cracking down on illegal activities, rectifying non – standard practices, and strengthening source governance. Local authorities should improve mechanisms, enhance cooperation, ensure implementation, strengthen supervision, and promote publicity for the industry’s high – quality development.

Jiangsu Holds Intellectual Property “Industry-Talent Matching” Event for Aerospace and Next-Generation Information and Communication Industry Clusters

Recently, the Jiangsu Intellectual Property Administration and the Patent Examination Cooperation Jiangsu Center of the CNIPA held an intellectual property “industry-talent matching” event for aerospace and next-generation information and communication industry clusters in Zhenjiang. Both industry and talent sides introduced the industries’ general situations and interpreted the “industry-talent matching” work plan. They exchanged on hot issues like patent examination policies. The expert team visited leading enterprises to offer on-site services. Enterprises believed the event built a bridge for professionals to serve the industry and solved their IP problems. It’s part of a new round of IP “industry-talent matching” activities for advanced manufacturing clusters in Jiangsu. Over 60 people, including officials, experts, and enterprise representatives, participated.

Fujian Holds Patent Transformation Supply-Demand Matching Meeting in the Food Industry

Recently, the 2025 “Intellectual Property Service Tour” Food Industry Patent Transformation Supply – Demand Matching Meeting, guided by the Fujian Provincial Intellectual Property Administration and hosted by the Zhangzhou Intellectual Property Administration, took place in Zhangzhou, Fujian. Nearly 130 participants from relevant parties attended.

At the event, “Double Five – Star” patent technology achievements in new food processing and other fields were released. Jiangnan University’s expert team conducted project roadshows, leading to 6 cooperation intentions for patent technology transformation. Industrial Bank interpreted the financing policy and signed agreements with 4 enterprises, with a total credit of 35.8 million yuan. The “Zhangzhou Food Industry Patent Navigation Report” was also released, and experts explained patent – related strategies and systems for enterprises.

Fujian will continue to promote the transformation of “Double Five – Star” patents, hold matching meetings regularly, and turn intellectual property advantages into industrial development advantages for high – quality economic growth.

State Intellectual Property Administration: Strengthen Trademark Management, Focus on Seven Types of Illegal Behaviors

On November 21, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued a notice to strengthen trademark use management. It aims to govern seven types of illegal trademark – use behaviors, including passing off as a registered trademark, issues in novel tobacco products, and malicious agency by trademark agencies. These behaviors involve using unregistered trademarks with prohibited elements, deceptive use of registered trademarks, etc.

The notice strictly regulates these illegal acts, especially those that are deceptive. It proposes establishing a cooperation mechanism with market supervision departments, smoothing reporting channels, and investigating illegal clues in livelihood fields. Verified illegal acts will be reported to law – enforcement teams. Credit punishment will be strengthened, and seriously – offending entities will be listed as dishonest. Through legal publicity, enterprises will be guided to use trademarks in compliance.

Qinghai Fully Promotes Administrative Protection of Trade Secrets to Secure Enterprise Innovation and Development

In recent years, the Qinghai Provincial Market Supervision and Administration Bureau has comprehensively advanced the administrative protection of trade secrets to create a secure environment for enterprise innovation. The bureau has taken multiple measures: conducting in – depth research on key industries, visiting 328 enterprises and addressing 8 issues; enhancing publicity through 198 promotional activities and 12 training sessions; cultivating exemplary models with 11 protection stations, 20 demonstration enterprises, and 55 contact points; and improving the collaborative governance system by integrating with industry IP work and establishing an expert database. Looking ahead, it will use the revised Anti – Unfair Competition Law to optimize service supply and improve the protection mechanism.

Colour and Greyscale Drawings in Digital Patent Granting Process

On 1 October 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) introduced end – to – end support for colour and greyscale drawings in the digital patent granting process (PGP). When submitted electronically, these drawings maintain their original features and aren’t converted to black and white. This enables clearer presentation of complex technical information, aligning with the EPO’s goal of a digital and user – friendly PGP. The features of electronically filed colour and greyscale drawings are retained throughout the digital PGP, including on relevant platforms. Colour drawings enhance clarity when colour is crucial, facilitating examination and third – party access. Electronic filing standards, format and legibility requirements still hold for legal certainty. Filing these drawings must not introduce new subject matter and is subject to EPC articles. This new feature applies to all European patent applications filed from 1 October 2025 and subsequent electronic filings, subject to EPC’s substantive requirements.

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