Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, October 28, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, October 28, 2025

October 28, 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 Marine Equipment Industry Holds Over Half of Global Valid Patents

The “Global Patent Development Report on Marine Equipment Industry (2025)” was released at the Third Yazhou Bay Intellectual Property Forum. As of now, the global valid patent volume in the marine equipment industry is 306,400. China leads with around 166,600 valid patents, making up 54.4% of the global total. South Korea, the US, and Japan rank second, third, and fourth respectively. The valid patent reserve indicates a country’s patent strength in this field, and the reserves of major countries align with the current global competition pattern. China’s valid patents are mainly in special ship or floating platform design, underwater operation vehicles and supporting equipment, and components or equipment for ship external structures. In the past decade, China’s patent growth has spurred the overall rise in global patent applications and grants in the marine equipment industry.

Anhui’s First Patent Pre – examination Service Workstation Unveiled in Ma’anshan

Recently, Anhui’s first patent pre – examination service workstation was inaugurated in Ma’anshan, expected to cut the average patent authorization cycle from 22 months to about 3 months. Patent pre – examination allows pre – review of specific industrial field patent applications by authorized centers before submission to CNIPA, enabling fast – track review. Quick patent authorization is vital for enterprises in a competitive market and is a key factor for investment decisions. Only the Anhui and Hefei Intellectual Property Protection Centers in Anhui can offer such services currently. The Ma’anshan center established the workstation, with its staff getting pre – examiner qualifications. As an extension of the Anhui center, it aims to serve Ma’anshan’s innovative entities, especially in strategic emerging industries, providing services like policy promotion and application guidance. Although the current service is industry – specific, the Ma’anshan center plans to expand the scope and offer prioritized examination services across all fields.

Second Shaanxi Patent Search and Analysis Competition Launched

Recently, the Shaanxi Intellectual Property Office and the Provincial Department of Education announced the second Shaanxi Patent Search and Analysis Competition. It has drawn wide attention and active participation. By October 15, 2025, 2,815 contestants from 151 units registered, a 108.5% increase from the first competition.

The competition is more in line with practical patent – search and analysis scenarios. The professional group requires team participation. A question bank is opened, domestic experts are invited for pre – competition training, and a “Competition Mini Program” is developed.

All competition rounds will be held step – by – step. The organizers aim to build this competition into a key platform for cultivating intellectual property professionals in Shaanxi, offering talent support for the province to become an intellectual property – strong region.

Hainan’s Haikou Launches Rapid Patent Pre – examination Service with Shortest Review Cycle of 15 Days

On October 21, the Intellectual Property Protection Center of Haikou, Hainan, launched a rapid patent pre – examination service to spur innovation. Before submitting patent applications to the CNIPA, this service helps applicants correct errors and defects in application documents, enhancing application quality and facilitating entry into the rapid review channel.

Innovative entities must complete a filing process to use the pre – examination service and can then submit pre – examination cases. Approved by the CNIPA, the service covers equipment manufacturing and biomedicine in Haikou, with specific IPC and Locarno classification numbers. It significantly shortens review cycles: invention patents from 16 months to 3 – 6 months, utility model patents from 8 months to 1 – 2 months, and design patents from 6 months to 15 days – 1 month.

The center’s official stated that this service is crucial for optimizing IP services and boosting innovation, and will drive the development of Haikou’s key industries.

Beijing Holds Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection in E-commerce Field

Recently, the Beijing Intellectual Property Office held a symposium on e-commerce intellectual property protection. Representatives from key e-commerce platforms, enterprises, relevant officials from the Beijing Intellectual Property Protection Center, and intellectual property experts attended. The Center introduced the work progress, and enterprises gave opinions on complaint obstacles and mechanisms. All parties discussed infringement determination, the connection between law and platform rules, and complaint mechanism optimization. E-commerce platforms and experts exchanged views on infringement governance, trends, and suggestions in consumer – hot areas. The Beijing Intellectual Property Office values e-commerce IP protection, focusing on platforms and operators. It uses the Center’s advantages to offer services like infringement consultation and dispute guidance, supporting a fair online trading environment and e-commerce development.

Yunnan Intellectual Property Office and Department of Justice Jointly Issue Implementation Opinions on Promoting Administrative Adjudication of Patent Infringement Disputes

To enhance intellectual property protection and support provincial scientific and technological innovation, the Yunnan Intellectual Property Office and the Department of Justice jointly issued the “Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Construction of the Administrative Adjudication System for Patent Infringement Disputes and Strengthening the Legal Protection of Intellectual Property”. Focusing on new – era needs, it aims to improve the administrative adjudication system and legal protection. Key tasks involve system construction, connecting administrative protection with judicial trials, enhancing cooperation, and implementing the technical investigator system. It also promotes standardization, explores case – handling models, and social co – governance. Moreover, it emphasizes culture cultivation, foreign – related protection, and overseas risk early – warning. This is an important measure for Yunnan to strengthen legal protection and create a good business environment. The two departments will deepen cooperation and build a legal barrier for Yunnan’s development.

Qinghai Xining: 2,735 New Registered Trademarks

Since the start of this year, the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Xining, Qinghai, has taken multiple measures in key areas like trademark registration, geographical indication exploration, and regional brand building to promote trademark brand construction. As of October 21, 2,735 new trademarks were registered, bringing the total to 47,048, surpassing the ’14th Five – Year Plan’ target. The bureau investigated and handled 15 trademark infringement cases, collecting over 400,000 yuan in fines.

Using cultural – tourism integration, it guided the trademark registration of regional brands. It collaborated with multiple departments to build a reserve database for geographical indication cultivation, adding 8 new geographical indication protection products this year.

For key industries like Tibetan carpets, Xining implemented a geographical indication protection project, established a dynamic management mechanism, and trained enterprises through brand guidance stations. It participated in national exhibitions with local firms, signing contracts worth 50.01 million yuan, and carried out activities to boost brand influence and knowledge.

Chongqing Intellectual Property College Conducts Transnational Online Teaching to Co – research Overseas Trademark Layout

On the morning of October 20, a transnational online teaching session between Chongqing and the Philippines took place in the “General Introduction to Intellectual Property” class at the Chongqing Intellectual Property College of Chongqing University of Technology. Professor Su Ping, Associate Professor Zhang Ting, and outstanding alumnus Zhang Yangke, the director of the Intellectual Property Department of Mixue Group, held a special “overseas trademark layout” course for postgraduate students.

As a global Chinese enterprise, Mixue Group has a systematic intellectual property layout. Zhang Yangke revealed that the group’s global trademark applications exceeded 5,000, covering over 150 countries and regions, with a protection network of trademarks, patents, and copyrights. He analyzed overseas trademark layout strategies and risk prevention based on his Philippine market experience.

During the exchange, the three teachers discussed trademark practices in different legal systems. Students actively asked questions about overseas intellectual property strategies. The college’s person – in – charge said this course is an exploration to cultivate “practical and international” talents, bringing global issues and corporate practices into teaching to broaden students’ horizons and nurture high – level intellectual property talents for global competition.

Collaborating for impact: EPO and IP Australia reach new milestones

Building on the success of their July annual bilateral meeting, the European Patent Office (EPO) and IP Australia have further strengthened cooperation. Three months after the heads meeting in Munich, they announced a plan to launch a pilot programme under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on 1 March 2026. Australian applicants can designate the EPO as their International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) for PCT applications, which will offer them strategic advantages through fast, high – quality search reports and detailed written opinions to accelerate European patent protection. In addition, the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding has been extended for four years to reflect IP Australia’s status as a Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) partner office, enabling both offices to continue strengthening collaboration in patent classification and prepare for new CPC services. These milestones highlight the long – standing value of their partnership and pave the way for future collaboration.

EPO and FICPI Strengthen Dialogue on AI and Cooperation in Patent System

In October 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) enhanced cooperation. At a bilateral meeting in Munich on October 23, chaired by EPO President António Campinos and attended by FICPI President Elia Sugrañes, both organizations reaffirmed commitment to user dialogue and inclusive innovation. FICPI presented resolutions from its 2025 World Congress and outlined future cooperation priorities. The EPO shared updates on multiple aspects including digital transformation and AI deployment.

Both sides recognized the need to develop a patent system using digital and AI – driven tools while ensuring transparency and human expertise. They agreed that institutional – professional collaboration is crucial for innovation systems to keep pace with technology. Earlier that month, EPO Vice – President Nellie Simon represented the EPO at the FICPI World Congress, explaining AI integration, introducing an AI literacy program, and emphasizing global cooperation, training, and ethical oversight in IP – related AI. FICPI, founded in 1906, has over 6,200 members from 80 countries and regions.

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