Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, September 09, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, September 09, 2025

September 9, 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.

National Intellectual Property Administration’s Party Group Meeting: Conveying Instructions and Promoting Work – style Construction

On September 4, the Party Group (Expanded) Meeting and the Party – building Work Leading Group Meeting of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) were held. Chaired by Shen Changyu, the meeting conveyed Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the speech spirit of Cai Qi and Li Xi. It summarized the education on implementing the Central Party’s Eight – Point Regulations. The meeting emphasized that Xi Jinping’s instructions clarified the importance of the regulations and work – style construction. Since the education started, the CNIPA integrated it with multiple tasks, providing training for Party members and cadres. The meeting required continuous efforts in work – style construction, including education, problem – rectification, supervision, system – improvement, and taking political responsibilities, calling on all to contribute to intellectual property development and the construction of an intellectual property – strong country.

Hunan Universities’ Patent Industrialization Rate Rises to 13.6%

According to the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the patent industrialization rate of Hunan universities has soared from 2.5% in 2024 to 13.6% currently, indicating remarkable progress in converting patent technology into productive forces. Since October 2023, Hunan has launched a special action to promote university patent industrialization. It strengthened high – quality supply at the source by establishing a full – life – cycle service system. It also enhanced industrial competitiveness by integrating patent technology with industries, recommending 3 national key industrial intellectual property operation centers and cultivating 297 model enterprises. In 2024, the added value of patent – intensive industries reached 534.554 billion yuan, 10% of the provincial GDP. Moreover, it promoted patent transformation and docking through over 200 activities. In the first half of this year, there were 9,653 patent transfers and licenses, and the patent pledge financing totaled 3.063 billion yuan. The practices of Central South University and Hunan University were chosen as national typical cases.

Time to Discuss the Copyright of Social Media Content: Selling Celebrities’ Weibo Posts in Book Form?

A Chinese celebrity with over 30 million Weibo followers deleted their account, and some merchants sold books of the celebrity’s Weibo posts, sparking copyright – protection discussions. Under Chinese law, works are original intellectual achievements in literary, artistic, and scientific fields. The originality, not the length, of Weibo or WeChat content determines if it’s a work. Original content is protected, excluding public – domain or non – original parts.

Users usually own the copyright of their original content but should check platform agreements. Liking, collecting, or commenting on posts is non – infringing. Infringement occurs in forwarding (if the forwarder knows the content is infringing) and direct copying without permission. Reproducing and selling others’ social media content violates rights and may lead to liability. Platforms can be liable if they don’t act after notice. To avoid infringement, users should clarify ownership, get permission, and follow rules.

“Measures for Marking AI-Generated Synthetic Content” Come into Effect

The “Measures for Marking AI-Generated Synthetic Content” jointly issued by four Chinese departments, including the Cyberspace Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Radio and Television Administration, took effect on September 1st. All AI – generated content like text, pictures, audio, and video must now have explicit or implicit marks.

The “Measures” define explicit marks (perceivable by users in forms like text, sound, or graphics) and implicit marks (added to file data via technical means, hard for users to notice). Service providers are required to add explicit marks in certain cases and implicit marks to file metadata. Network information content dissemination service providers should regulate the spread of such content.

With the rapid development of generative AI and deep – synthesis technologies, which bring both benefits and issues like false information spread, the “Measures” aim to promote AI’s healthy development, standardize content marking, protect the rights of citizens and organizations, and safeguard public interests.

EPO Specification Consistency Dispute: Will G1/25 Rewrite the Rules?

In 2025, Rockwool’s opposition to Knauf’s hydroponic plant patent sparked discussions on the European patent system. Knauf limited its claim to “only organic binders,” conflicting with the original specification, and Rockwool argued it violated Article 84 of the European Patent Convention. This led to a core EPO dispute on whether the specification must be adjusted when claims are modified. The case, G1/25, was sent to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) for a ruling. The core issue is claim – specification consistency when the patentee limits claims, and the Appeal Board asked three legal questions. Different precedents have different views. The EBA’s response will unify discretion and affect strategies. In the Chinese system, specification – claim consistency is emphasized, and courts are cautious about digital evidence. G1/25 is crucial for the EPO, and enterprises should pre – plan compliance, maintain text coordination, and establish digital evidence – storage mechanisms to reduce uncertainties in European reviews and cross – border litigations.

Newly Awarded Gold Medal for Chinese Patent (Industrial Design) Gets a Maximum Reward of 1 Million Yuan! | Full Text of the Implementation Rules for the Allocation Factors of Hangzhou’s Intellectual Property Special Fund Released

The Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government has released the Implementation Rules for the Allocation Factors of Hangzhou’s Intellectual Property Special Fund, effective September 15, 2025. The rules cover multiple aspects of intellectual property, including creation, utilization, protection, management, and services. It rewards high – quality creation, promotes high – benefit utilization, enhances high – standard protection, and focuses on high – efficiency management and high – level service. The funds are under total control and allocated by specific criteria. The rules are valid for three years, and the previous version will be repealed upon implementation.

Selling Genuine Products Can Also Constitute Infringement? It’s All About Unauthorized Additions in Sales Links

The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court made a second – instance judgment in a trademark infringement and unfair competition dispute between BY – HEALTH and two defendants. The defendants sold BY – HEALTH products on platforms like Pinduoduo while bundling their own products. The court held this exceeded the reasonable scope of trademark indicative use, infringing BY – HEALTH’s exclusive rights to registered trademarks and constituting unfair competition. They were ordered to stop the infringement and compensate 300,000 yuan, upholding the first – instance judgment. In June 2023, BY – HEALTH found the defendants used its product titles, pictures and pages in sales links and bundled its products with their “Qian’enjian” brand. The defendants claimed they were selling genuine products and the bundling was to boost consumer desire. But the court found their actions damaged BY – HEALTH’s rights and were to take advantage of its goodwill.

Singapore’s New Developments in AI Patents: Breakthrough from Mathematical Methods to Technical Solutions

In recent years, the global boom in AI has spurred a surge in AI – related patent applications. In October 2024, Singapore’s IPOS issued “Supplementary Examination Guidelines for AI – related Patent Applications” due to AI’s frequent use of non – patent – protected mathematical methods.

The guidelines offer a three – step approach for examiners: interpreting claims, determining actual contributions, and checking non – patentable objects. AI inventions solving specific technical problems (e.g., predicting steel’s tensile strength) are more patent – worthy, while those with overly general applications face difficulties. Business – method – based AI inventions may not be patentable unless they bring substantial technical improvements.

The guidelines stress “full disclosure”. Singapore’s AI patent review is getting more mature and transparent. Applicants should focus on technical problem – solving and full disclosure. Enterprises should emphasize AI’s technical connections and pre – plan specifications.

Taylor Swift’s Trademark Empire: A Textbook Brand Protection Strategy

Taylor Swift, a famous pop star, excels in intellectual property strategy. Ahead of the release of her 12th studio album The Life of a Showgirl, her company TAS Rights Management LLC filed three trademark applications. These applications, including THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL, TLOAS, and an artistic signature T.S., cover diverse goods and services to prevent third – party misuse of her reputation.

Swift’s team used a “silent application” strategy. They filed on August 11, 2025, and the records went public hours later, avoiding disputes with trademark squatters for narrative dominance and legal protection.

The applications have a wide scope, including music and clothing, curbing unauthorized sales and allowing for future licensing. Swift has a large trademark portfolio, with over 300 US and more than 400 global registrations. Her strategy offers insights like preemptive application, wide – category coverage, and proactive rights – protection, highlighting that trademark protection is a key part of business strategy.

About Us

MeritsIP: Your Global Intellectual Property Partner

At MeritsIP, we provide comprehensive IP services in biomedicine, medical devices, manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI. We support 200+ top clients globally with strategic, high-quality IP services.

MeritsIP

MeritsIP