As known from the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO), more than ten thousand patent administrative enforcement cases were handled in China in the first six months of 2015, amounting to 10,190 cases with a year-on-year increase of 107.7%. Therein, 5,437 cases were patent disputes (including 5,332 patent infringement disputes), increasing 167.6% from the same period of the last year, and 4,753 cases were patent counterfeiting cases, increasing 65.4% from the same period of the last year.

Compared with the last year, the structure of Chinese patent administrative enforcement has been changed greatly, and the number of patent infringement disputes, which are more difficult to handle, exceeded that of patent counterfeiting cases for the first time. This is the epitome of the strengthened striking force against patent infringement and counterfeiting and the improved capability for case handling of the Chinese IP system.

According to remarks of a relevant official from the Patent Administration Department of SIPO, in the first half year of 2015, the work of law enforcement has been carried forward  by the Chinese IP system as an important step in constructing China as an IP powerful nation; mechanisms of online law enforcement, rapid safeguarding of rights, supervision and inspection, performance appraisal and law enforcement collaboration have been ceaselessly deepened; special projects of “Escort” and “Lightning” have been orderly pushed forward; and the pace of the building of law enforcement capability has been continuingly accelerated.

Data shows that in the first half of 2015, patent administrative enforcement has been strengthened all around China. Seen from the geographic distribution of cases, Eastern China ranked as the first with 5,892 cases, accounting for 57.8% of the total amount, followed by Southern and central China with 1,140 and 1,100 cases respectively. Amounts of patent enforcement cases in the different regions are positively related to their amount of patent applications and amount of granted patent applications.

The aforementioned officials also said that at present, China's patent administrative enforcement presented a positive interactive relationship with existing patents, and the system of law enforcement had formed a shape of overall balance and harmonious development.

Date: August 10, 2015
Source: Website of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China