Several new rules from China’s State Administration for Market Regulation portend a more active role for administrative enforcement of patents, in both patent linkage and major disputes affecting Chinese national interests. How much due process do these rules afford? Are they compatible with the TRIPS Agreement? Will foreigners be treated fairly? Will the administrative agencies be transparent in their decisions and make their cases publicly available. SAMR’s database of IP cases is also relatively new.
There are a number of open issues.
The Cart Before the Horse in China’s Patent Linkage Regime
Judicial involvement in this legislation is needed to harmonize the legal complexities of patent linkage which complex issues of patent law, civil law, administrative law, and pharmaceutical regulation.
SAMR’s Draft Trade Secret Rule: An Unchartered Step Forward?
As previously discussed, SAMR released a draft trade secret protection rule for public comments on September 4 (the “Rule”). Comments are due October 18, 2020. I have attached here a draft translation […]
SAMR Releases Draft Trade Secret Rules for Public Comment
On September 4, 2020, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released Draft Trade Secret Protection Rules for public comment [商业秘密保护规定(征求意见稿)] including an accompanying explanation. Comments are due by October 18, 2020. […]
The Phase 1 IP Agreement: Its Fans and Discontents

How much will the IP Sections of the Phase 1 Agreement (the “Agreement”) with China change IP strategies in China? For the most part, the Agreement adds much less than its appearance might […]
New CPC and State Council Opinions on Improving IP Protection
On November 24, 2019, the General Office of Communist Party of China and the State Council jointly released the Opinions Concerning Enhancing Intellectual Property Rights Protection (关于强化知识产权保护的意见). It is often too easy […]
On Avoiding “Rounding Up the Usual Suspects” In the Patent Law Amendments …

Although many of the proposed changes in China’s patent law amendments are welcome, the draft amendments also present a difficult choice in two key areas: (a) patent administrative enforcement and (b) punitive […]
False Friends (形似神异): Comparing US and Chinese Administrative Patent Enforcement
The China Patents and Trademarks journal has now made publicly available the article I wrote late last year with former USPTO Director David Kappos and former Chief Judge Randall Rader (ret.) “Faux […]