Alert 347 China - Patent Examination in China


On 23 November 2009, Wuhan gained status as the first city for patent examination outside Beijing. Before the implementation of this new policy, Beijing had always been the only port of call for patent examination, mainly because patent examination involves complicated processes and requires high levels of specific and broad knowledge. Patent applicants outside Beijing had to send their applications to Beijing for examination.

The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) granted Wuhan status as a test case for circuit patent examination on a national scale. Patent applicants in Wuhan no longer have to send their applications to Beijing. Instead, Patent Examiners from SIPO will be stationed in Wuhan to work with patent applicants and agencies on patent examination. Patent applicants in Wuhan can now enjoy the convenience of local submission of patent application documents, more efficient patent examination, and reduced cost.

Wuhan has always been on the radar of SIPO. In 2007, Wuhan was the only city outside Beijing where copies of patent data were kept, and was subsequently named the First Model City for handling State intellectual property (IP) work. In November 2008, SIPO signed an agreement with Wuhan City to strengthen their ties on work related to IP, paving the way for Wuhan to handle patent examination work that falls within the region.

For more information about patents in China, email Jenny Luo on jluo@iprights.com.