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.

The Regulations on Patent Promotion of Tianjin Municipality to Take Effect on November 1, 2025

On September 24, 2025, the 21st meeting of the Standing Committee of the 18th Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress approved the Regulations on Patent Promotion of Tianjin Municipality, effective November 1, 2025. The regulations aim to stimulate innovation and patent transformation, and promote the integration of technological and industrial innovation for Tianjin’s new productive forces and high – quality development. It supports pilot areas to explore innovative measures and emphasizes regional and international cooperation. Regarding patent creation, it supports high – value patent cultivation and application in emerging fields. For utilization, it encourages patent alliances and pools and the integration of patents and standards. The regulations include incentives for inventors, focus on talent cultivation, public service capacity building, and financial innovation. They also encourage universities and research institutions to license patents to SMEs flexibly, support enterprises in applying for foreign patents, and assist in overseas patent disputes.

Zhejiang’s First Patent Search and Analysis Competition Finals Successfully Held

On September 15, the finals of the first Zhejiang Patent Search and Analysis Competition, guided by the Zhejiang Intellectual Property Office and hosted by the Hangzhou Agency, took place. Officials from relevant institutions attended. The finals had professional and public tracks, using “online answering + offline defense”. Ten experts from various institutions served as judges. Thirty finalists from different sectors in Zhejiang completed the competition questions and presented via PPT defense. The experts evaluated the contestants’ abilities, guiding them to form a three – dimensional thinking and training the talent team. In the future, Zhejiang will summarize the competition experience, discover and cultivate talents, and support building a high – level intellectual property – strong province.

Intellectual Property Empowers Innovation and Development: Jinan’s Laiwu District in Shandong Reaches 21.03 Effective Invention Patents per 10,000 People

This news reports the achievements of Laiwu District, Jinan, Shandong in intellectual property work this year. Guided by the “Project Improvement Year”, the Market Supervision Bureau (Intellectual Property Office) extended services to enterprises, driving economic development. As of July, the per – ten – thousand – people effective invention patent ownership reached 21.03, with 112 national intellectual property advantage and standard – compliant enterprises. The number of enterprises’ effective invention patents rose to 2067. A local company’s technology got a US patent, showing international recognition. The bureau cultivated high – value patents, with 420 new invention patent authorizations in H1, a doubled increase. In financing, it supported patent right pledges, with over 500 million yuan in new financing in H1 and 4 billion yuan in cumulative financing, ranking second in Jinan for four consecutive years. 106 enterprises passed the intellectual property standard – compliance certification, and the bureau promoted the work, enhancing enterprises’ intellectual property capabilities.

Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei Jointly Issue Work Regulations for Overseas IP Dispute Response

Recently, six national overseas intellectual property dispute response guidance local sub – centers in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei jointly issued the “Work Regulations for Overseas Intellectual Property Dispute Response Guidance in the Beijing – Tianjin – Hebei Region”. This achievement of “the same work with the same standards” in overseas IP protection provides more standardized rights – protection services for regional enterprises going global.

The regulations clarify application materials, acceptance procedures, etc. Applicants can choose experts from relevant databases. Local sub – centers should actively guide market entities in disputes, track the process, and form public service products.

The issuance of the regulations is a key step in implementing the Beijing – Tianjin – Hebei coordinated development strategy and optimizing the IP business environment. It improves service synergy and consistency, helping enterprises handle disputes more efficiently.

Since 2021, the three regions have deepened cooperation. In the future, they will use the regulations as an opportunity to promote resource sharing, strengthen cooperation for industrial development, and build an overseas IP rights – protection service network.

Qinghai Releases Patent Value Evaluation Guide for the Biomedical Field

Recently, under the guidance of the Qinghai Provincial Market Supervision Administration, the Patent Value Evaluation Guide for the Biomedical Field, jointly drafted by multiple institutions, was released and took effect on September 22, 2025. It’s the first of its kind in Qinghai, filling the standardization gap in the biomedical patent – evaluation field and providing a reference for local industries. The Guide solves the problem of accurate patent – value evaluation by establishing a comprehensive framework and multi – dimensional index system. It offers a unified standard for innovation entities, facilitating the construction of a standardized “R & D – patent – evaluation – transformation” chain. It can be applied to various scenarios, accelerating innovation – achievement transformation. Next, the provincial Intellectual Property Office will use the Guide’s implementation to guide R & D in advantageous fields and promote the construction of the intellectual property standard system for high – quality economic development.

Liaoning Aims to Solve Difficulties in Trademark Registration, Management, Utilization, and Protection

The Liaoning Intellectual Property Administration recently issued the Implementation Plan for the Three – year Action of “Trademark Empowerment and Brand Strengthening” (2025 – 2027) to leverage trademarks’ role in brand building and industrial development, aiming to turn “Liaoning products” into “Liaoning brands”. The core goal is to establish and manage the “Liaoning Key Trademark Service and Guidance Directory”, with at least 350 enterprises included in 2025 and about 3000 by 2027. The main tasks involve guiding enterprises in trademark brand building, solving registration issues, preventing squatting, and providing overseas layout guidance. It also focuses on standardizing management, improving utilization efficiency, and enhancing protection capabilities. To ensure implementation, Liaoning will screen local enterprises’ trademark use, establish a key directory, and provide hierarchical and precise services to directory – listed enterprises.

China National Intellectual Property Administration – European Patent Office Joint Communique on Extension of Pilot Project for International Searching Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

The pilot project of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the European Patent Office (EPO) for the International Searching Authority (ISA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) will be extended until November 30, 2031. Chinese applicants can continue to choose the EPO as the ISA. The decision was made at a meeting in Porto on September 22, 2025. Since its launch in December 2020, over 770 relevant entities have chosen the EPO as the ISA, getting search reports and opinions to speed up European patent protection. Chinese applicants can enjoy benefits like accelerating the European patent grant process, saving time and costs, and reducing examination fees by 75% when entering the European phase. The project maintains an annual application cap of 3,000 and requires English – submitted documents. CNIPA Director Shen Changyu welcomed the extension, and EPO Director Antonio Campinos said it’s a model of international strategic cooperation that will aid Chinese innovators in the European IP field.

EPO and CNIPA Celebrate 40 Years of Cooperation in Porto

On September 22, 2025, EPO President António Campinos and CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu held an annual bilateral meeting in Porto, commemorating 40 years of close cooperation. They renewed the CPC MoU for three years until December 31, 2028, and extended the PCT – framework pilot programme for five years until November 30, 2031, to enhance patent – classification collaboration and international patent – service quality and efficiency. The office heads reviewed four decades of cooperation, highlighting achievements and reaffirming support for innovators. They also discussed IP5 developments. Campinos stressed the strong 40 – year collaboration. Bilateral cooperation began in 1985 and became a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2017. In 2024, CNIPA received over 1.8 million patent applications, and China is the fourth – most active origin country for EPO applications, with growing use of the Unitary Patent by Chinese innovators in Europe.

Opposition Matters 2025

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) hosted the “Opposition Matters” online event for patent professionals. More than 1,300 participants globally registered for the event held on September 18 – 19. Experts from the EPO and epi addressed pressing issues in opposition proceedings, emphasizing strategic considerations and emerging trends. It is the EPO’s premier event for professionals to keep abreast of developments. Speakers from EPO departments and experienced patent attorneys shared best practices. Sessions covered the impact and interaction between EPO opposition and UPC revocation/infringement proceedings, AI use in opposition, and the admissibility of auxiliary requests. This conference is part of the EPO’s collaboration with epi, fulfilling its commitment in the Strategic Plan 2028 to provide high – quality training. It offers a knowledge – exchange platform, promotes professional development, and supports the EPO’s goals for a transparent, inclusive, and high – quality patent system.

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