I will be in Taipei next week, where I will be delivering several public lectures. The first one will be on September 19, 2023 at the National Taiwan University of Sciences and […]
My Reflections on Testifying Before Congress – 2023
Over the course of the last three months, I spoke at a trifecta of Congressional hearings: the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Congressional US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Before I had testified I was pessimistic about the prospects for positive IP-related legislation in our national competitive interests. I am now mildly optimistic that Congress can pass necessary IP legislation if both parties in Congress and the Administration work together.
USPTO Translations of Draft Legislation Now Available
China continues legislating with proposed patent examination guidelines and revised plant variety protection rules. Non-official translations of both documents are available here. The legislative process involved in both these documents has deviated somewhat form prior models.
China’s New Blocking Statute Comes into Effect
The NPC passed China’s new blocking statute, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law 中华人民共和国反外国制裁法 on June 10, 2021. The Law provides support for the delegation of power to enable lower-level agencies to implement sanctions measures. As the Law is vaguely worded, State Council agencies are likely to have considerable discretion in implementing it. Of particular concern to multinational companies, the Law also covers spouses and immediate family members as well as officers of listed sanctioned entities.
IPO Comments on CNIPA Provisions On Patent Application Behavior
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published its Revised Draft Provisions Concerning Regulating Patent Application Behavior (Draft for Public Comment) (关于规范申请专利行为的若干规定修改草案[征求意见稿]) on May 6, 2021 (the “Draft Provisions”). The purpose of this […]
China’s Anti-Blocking Statute Will Soon Make Its Debut
Xinhua reported on June 7 that the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress will conduct its second reading of a proposed statute, “Law on Opposing Foreign Sanctions” ( 反外国制裁法草案), from June […]
Transitioning to China’s New Patent and Copyright Laws on June 1: Where Have All the Implementing Regulations Gone?
On June 1, 2021, both the revised Copyright Law and Patent Law will come into effect. On May 24, 2021, CNIPA published its “Interim Measures on Disposition of Examination-Related Activities Post Patent Law Implementation” (CNIPA Notice Number 423)《关于施行修改后专利法的相关审查业务处理暂行办法》的公告（第423号）(“Interim Measures”). The Interim Measures address the needs of the patent office of CNIPA to address concrete examination issues in the absence of higher-ranking implementing regulations. Why has China been so slow to pass implementing regulations for its new IPR-related laws? What is the significance of the delay in drafting and implementing these regulations?
Bureaucracy and Politics in Recent SAMR Legislation
There are numerous heirarchies to Chinese legislation and IP laws are certainly not an except to this. Due to the government reorganization in 2018, Chinese efforts to become an innovative economy, and external political pressure from the Trade War, there has also been extensive external political pressure on Chinese IP legislative efforts. The different approaches to legislating may indicate potential weaknesses in the laws. They may also be the outcome of internal bureaucratic struggles.
A Season of CNIPA Rulemaking
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.
China IPR - Intellectual Property Developments in China 