中伦文德国际知识产权观察 - 2024年6月刊 International IP/IT Review June. 2024

国家知识产权强国建设工作部际联席会

议办公室印发《2024年知识产权

强国建设推进计划》，拟推动

多项知产法律规章修改

《计划》指出，要完善知识产权制度，完善知识产权法律法规规章，推进《中华人民共和国商标法》、《中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法》、《中华人民共和国著作权法实施条例》、《著作权集体管理条例》修改，推进制定《民间文学艺术作品著作权保护条例》；改革完善知识产权重大政策，推进《知识产权领域中央与地方财政事权和支出责任划分改革方案》贯彻落实；完善新兴领域和特定领域知识产权规则，完善互联网领域知识产权保护规则。此外，《计划》还就知识产权保护、市场运行机制、公共服务水平等多个方面制定了工作计划。

文德短评:

国家知识产权强国建设工作部际联席会议办公室发布的《计划》体现了中国在知识产权领域的全面布局与前瞻性。通过推动商标法、反不正当竞争法等多项法律规章的修改，该计划强调了法律体系的与时俱进，以适应市场和技术的快速变化。特别是对互联网和新兴领域知识产权保护规则的完善，将有效维护创新环境和公平竞争。此外，《民间文学艺术作品著作权保护条例》的制定，显示了对传统文化保护的重视。通过改革财政事权和支出责任划分，明确中央

The Office of the Inter-ministerial Joint Conference on Building a Strong Intellectual Property Country issued the 2024 Plan for Building a Strong Intellectual Property Country, intending to promote the revision of a number of laws and regulations on intellectual property

The Plan points out that we should improve the intellectual property system, improve the intellectual property laws, regulations and regulations, promote the revision of the Trademark Law of the P.R.C, the Regulations of the Copyright Law of the P.R.C, as well as promote the formulation of the Regulations on the Copyright Protection of Folk Literary and Artistic Works. It is crucial to  reform and improve major intellectual property policies, and promote the implementation of the Reform Plan for the Division of Duties and Expenditure Responsibilities of Central and Local Finance in the Intellectual Property Field; improve intellectual property rules in emerging fields and special fields, and improve intellectual property protection rules in the Internet field. In addition, the Plan also provides work plans for intellectual property protection, market operation mechanism, public service level, and other aspects.

ZLWD Commentary：

The Plan reflects China's comprehensive layout and forward-looking approach in the field of intellectual property rights. By promoting the revision of many laws and regulations, including the Trademark Law and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the Plan highlights the need for the legal system to keep pace with the rapid changes in the market and technology. 

In particular, the improvement of intellectual property right protection rules in internet and emerging fields will effectively maintain innovation environment and fair competition. In addition, the formulation of the Regulations on the Copyright Protection of Folk Literary and Artistic Works demonstrates the importance attached to the protection of traditional culture. Reforming the division of fiscal powers and expenditure responsibilities and clarifying the responsibilities of the central and local governments is conducive to raising the efficiency of policy implementation and the level of public services.

国家知识产权局于5月10日出具公告告知专利证书修改事宜。公告释明，对于授权公告日在2024年6月1日之后（含当日）的专利，国家知识产权局颁发新版专利证书；新版专利证书沿用A4规格竖排版式，优化调整著录事项布局；旧版、新版专利证书具有同等法律效力；已颁发的旧版专利证书，国家知识产权局不提供更换新版专利证书服务；对于依据《专利审查指南》第五部分第九章1.2节的规定请求更换或更正专利证书的，2024年6月1日（含当日）之后，国家知识产权局颁发新版专利证书。

文德短评:

国家知识产权局于5月10日发布公告，宣布新版专利证书的实施。新版证书保持A4规格竖排版式，优化了信息布局，提升了可读性。自2024年6月1日起，授权公告的专利将颁发新版证书，旧版与新版证书具同等法律效力，且旧版证书不再更换。这一改版体现了对现代管理需求的适应，确保过渡期平稳，同时简化了更换和更正程序，表明了知识产权局优化服务、提升管理水平的努力。

The CNIPA patent certificate has been updated

The CNIPA issued an announcement on 10 May to inform the modification of patent certificates. The announcement explains that, for patents with the date of the notice of authorisation after 1 June 2024 (including the same date), the CNIPA will issue a new version of the patent certificate; the new version of the patent certificate will follow the vertical layout of A4 specifications, and optimise and adjust the layout of the matter to be recorded; 

the old version and the new version of the patent certificate will have the same legal effect; the CNIPA will not provide any replacement of the new version of the patent certificate if the old version of the certificate has already been issued; and the CNIPA will not provide any replacement of the new version of the patent certificate if According to the provisions of Part V, Chapter 9, Section 1.2 of the Patent Examination Guidelines, the CNIPA will issue a new version of the patent certificate after 1 June 2024 (including that day) if the patent certificate is requested to be replaced or corrected.

ZLWD Commentary：

The CNIPA issued a notice on May 10 of the implementation of the new patent certificate. The new version of the certificate maintains the A4 specification vertical layout, optimizes the information layout, and improves the readability. Starting from June 1, 2024, a new version of the certificate will be issued. The old version has the same legal effect as the new version of the certificate, and the old version of the certificate will not be replaced. This revision reflects the adaptation to the needs of modern management, ensures the smooth transition period, and simplifies the replacement and correction procedures, indicating the efforts of the WIPO to optimize services and improve the management level.

国家知识产权局等九部门联合印发

《知识产权保护体系建设工程实施方案》

《实施方案》指出，建设知识产权保护体系的重点包括知识产权保护政策和标准体系、执法司法体系、授权确权体系、保护管理体系、社会共治体系、国家安全治理体系和保护能力支撑体系七个方面，并设定了在2035年基本实现知识产权保护体系和保护能力现代化的工作目标。

其中，在执法司法体系建设方面，《实施方案》要求建设高水平知识产权审判机构，完善专门化审判体系，加强知识产权案件检察监督机制建设，并全面实施知识产权侵权惩罚性赔偿制度，完善侵权损害赔偿的证据规则、数额计算等裁判标准；与此同时，完善知识产权行政执法机制，加大行政执法力度，严厉打击侵权假冒违法行为，并强化知识产权行政执法专业指导和行政裁决体系建设。

在授权确权体系建设方面，《实施方案》要求提高授权确权质量和效率，实现到 2025 年，发明专利审查周期压减至 15 个月，一般情形商标注册周期稳定在 7 个月，发明专利结案准确率 95%以上，商标审查抽检合格率 97%以上，进而实现构建审查能力突出、代理服务规范、 创新主体满意的知识产权授权确权体系的目标。

文德短评：

国知局等九部门联合发布的《实施方案》展现了系统性和前瞻性。通过构建涵盖政策、标准、执法、司法、授权、管理、社会共治和国家安全的全面体系，设定2035年实现现代化的目标，展示了对知识产权保护的深远规划。特别是强化知识产权审判机构和惩罚性赔偿制度，有助于提高司法效力和震慑力。提升审查质量和效率的目标，则有助于加速授权进程，满足创新需求，提升体系公信力。

The CNIPA and nine other departments jointly issued the Implementation Plan for the Intellectual Property Protection System

"Implementation plan", points out that the focus of the construction of intellectual property protection system including intellectual property protection policy and standard system, law enforcement and judicial system, authorization approval system, protection management system, social work system, national security management system and protection ability support system from seven aspects, and set in 2035 basic implementation intellectual property protection system and protection ability of modern work target.

Among them, in terms of the construction of law enforcement and judicial system, the Implementation Plan requires the construction of high-level intellectual property trial institutions, the improvement of specialized trial system, and the construction of the procuratorial supervision mechanism of intellectual property cases, the punitive compensation system of intellectual property infringement and the same time, the intellectual property administrative law enforcement mechanism shall be improved, the administrative law enforcement shall be strengthened, the illegal acts of infringement and counterfeiting, and the professional guidance of intellectual property administrative adjudication system shall be strengthened.

In respect of the construction of the authorisation system, the Implementation Plan requires that the quality and efficiency of authorisation be improved, so as to achieve the goal that by 2025, the examination cycle for invention patents will be reduced to 15 months, the cycle for general trademark registration will be stabilised at 7 months, the accuracy rate of invention patent cases will be more than 95%, and the passing rate of trademark examination sampling will be more than 97%, so as to achieve the goal of constructing a system of intellectual property rights authorisation and verification that is outstanding in terms of examination capability, standardised in terms of agency service and satisfactory to innovation subjects. In this way, the goal of building an intellectual property rights authorisation system with outstanding examination capability, standardised agency services and satisfaction of innovation subjects will be achieved.

ZLWD Commentary：

The implementation Plan, jointly issued by the CNIPA and other nine departments, is systematic and forward-looking. By building a comprehensive system covering policy, standards, law enforcement, justice, authorization, management, social governance and national security, and setting the goal of achieving modernization by 2035, it demonstrates a far-reaching plan for intellectual property protection. In particular, strengthening the intellectual property judicial institutions and the punitive compensation system will help to improve the judicial effectiveness and deterrence. The goal of improving the quality and efficiency of the review will help to accelerate the licensing process, meet the needs of innovation, and enhance the credibility of the system.

《报告》详细统计分析了2023年上海市在专利、商标和地理标志等方面的各项数据。具体来看，在知识产权申请与获准授权数据方面，2023年，上海市发明专利授权量4.43万件，同比增长20.51%；PCT国际专利申请量6185件，同比增长10.62%。至2023年末，有效发明专利量24.14万件，同比增长19.53%，高价值发明专利拥有量12.43万件，同比增长22.09%，每万人口高价值发明专利拥有量为50.2件，同比增加9.3件。2023年上海市商标申请量36.95万件，商标注册量为23.58万件；至2023年末，有效商标注册量261.35万件，同比增长7.66%，每万户市场主体的平均有效注册商标拥有量为7647件。

在知识产权质押融资方面，2023上海市全年专利及商标质押融资登记项目1370笔，同比增长163.97%，质押总额227.6亿元，同比增长87%。此外，至2023年末，上海市获批地理标志产品8个，作为集体商标、证明商标的地理标志18件，核准使用地理标志专用标志的市场主体229家。

同时，至2023年末，上海市共有知识产权代理机构2038家。其中，专利代理机构340家，商标代理机构1698家。2023年，授权发明专利代理率96%，商标代理率90.92%。 

文德短评 ：

上海市知识产权局发布的《报告》展示了显著进展。2023年发明专利授权量达4.43万件，同比增长20.51%，PCT国际专利申请量6185件，同比增长10.62%。质押融资登记项目增长163.97%，总额达227.6亿元，显示知识产权在融资中的重要性。此外，知识产权代理机构数量和代理率高，表明专业服务能力提升。总体来看，报告反映了上海在知识产权保护和运用方面的显著成效，为其他地区提供了有益借鉴。

Shanghai Intellectual Property Office issued the Report on Shanghai Intellectual Property Development (2023)

The report makes a detailed statistical analysis of Shanghai's data on patents, trademarks and geographical indications in 2023. Specifically, in terms of intellectual property application and approved authorization data, in 2023, Shanghai invention patents were 44,300, up 20.51% year on year; the number of PCT international patent applications was 6,185, up 10.62% year on year. By the end of 2023, the number of effective invention patents was 241,400, with a year-on-year growth of 19.53%, and the number of high-value invention patents was 124,300, with a year-on-year growth of 22.09%.

The number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 population was 50.2, with an increase of 9.3 year on year. In 2023, the number of trademark applications in Shanghai was 369,500, and the number of trademark registrations was 235,800; by the end of 2023, the number of effective trademark registrations was 2,613,500, with a year-on-year increase of 7.66%, and the average number of effective registered trademarks per 10,000 market entities was 7,647.

In terms of intellectual property pledge financing, there were 1,370 patent and trademark pledge financing projects registered in Shanghai in 2023, up 163.97% year on year, and the total amount of pledge was 22.76 billion yuan, up 87% year on year. In addition, by the end of 2023, Shanghai has approved 8 products for geographical indications, 18 geographical indications as collective trademarks and certification trademarks, and 229 market entities have been approved to use special marks for geographical indications.

Meanwhile, by the end of 2023, there will be 2,038 intellectual property agencies in Shanghai. Among them, there are 340 patent agencies and 1,698 trademark agencies. In 2023, the agency rate of authorized invention patents and the trademark agency rate was 90.92%.

ZLWD Commentary：

The Report released by the Shanghai Intellectual Property Office demonstrates remarkable progress.2023 The number of invention patents granted reached 44,300, a year-on-year increase of 20.51%, and the number of PCT international patent applications was 6,185, a year-on-year increase of 10.62%. The number of registered projects for pledge financing increased by 163.97%, totalling RMB 22.76 billion, showing the importance of intellectual property rights in financing. In addition, the number of IP agencies and the high agency rate indicate an increase in professional service capacity. Overall, the report reflects Shanghai's remarkable achievements in the protection and application of intellectual property rights, providing useful reference for other regions.

最高人民法院知识产权法庭

对宣称软件免费使用，实为诱发大批量

“钓鱼式”知识产权维权的行为不予支持 

最高人民法院知识产权法庭对一家软件公司的批量诉讼行为进行了审查，该公司宣称其自助建网软件免费使用，但实际上通过用户协议设定了保留版权标识的条件，并以此为基础提起了大量知识产权侵权诉讼。

最高法知产庭对该类批量诉讼案件进行了专项调研，发现软件公司在全国范围内提起了大量诉讼，涉嫌“钓鱼式维权”。法庭认为，软件公司以免费软件为诱饵，通过诉讼牟利的方式，违反了诚信的商业经营原则，其行为不应得到法律的支持。

基于此，最高法知产庭指导各级法院对此类案件进行合理判决，适度调低了赔偿金额，并引导软件公司采取正当的维权方式。法庭还明确表示，不支持以不当经营方式诱发侵权并通过索赔牟利的行为，同时要求各级法院对此类案件进行公正合理的裁决。

文德短评：

最高人民法院知识产权法庭对软件公司“钓鱼式”维权行为的不予支持，彰显了对商业诚信和正当维权方式的重视。该公司利用免费软件诱导用户违反版权标识条款，然后大量提起侵权诉讼的行为，被认定为不诚信的商业经营。最高法知产庭的判决合理调低了赔偿金额，并引导企业采取正当维权途径。这一裁决不仅保护了用户的合法权益，也传递了明确的司法信号，进一步维护了市场秩序和司法公正。

The Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme People's Court does not support the claim that the free use of the software is intended to induce large quantities of "phishing" intellectual property rights protection

The Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme People's Court reviewed a batch lawsuit of a software company, which claimed that its self-service network software was free to use, but in fact set the conditions for retaining the copyright logo through the user agreement, and filed a large number of intellectual property infringement lawsuits on this basis.

The court conducted a special investigation on this kind of batch litigation cases, and found that software companies filed a large number of lawsuits nationwide, suspected of "phishing rights protection". The court held that the software company used free software as bait and made profits through litigation, violating the business operation principle of good faith, and its behavior should not be supported by the law.

Based on this, the Supreme Court guided the courts at all levels to make reasonable judgments on such cases, appropriately reduced the amount of compensation, and guided the software companies to take legitimate ways to protect their rights. The court also made it clear that it did not support the misconduct of inducing infringement and making profit through claims, and asked the courts at all levels to make fair and reasonable decisions on such cases.

ZLWD Commentary：

The Supreme People's Court Intellectual Property Court's refusal to support the software company's "phishing" rights defence demonstrated the importance it attaches to business integrity and legitimate rights defence. The company's use of free software to induce users to violate the terms of copyright labelling and then filing a large number of infringement lawsuits was found to be a dishonest business operation. The judgement of the Intellectual Property Court of the Supreme Court reasonably lowered the amount of compensation and guided the company to take proper ways to defend its rights. This ruling not only protects the legitimate rights and interests of users, but also sends a clear judicial signal, further safeguarding market order and judicial justice.

广东省高级人民法院对百度网盘侵害

作品信息网络传播权纠纷再审案宣判，

认定百度构成间接侵权

翡翠东方广州分公司是《食为奴》视听作品在中国内地信息网络传播权的独家被许可人，因用户可通过百度网盘离线下载、分享《食为奴》文件，其指控百度公司构成直接侵权与间接侵权，请求法院判令百度公司赔偿经济损失及合理维权开支共计215万元。广州市天河区人民法院一审认定百度公司不构成侵权，驳回翡翠东方广州分公司全部诉讼请求。翡翠东方广州分公司不服，向广州知识产权法院提起上诉。广州知识产权法院二审认定百度公司构成直接侵权与间接侵权，判决其赔偿经济损失及合理维权开支共计50万元。百度公司不服，向广东高院申请再审。

广东高院再审认为，用户使用百度网盘“离线下载”涉案文件，下载页面可显示文件的下载速度和进度，证明百度网盘与第三方之间存在文件数据传输，文件来源于第三方，百度网盘仅充当下载工具，百度公司不构成直接侵权。上海翡翠东方传播公司发送的告知函，缺乏涉案作品被网盘用户侵害的初步证据，不构成有效通知，百度公司收到后未采取制止侵权措施并无过错。但是翡翠东方广州分公司在一审固定诉讼请求之前，向百度公司补充提交了百度网盘用户侵权的证据。百度公司仅断开涉案侵权链接，未采取必要措施屏蔽文件的“分享”功能，从补充证据之日起至授权到期日止4个月内，造成了翡翠东方广州分公司的扩大损失，百度公司对此具有主观过错，应当承担相应的间接侵权责任。5月30日，广东高院判决百度公司赔偿翡翠东方广州分公司经济损失及合理维权开支共计10万元。

宣判结束后，本案审判长、广东高院民三庭副庭长欧丽华特别指出，云存储服务商对于用户的侵权行为是否采取了必要措施，其判断标准是“阻止涉案侵权行为”+“阻止、预防其他与涉案侵权行为相同的行为”。根据侵权的严重程度不同，落实“阻止及预防”标准的具体措施应有不同。对于大量知名度不高、非热播、未被列入重点保护作品预警名单的作品，屏蔽涉案分享链接所指向文件的“分享”功能，通常已能达到“阻止及预防”侵权的效果。

文德短评:

广东高院对百度网盘侵权案再审的裁决显示出对云存储服务责任界定的深思熟虑。法院认定百度在收到侵权通知后未即时采取有效措施，从而构成了间接侵权责任，这一判决在维护版权持有者权益的同时，也为云存储服务商明确了预防侵权的责任。审判长指出，云存储服务商应根据侵权行为的不同严重程度采取相应措施，这为未来类似案件的判断提供了指导。这样的裁决不仅在法律上强化了对知识产权保护的支持，也在实践中促进了云服务行业的合规发展，避免了未授权内容的传播和侵权行为的滥用。

Guangdong Provincial High People's Court on Baidu network disk infringement of the rights of information dissemination dispute retrial verdict, that Baidu constitutes indirect infringement

Feicui Dongfang Guangzhou is the exclusive licensee of the right to disseminate the audiovisual works of "Shi Wei Nu" on the information network in PRC. Since users can download and share the files of "Shi Wei Nu” offline through BD, it alleged that BD constituted both direct and indirect infringement of the rights of the users, and requested that BD be ordered to compensate for the economic loss and reasonable expenses of defending the rights of the users, totalling 2,150,000 RMB.

The Guangzhou Tianhe District People's Court of the first instance found that Baidu did not constitute infringement and rejected all of Jade Oriental Guangzhou Branch's claims. Jade Oriental Guangzhou Branch appealed to the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court. The Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court found that Baidu constituted direct and indirect infringement, and awarded compensation of 500,000 RMB for the economic loss and reasonable expenses incurred in defending its rights. Baidu was not satisfied and applied to the Guangdong High Court for a retrial.

The Guangdong Higher People's Court held that the user's use of Baidu.com to "offline download" the file in question, and the download page displaying the download speed and progress of the file, proved that there was a file data transfer between Baidu.com and the third party, that the file originated from the third party, and that Baidu.com only acted as a download tool, and that Baidu.com did not constitute a direct infringement of the copyright. The notification letter sent by Shanghai Jade Oriental Communication Company lacked prima facie evidence that the work in question was infringed by the users of the net disc, and did not constitute an effective notification, and Baidu was not at fault for failing to take measures to stop the infringement after receiving it. 

However, Jade Oriental Guangzhou Branch submitted additional evidence of infringement by Baidu.com users to Baidu before fixing the claim in the first instance. Baidu only disconnected the infringing links, but did not take the necessary measures to block the "sharing" function of the files, which caused Jade Oriental Guangzhou Branch to suffer expanded losses within four months from the date of the supplementary evidence to the expiry date of the authorisation, for which Baidu was subjectively at fault and should bear the corresponding indirect infringement liability. On 30th May, Guangdong High Court ruled that Baidu compensated Jade Oriental Guangzhou Branch for the economic loss and reasonable expenses of 100,000 RMB.

After the verdict, Ou Lihua, the chief judge of the case and the deputy chief judge of the Guangdong High People's Court, specifically pointed out that whether the cloud storage service provider has taken necessary measures for the infringement is to "prevent the infringement involved" + "prevent and prevent other acts the same as the infringement involved". According to the severity of the infringement, the specific measures to implement the "prevention and prevention" standard should be different. For a large number of well-known, non-popular and not included in the warning list of key protected works, the "sharing" function of the files directed to the sharing links involved in the case can usually achieve the effect of "preventing and preventing" infringement.

ZLWD Commentary：

The Guangdong High Court's decision on the retrial of the Baidu.com Internet disc infringement case shows a thoughtful approach to defining the liability of cloud storage services. The court found that Baidu failed to take effective measures immediately after receiving the infringement notice, thus constituting indirect infringement liability. 

This judgement safeguards the rights and interests of copyright holders while clarifying the responsibility of cloud storage service providers to prevent infringement. The presiding judge pointed out that cloud storage service providers should take appropriate measures according to the different severity of the infringement, which provides guidance for the judgement of similar cases in the future. Such a ruling not only strengthens the support for intellectual property protection in law, but also promotes the compliant development of the cloud service industry in practice, and avoids the dissemination of unauthorised content and the abuse of infringing acts.

国家知识产权局与阿联酋经济部

签署知识产权领域合作谅解备忘录

中国国家知识产权局局长申长雨与阿联酋外贸国务部长宰尤迪分别代表两国知识产权主管部门《中华人民共和国国家知识产权局与阿拉伯联合酋长国经济部知识产权领域合作谅解备忘录》。中阿双方同意，在发明专利、外观设计、商标、地理标志、集成电路布图设计等领域开展合作。

文德短评：

这一合作谅解备忘录标志着中阿在知识产权领域的深化合作，涵盖了多个重要领域如发明专利和商标。此举不仅有助于加强两国在知识产权保护和管理方面的交流与合作，也为双方经济发展和创新合作搭建了坚实桥梁。这种跨国合作将推动知识产权国际化合作的发展，为全球创新和技术进步注入新的动力。

The CNIPA and the Ministry of Economy signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of intellectual property rights of the UAE

intellectual property authorities of the two countries, respectively, "Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Field of Intellectual Property between the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates". China and the UAE agreed to cooperate in the fields of invention patents, designs, trademarks, geographical indications and integrated circuit layout designs.

ZLWD Commentary：

This Memorandum of Understanding  marks the deepening of Sino-Arab co-operation in the field of intellectual property, covering a number of important areas such as invention patents and trademarks. The move not only helps to strengthen exchanges and co-operation between the two countries in IP protection and management, but also builds a solid bridge for economic development and innovation co-operation between the two sides. This cross-border cooperation will promote the development of internationalised IP cooperation and give new impetus to global innovation and technological progress.

中非专利审查高速路试点启动

中非PPH试点启动以后，双方申请人可以按照中非专利审查高速路试点项目下提出PPH请求的流程，向CNIPA或ARIPO提出PPH请求。

PPH是不同国家或地区间的专利快速审查通道，通过专利审查机构之间的工作共享加快专利审查进程。自2011年11月启动首项PPH试点至今，国家知识产权局已经先后与32个国家或地区的专利审查机构建立了PPH合作。

文德短评：

中非专利审查高速路试点的启动，标志着中非在知识产权合作领域的深化与拓展。通过PPH机制，双方申请人将享受到更加高效的专利审查服务，加速技术创新成果的保护和市场应用。这种试点项目不仅有助于促进中非之间的科技交流与合作，也为未来更广泛的国际合作模式提供了宝贵经验。随着试点的实施，预计将为中非两国的创新企业和科技机构带来更多便利和机遇。

The pilot project of the China-Africa patent examination highway was launched

The CNIPA and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) have jointly decided that the China-Africa Patent Examination Highway (PPH) Pilot Project was launched on 8 June for a period of five years until 7 June 2029.

After the launch of the China-Africa PPH Pilot, applicants from both sides can follow the process of filing a PPH request under the China-Africa Patent Examination Highway Pilot Project to file a PPH request with CNIPA or ARIPO.

PPH is a fast-track patent examination corridor between different countries or regions, which accelerates the patent examination process through work sharing among patent examination organisations. Since the launch of the first PPH pilot project in November 2011, the State Intellectual Property Office has established PPH cooperation with patent examination organisations in 32 countries or regions.

ZLWD Commentary：

The launch of the China-Africa Patent Examination Highway (PPH) pilot programme marks the deepening and expansion of China-Africa cooperation in the field of intellectual property rights. Through the PPH mechanism, applicants from both sides will enjoy more efficient patent examination services and accelerate the protection and market application of technological innovations. Such pilot projects not only help to promote scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa, but also provide valuable experience for a broader model of international cooperation in the future. With the implementation of the pilot, it is expected to bring more convenience and opportunities to innovative enterprises and science and technology organisations in China and Africa.