For many years, businesses questioned the merits of filing intellectual property (IP) rights in China because of concerns of widespread counterfeiting and limited enforcement and practical protections. While those historic concerns were not entirely unfounded, today, the greater risk for
China’s Major Amendment to Trade Mark Law: Key Changes – Part II


In Part I of this series, posted here, we reported on certain amendments to Trade Mark Law of the People’s Republic of China. In this article, we continue outlining some of the other important amendments.
Voluntary cancellations now carry …
China’s Major Amendment to Trade Mark Law: Key Changes – Part I


On 26 June 2026, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the fifth amendment to the Trade Mark Law of the People’s Republic of China. The revised law, expected to take effect on 1 January 2027, introduces a…
Beijing Internet Court Published Model AI-related Cases – Part II

In Part I of this NRF blog series, posted here, we reported on three AI-related cases published in 2025 by the Beijing Internet Court as being ‘model’ (precedent-illustrating) AI cases. In this article, we continue with the remaining three…
Beijing Internet Court Published Model AI-related Cases – Part I

With the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in all walks of life, disputes relating to AI are also rapidly emerging. In a press conference last year, the Beijing Internet Court published eight ‘model’ (precedent-illustrating) cases involving…
First judgment on conditional patent enforcement from Intellectual Property Court of the PRC Supreme People’s Court

In a groundbreaking move, the Intellectual Property Court of China’s Supreme People’s Court has issued its first-ever judgment with conditional enforcement terms in a patent dispute[1]. Published on 8 April 2025, the decision tackles a unique issue in…
Be aware of the PRC trade mark office’s adjustments to practice regarding non-use cancellation

The Chinese New Year is generally seen by those celebrating it as a time for reflection, change and improvement. For the 2025 Chinese New Year, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) also seems to have taken the opportunity to…
Turning an AI image into reality, does that infringe in China?

On 27th November 2023, the Beijing Internet Court upheld that an AI generated work can be protected by copyright if the work reflects an author’s choice of expression and has originality (see our earlier blog post here). Almost…
PRC hands down first ruling on AI voice infringement

Who is liable when an artificial intelligence system infringes copyright – a missed opportunity by the PRC Court

In our previous newsletter here, we reported a decision from the Beijing Internet Court ruling that the copyright of a portrait generated by an artificial intelligence (“AI”) program is owned by the user who “controlled meticulously” the parameters for…