China’s Comprehensive Intellectual Property Protection Plan for 2025

China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released its 2025 Work Plan for Administrative Protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The plan outlines key strategies to enhance IP protection across various sectors and reinforce the integrity of the system. Major focus areas include cracking down on abnormal patent applications and malicious trademark hoarding, strengthening IP protection in emerging technologies like AI, supporting geographical indication protection, and improving enforcement mechanisms for both domestic and foreign-related IP issues. This initiative aligns with China’s broader goals to foster a first-class, law-based, and globally competitive business environment.

Section Summaries

1. Implementation of Laws and Regulations

   
   

    Emphasis on enforcing the Patent Law and related regulations, supporting revisions to Trademark Law, and promoting various enforcement guidelines.

   
   

   
   

2. Improving the Protection System

   
   

    Enhancing the IP protection framework through policy, management, and stakeholder collaboration, including engagement with foreign and private enterprises.

   
   

   
   

3. Standardizing Patent and Trademark Use

   
   

    Continuing to combat abnormal patent filings and malicious trademark registrations via improved oversight, industry self-regulation, and special campaigns.

   
   

   
   

4. Strengthening Patent Protection

   
   

    Improving administrative handling of patent infringement cases with technical support and case-by-case differentiation to boost quality and efficiency.

   
   

   
   

5. Strengthening Trademark Protection

   
   

    Focused protection for well-known trademarks, tackling hidden infringements in digital spaces, and safeguarding heritage-related brands.

   
   

   
   

6. Geographical Indications (GI) Protection

   
   

    Enhancing the GI system through unified recognition, project oversight, and improved traceability and certification processes.

   
   

   
   

7. Emerging Technologies and Formats

   
   

    Prioritizing IP in AI, new energy, and other strategic sectors, and supporting early registration and legal guidance.

   
   

   
   

8. Protection in Livelihood-Related Sectors

   
   

    Special focus on consumer goods like food, medicine, and children’s products, with tailored enforcement in high-risk regions.

   
   

   
   

9. Protection During Major Events

   
   

    Safeguarding IP rights for national and international events, exhibitions, festivals, and e-commerce platforms from counterfeiting.

   
   

10. Foreign-Related IP Protection

    
    

     Ensuring equal treatment for foreign and joint-venture companies, enhancing overseas dispute guidance, and improving export IP regulation.

    
    

    
    

11. Rapid and Coordinated Protection

    
    

     Strengthening fast-track IP centers and encouraging collaboration among departments for timely resolution and service integration.

    
    

    
    

12. Cross-Departmental and Regional Collaboration

    
    

     Promoting joint actions among courts, law enforcement, and regional authorities to unify standards and share enforcement data.

    
    

    
    

13. Social Co-Governance of Dispute Resolution

    
    

     Enhancing administrative mediation for patent ownership and compensation disputes with more professional mediation teams and mechanisms.