Inventions

CHINA DIVISIONAL PATENT STRATEGY: Recent Judgment Narrows What Constitutes “Different Inventions” for Divisionals

6 December 2021

In China, patents applicants take advantage of a commonly-used divisional filing strategy to achieve a fine-tuned balance between protection scope and protection period (if used properly). Patent applicants (especially foreign applicants) widely welcome this well-established strategy, and up until now, have used it with much success. In fact, we recommend this strategy and have even […]

CHINA: How Prohibiting "Illegal" Inventions Runs into Food Safety Law

22 October 2021

Chinese Patent Law has an interesting provision that specifically prohibits patent protection on “illegal” or “immoral” inventions. What does this mean, exactly? According to Article 5.1 of the Chinese Patent Law, “no patent shall be granted for an invention that contravenes any law or social moral or that is detrimental to public interests.” On its […]

What is the difference between an Invention Patent and a Utility Model Patent?

13 August 2021

There are two types of patent protection in China. Invention patents (similar to a US utility patent) have a term of 20 years from the date of filing and may be granted for both methods and products. Utility model patents (similar to a petty patent) may be granted in China for technical solutions that relate […]

Can Post Filing Data Overcome Inventive Step in China?

19 November 2018

Since 2010, the Patent Re-examination Board (PRB) has published the top 10 patent invalidation cases of the year in April of each year. The selection criteria are high social concern, significant impact on the related industry, or involve difficult legal issues and important examination criteria. Below is one of the top 10 cases that discusses […]

Foreign companies transferring IP out of China: things to know

25 October 2018

Inventions made in China Most foreign companies with R&D sites in China are aware of the fact that inventors having inventions made in China have to obtain permission before they can file patent applications outside of China for these Chinese inventions. It doesn’t matter if the owner of the business is a foreign entity. Patent […]

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