Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, September 15, 2025

Intellectual Property Newsletter by MeritsIP, September 15, 2025

September 15, 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.

Eleven Provinces and Cities Promote Cross – Regional Patent Transformation Collaboration

Recently, a cross – regional patent transformation event and a Shandong patent industrialization promotion activity took place in Jinan. Guided by the CNIPA and hosted by the Shandong Provincial Market Supervision Administration, the event, themed “Circulation of Innovation Elements · Empowering Industrial Development”, aimed to connect cross – regional innovation resources.

Eleven provinces and cities jointly issued a collaboration initiative on cross – regional patent transformation. Multiple signing ceremonies were held, including agreements between Shandong and relevant departments, and cooperation agreements between universities, research institutes, and enterprises.

The “Double Five – Star” patent AI matching results and an AI patent intelligent matching large – model were released. A patent technology roadshow promoted 7 high – quality projects.

Shandong has actively promoted patent industrialization. This year, the number of patent transfers and licenses in Shandong has increased. As of August, the invention patent industrialization rate of local universities and research institutes reached 12.81%, and industrial IP operation centers and patent pools have accumulated many patents.

40 Refined Indicators! Zhejiang Launches Data Intellectual Property Statistical Indicator System

Recently, Zhejiang Province launched a data intellectual property statistical indicator system. Its aim is to scientifically evaluate reform effectiveness and development trends, measure market cultivation and value realization levels of data intellectual property, and offer quantitative support for the market – oriented reform of data elements. The system has a three – level structure with 4 primary, 9 secondary, and 40 refined tertiary indicators. It focuses on data characteristics of cutting – edge fields and emphasizes practical application effects to support the modern data industry ecosystem and digital economy. Zhejiang is the first in the country to launch this system, which is a practical result of its reform and provides a reference for national work.

High-Value Logic of Enterprise Patent Layout

In enterprise intellectual property management, there’s a cognitive gap about patent value. Patent engineers question their contributions, and management often views patents as quantity metrics rather than core competitiveness tools. The crucial issue is transforming patents from “paper achievements” to “market barriers”.

The patent system is tied to enterprise core needs. The exclusive rights of patents can be translated into business logic, giving enterprises a competitive edge by raising competitors’ transaction costs and reducing their resource – allocation efficiency.

Enterprise core patent demands fall into three types: authorization value (basic requirement for meeting “hard indicators”), commercial value (core goal related to market demand and competition), and litigation value (key test, especially important for multinationals).

For patent layout, different values require different approaches. The value model should shift from “protection thinking” to “cost – comparison thinking”. As long as it can increase competitors’ costs, the patent layout is valuable.

The Revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China: A Comparison and Full Text

The revised Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted on September 12, 2025, and will take effect on March 1, 2026. Its goals are to ensure fair and timely economic – dispute arbitration, safeguard parties’ rights, and promote the socialist market economy. The law has eight chapters, covering arbitration institutions, agreements, procedures, etc. It details relevant regulations and parties’ rights and obligations. Significantly, it permits online arbitration, encourages international cooperation, and clarifies rules for arbitrator appointment, hearings, and awards. It also defines grounds for award revocation and enforcement procedures.

New Progress in Murata’s Patent Lawsuit Against Sunlord Electronics: Another Lawsuit Withdrawn, Validity of Multiple Involved Patents Challenged

Since 2024, Sunlord Electronics has faced multiple patent infringement disputes with Murata. On September 6, 2025, Sunlord announced Murata withdrew lawsuit (2024) Hu 73 Zhi Min Chu 137. In August 2024, Murata filed 5 lawsuits against Sunlord and Shanghai Xuqin, claiming 2.5 million yuan in total. Previously, on March 6, 2025, lawsuit (2024) Hu 73 Zhi Min Chu 136 was withdrawn. The other three are under trial.

Sunlord challenged the validity of the involved patents. The CNIPA declared ZL201580012303.8 completely invalid, and parts of ZL201310020785.4 and ZL200880100996.6 invalid. The results of ZL201610108687.X and ZL201811351471.1 are pending. In March 2025, Murata sued again, and Sunlord challenged the validity of the new patents. Part of ZL201810666257.9 was declared invalid, and the result of ZL201811382715.2 is awaited. Murata’s actions may be due to strategy adjustment. Sunlord has achieved phased results, and multiple lawsuits are still ongoing.

Trademark | Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court: “Zhuanzhuan” Granted Cross-category Well-known Trademark Protection

In a trademark infringement case between Beijing Zhuanzhuan Jingshen Technology (plaintiff) and Zhuanzhuan (Qingdao) Film and Television Culture (defendant), the Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court made key rulings. The plaintiff’s “Zhuanzhuan” trademark (No. 17859390) is for Class 35 services, while the defendant’s are in TV production and cultural event organization, so it was necessary to determine the trademark’s well – known status at the time of the alleged infringement. Based on market share, usage duration, advertising, and reputation, the court found the “Zhuanzhuan” trademark well – known to relevant Chinese consumers. The defendant’s use of “Zhuanzhuan” on its WeChat account was trademark – like use, identical or similar to the well – known trademark, thus an infringement. The court ordered the defendant to stop the infringement, pay 100,000 yuan in compensation and expenses to the plaintiff, and dismissed other claims. The case number is (2024) Lu 02 Min Chu 1589, and the judgment was made on April 10, 2025, citing Chinese trademark laws and interpretations.

Copyright | Pudong Court: The Theme Song of Bright Swords was Infringed and Adapted by an Enterprise

The plaintiff, Li Mouying and Beijing Moumou Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., sued several defendants including Moumou Insurance Co., Ltd. Shangqiu Central Branch for infringing on the copyright of the song Spirit of the Chinese Army, the theme song of Bright Swords composed by Li Mouying. The defendant, Li Mowu, adapted the lyrics for business purposes. The plaintiffs claimed multiple rights were infringed. The Pudong Court ruled that the plaintiff held the copyright, Li Mowu’s act was job – related, and the defendants infringed multiple copyrights, especially the integrity and performance rights. The court ordered the defendants to stop the infringement, apologize, eliminate the impact, and compensate 60,000 yuan. The plaintiff appealed, but the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court rejected the appeal and upheld the original judgment.

Overview of the Moroccan Trademark Opposition System

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Moroccan trademark opposition system. Based on “Law No. 23 – 13 of 2014” and enforced by the Moroccan Office for Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), it aims to protect trademark owners’ rights. The OMPIC is in charge of trademark – related work, and foreign objectors need local agents. Documents should be in French or Arabic. The opposition must be filed within 60 days after trademark publication; otherwise, costlier measures may be needed. Oppositions should be based on specific statutory grounds with evidence. The process has four stages, with a standard cycle of 10 – 18 months, which can be extended. Practical suggestions for enterprises include proper registration strategies, evidence preparation, monitoring announcements, and following policy updates.

[One Article to Understand] Namibia’s Trademark Opposition System

This article comprehensively introduces Namibia’s trademark opposition system, which is based on the “Industrial Property Act No. 1 of 2019” and implemented by the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA). Its aim is to balance the interests of trademark owners and the public and prevent malicious registration and rights conflicts. The system details include: BIPA is the sole authority for handling trademark opposition cases, with specific requirements for document language and submission methods; objectors must file within 60 days after the trademark is announced; oppositions must be based on statutory reasons with relevant evidence; the process has four stages, and the losing party can appeal to the High Court; the standard process takes 10 – 18 months, and the judicial stage may take an additional 2 – 5 years; it faces challenges in protecting traditional knowledge and dealing with cross – border evidence; enterprises can adopt certain strategies for registration and monitoring. Additionally, the implementation of the AfCFTA’s intellectual property protocol may simplify the opposition process in the future.

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