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Section 01 / Executive Briefing
- SPC adopts landmark Punitive Damages Interpretation (April 7). Fa Shi [2026] No. 7 — the most significant overhaul of China's IP damages framework since 2021 — was adopted within this reporting week. It takes effect May 1, tightening willfulness criteria, procedural timing rules, and damages methodology. In 2025 alone, the SPC IP Tribunal awarded RMB 1.13 billion in punitive damages across 30 cases.
- Record-breaking trade secret awards set new benchmarks. The SPC's CNC machine-tool case resulted in triple punitive damages of ~RMB 380 million; its January 2026 medical device ruling (Meyer v. Dentafilm) ordered ~USD 28 million including punitive damages. Geely v. WM Motor (~USD 88 million) remains China's largest trade secret award.
- CNIPA tightens cross-border IP transfer controls. The 2026 IP Administrative Protection Work Plan (April 10) directs strict regulation of IP transferred abroad in technology exports — a material compliance signal for all foreign IP holders with Chinese-origin technology assets.
- National IP conferences convene in Fujian. The 2026 IP Protection Work Conference and International Cooperation Work Conference (April 9–10) placed cross-border IP risk and SEP governance at the front of CNIPA's annual agenda.
- Hong Kong debuts its first IP cultural festival. Con-Con 2026 opened at AsiaWorld-Expo; officials underlined the city's global rank as sixth-strongest IP jurisdiction and renewed its IP trading hub push.
- Wuhan passes new IP legislation; Yunnan launches regulation revision. Local IP law-building continues across Mainland China in parallel with national-level reforms.
7
Mainland China
2
Hong Kong SAR
1
Taiwan
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Macau SAR
02
Legislation & Policy
Mainland ChinaPolicyApril 10, 2026
CNIPA Issues 2026 IP Administrative Protection Work Plan — Cross-Border IP Transfers Under Stricter Scrutiny
CNIPA formally published its 2026 Intellectual Property Administrative Protection Work Plan on April 10, outlining 12 priority tasks for the year. The provision drawing the greatest international attention requires authorities to strengthen coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and strictly regulate the transfer of intellectual property rights abroad in the context of technology exports. This represents a meaningful escalation in outbound IP regulatory treatment, understood as a direct policy response to growing scrutiny over cross-border acquisitions involving Chinese-origin technology assets.
Beyond export controls, the Work Plan accelerates a comprehensive Trademark Law revision; intensifies the crackdown on bad-faith trademark applications, squatting, and hoarding; and mandates dedicated IP protection for major events including the 2026 APEC Summit and the 48th WorldSkills Competition. Key sectors for heightened enforcement include seed varieties, food and pharmaceuticals, rehabilitation aids, and green and low-carbon technologies.
Beyond export controls, the Work Plan accelerates a comprehensive Trademark Law revision; intensifies the crackdown on bad-faith trademark applications, squatting, and hoarding; and mandates dedicated IP protection for major events including the 2026 APEC Summit and the 48th WorldSkills Competition. Key sectors for heightened enforcement include seed varieties, food and pharmaceuticals, rehabilitation aids, and green and low-carbon technologies.
Foreign IP holders with Chinese-origin technology assets — particularly those considering licensing, assignment, or corporate restructuring — should review this directive with specialist counsel before any cross-border IP transfer proceeds in 2026.
Mainland ChinaConference · StrategyApril 9–10, 2026
National IP Protection Conference and International Cooperation Conference Convene in Fujian
CNIPA held the 2026 National IP Protection Work Conference (April 9) and the IP System International Cooperation Work Conference (April 10) in Fujian. The first deployed annual priorities across administrative and judicial protection channels; the second focused on cross-ministerial coordination for overseas IP risks, bilateral and multilateral partnership deepening, and early-warning capacity for strategically sensitive areas including standard-essential patents (SEPs). The back-to-back scheduling signals that cross-border IP exposure is CNIPA's front-line priority for 2026.
Mainland China · WuhanLocal LegislationApril 8, 2026
Wuhan Passes IP Promotion and Protection Regulations
The Wuhan Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee approved the Wuhan City Intellectual Property Promotion and Protection Regulations on April 8, providing a comprehensive local legal framework for IP creation, exploitation, protection, and administration. Wuhan is consolidating its position as a central China innovation hub; the new regulations are intended to give greater legal certainty to enterprises, universities, and research institutes in the city's technology and life sciences sectors.
Mainland China · YunnanLocal LegislationApril 9, 2026
Yunnan Province Opens Revision of Provincial Patent Promotion and Protection Regulations
The Yunnan Provincial Intellectual Property Bureau convened a dedicated symposium on April 9 to formally launch the revision of its Yunnan Province Patent Promotion and Protection Regulations. The revision aims to align provincial rules with the updated national Patent Examination Guidelines (effective January 1, 2026) and to address IP needs in emerging technology and agricultural biotechnology sectors. Multiple rounds of public consultation are expected before finalization.
03
Enforcement & Administration
Mainland ChinaCampaignApril 11, 2026
2026 National IP Publicity Week Poster Released — AI, Data, and Biotech IP in Focus
CNIPA released the official poster for the 2026 National IP Publicity Week (April 20–26), themed "Strengthening IP Protection in Emerging Sectors; Accelerating the Development of New Quality Productive Forces." The theme centres on AI, data IP, biotechnology, and new energy — domains under the most acute development pressure in China's IP system. April 26 is also World IP Day 2026, with WIPO's global theme dedicated to "IP and Sports."
Mainland ChinaGeographical IndicationsApril 10, 2026
CNIPA Approves 182 Enterprises for GI Exclusive Marks; Registers 91 New WIPO Official Symbols
CNIPA issued Announcement No. 674 approving 182 enterprises to use geographical indication exclusive marks across multiple provinces. Separately, Announcement No. 673 incorporated 91 official and state emblems communicated by the WIPO International Bureau into China's official mark protection registry, extending trademark registration prohibitions under Article 10 of the Trademark Law.
04
Courts & Key Decisions
Mainland China
⭐ Landmark
SPC Interpretation
Adopted April 7, 2026
SPC Adopts Revised IP Punitive Damages Interpretation — Fa Shi [2026] No. 7 (Effective May 1)
On April 7, 2026, the Judicial Committee of the Supreme People's Court adopted the Interpretation on the Application of Punitive Damages in the Trial of Civil Disputes Involving Intellectual Property Infringement (Fa Shi [2026] No. 7), effective May 1, superseding Fa Shi [2021] No. 4. This is the most consequential overhaul of China's IP damages framework in five years, arriving precisely when punitive damages have moved from the doctrinal periphery of Chinese IP litigation to its commercial centre.
The revised interpretation preserves the two-limb test — willful infringement plus serious circumstances — but resolves four longstanding practical gaps. Key changes: (1) punitive damages claims must be raised before the conclusion of first-instance oral argument, with strict limits on new claims at appeal; (2) courts must now consider the notoriety of the IP right and the relationship between the parties when assessing willfulness; (3) "serious circumstances" are expressly expanded to cover repeat infringers who resume the same conduct after settlement, and infringers who conceal actual control through affiliated entities, nominees, or indemnity side-letters; and (4) a concrete methodology is provided for constructing the damages base where actual loss and infringer profit cannot be precisely quantified — closing the gap that had allowed defendants to benefit from information asymmetry.
The statistical context is striking. At its seventh-anniversary press conference in January 2026, the SPC IP Tribunal reported RMB 2.05 billion in aggregate punitive awards across 58 cases since 2019 — of which RMB 1.13 billion arose from 30 cases in 2025 alone, surpassing the Tribunal's entire prior six-year cumulative total in a single year. The SPC's 2026 Work Report to the National People's Congress singled out a CNC machine-tool trade secret case in which triple punitive damages of approximately RMB 380 million (~USD 52 million) were ordered against the infringer and affiliated entities.
The revised interpretation preserves the two-limb test — willful infringement plus serious circumstances — but resolves four longstanding practical gaps. Key changes: (1) punitive damages claims must be raised before the conclusion of first-instance oral argument, with strict limits on new claims at appeal; (2) courts must now consider the notoriety of the IP right and the relationship between the parties when assessing willfulness; (3) "serious circumstances" are expressly expanded to cover repeat infringers who resume the same conduct after settlement, and infringers who conceal actual control through affiliated entities, nominees, or indemnity side-letters; and (4) a concrete methodology is provided for constructing the damages base where actual loss and infringer profit cannot be precisely quantified — closing the gap that had allowed defendants to benefit from information asymmetry.
The statistical context is striking. At its seventh-anniversary press conference in January 2026, the SPC IP Tribunal reported RMB 2.05 billion in aggregate punitive awards across 58 cases since 2019 — of which RMB 1.13 billion arose from 30 cases in 2025 alone, surpassing the Tribunal's entire prior six-year cumulative total in a single year. The SPC's 2026 Work Report to the National People's Congress singled out a CNC machine-tool trade secret case in which triple punitive damages of approximately RMB 380 million (~USD 52 million) were ordered against the infringer and affiliated entities.
With Fa Shi [2026] No. 7 in force from May 1, rights holders should audit their Chinese litigation strategy immediately: punitive damages claims must be pled at first instance, and the new willfulness and seriousness criteria require early and systematic evidentiary preparation. Defendants should note that post-settlement recidivism and affiliated-entity structures are now explicitly designated as bases for punitive enhancement — restructuring mid-dispute is no longer a reliable shield.
Mainland China
⭐ Large Award
Trade Secret
Jan 2026 (context for Apr 7 ruling)
~USD 28 M — SPC · Meyer v. Dentafilm (Medical Device CBCT Technology)
SPC Delivers ~USD 28 Million Trade Secret Award with Punitive Damages; Geely v. WM Motor USD 88 Million Remains China's Largest
Two recent Supreme People's Court decisions define the current high-water mark for trade secret enforcement in China and provide direct context for reading the new Fa Shi [2026] No. 7. In Meyer Optoelectronic Technology v. Dentafilm Medical Equipment, the SPC on January 6, 2026 ordered the defendant company and six former Meyer employees to pay approximately USD 28 million jointly and severally, inclusive of punitive damages amounting to more than nine times the first-instance award. The trade secret at issue involved oral cone-beam CT (CBCT) technology, misappropriated through patent applications filed by a dental imaging startup founded by former Meyer staff in 2019.
In Geely v. WM Motor, the SPC affirmed an approximately USD 88 million trade secret award — still the largest trade secret damages judgment in Chinese legal history — demonstrating that courts are prepared to impose billion-yuan-class liability in high-profile automotive industry cases. These cases, combined with the RMB 380 million CNC machine-tool award, collectively establish that punitive damages in China are no longer theoretical: they are a primary commercial risk that demands active IP protection strategies from any company with meaningful Chinese operations.
In Geely v. WM Motor, the SPC affirmed an approximately USD 88 million trade secret award — still the largest trade secret damages judgment in Chinese legal history — demonstrating that courts are prepared to impose billion-yuan-class liability in high-profile automotive industry cases. These cases, combined with the RMB 380 million CNC machine-tool award, collectively establish that punitive damages in China are no longer theoretical: they are a primary commercial risk that demands active IP protection strategies from any company with meaningful Chinese operations.
Companies operating in China with proprietary technical processes, formulas, or systems should treat employee departure — particularly to competitors or spin-outs — as a live trade secret risk. Active measures should include robust exit protocols, monitoring of competitor patent filings for signs of misappropriation, and regular legal audits of trade secret identification and protection measures.
Mainland China
Judicial Practice
Patent
Reported April 13, 2026
Courts Move Toward Flexible Patent Enforcement Deadlines Where Invalidity Proceedings Are Pending
Chinese courts — including the Supreme People's Court — are experimenting with extended enforcement windows for patent infringement damages awards in cases where the underlying patent simultaneously faces a validity challenge at CNIPA. Conventional practice requires defendants to pay within 10–15 days of judgment; in a construction materials utility model case, a court extended this window by up to a year, mitigating the risk of a defendant satisfying a damages award before a subsequent invalidation takes effect. The SPC is exploring whether this flexible approach should be applied more broadly in cases where a negative utility model evaluation report indicates serious validity doubt.
Defendants in Chinese patent infringement proceedings who have filed, or intend to file, a CNIPA invalidation request should consider raising the parallel-proceedings argument at the enforcement stage under this emerging approach. Plaintiffs should anticipate and prepare counterarguments on enforcement timing.
05
Industry, Market & Emerging Issues
Hong Kong SARIP Economy · EventsEarly April 2026
Inaugural Con-Con Hong Kong 2026 IP Festival Opens — Officials Highlight World Ranking as Sixth-Strongest IP Jurisdiction
Hong Kong's first dedicated IP cultural festival, Con-Con Hong Kong 2026, opened at AsiaWorld-Expo combining exhibitions, music, licensing showcases, and IP business-matching sessions. International franchises including Godzilla featured alongside emerging local creative brands. Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development Bernard Chan Pak-li cited Hong Kong's rank as the world's sixth-strongest jurisdiction for IP rights per the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025, reaffirming the government's ambition to build a world-class IP ecosystem built on rigorous protection, transparent valuation, and accessible IP-backed financing.
Hong Kong SARIP Hub StrategyApril 2026 (ongoing)
Hong Kong IP Trading Hub Drive Advances — Industry Urges Clearer Roadmap and Sustained Coordination
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po's 2026–27 Budget renewed plans to position Hong Kong as a regional IP trading hub — refining IP income tax arrangements, supporting IP-backed financing, and cultivating specialized IP talent. Industry participants note the measures remain broadly defined and need sustained investment and inter-agency coordination to materialise. Creative entrepreneur SK Lam of AllRightsReserved articulated the core challenge: Hong Kong's IP strength lies in converting rights into products, events, and international experiences, and the city must institutionalise that capacity to realise its hub ambitions.
TaiwanDigital ServicesApril 2026 (ongoing)
TIPO Launches Online Patent and Trademark Certificate Services
Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) began offering online digital certificate services for patent and trademark registrations, with the goal of "providing more comprehensive digital services that better align with global trends." Applicants can now obtain official IP certificates electronically, removing in-person collection requirements. The initiative is part of TIPO's multi-year digital modernisation strategy and is of direct practical relevance to international practitioners managing Taiwan filings for overseas clients.
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Macau SAR
MacauApril 6–12, 2026
No significant IP policy, legislative, or enforcement announcements were issued by Macao's Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) during this reporting period. Macau's IP registration and enforcement operations continue as normal. For Macau-specific IP matters, please contact the Foridom IP Law Firm team at foridom@foridom.com.
📅 Upcoming Dates & Key Deadlines
Apr 20–26
2026 National IP Publicity Week — theme: "Emerging Sectors & New Productive Forces" China
Apr 26
World IP Day 2026 — WIPO theme: "IP and Sports" Global
May 1
Fa Shi [2026] No. 7 takes effect. Revised SPC Punitive Damages Interpretation — all IP litigation strategies in China should be reviewed against the new willfulness criteria, procedural timing rules, and affiliated-entity provisions. China
Jun 1
SAMR Trade Secret Protection Regulations take effect — administrative enforcement channel alongside civil and criminal routes, with injunctions and fines up to RMB 5 million. China
Ongoing
Trademark Law (Amendment) — first NPC Standing Committee review completed December 2025; further proceedings expected through 2026. China
Publication
Greater China IP Watch, Issue No. 01 (Inaugural)
Reporting period: April 6–12, 2026
Published: April 14, 2026
Reporting period: April 6–12, 2026
Published: April 14, 2026
Prepared & Proofread by
Foridom IP Law Firm (百一知识产权)
Proofread by: Wiky Wang, Attorney at Law
Proofread by: Wiky Wang, Attorney at Law
Contact & Subscriptions
foridom@foridom.com
For subscription, feedback, or IP enquiries
For subscription, feedback, or IP enquiries
Coverage & Sources
Mainland China · Hong Kong SAR · Taiwan · Macau SAR
Primary sources: CNIPA, SPC, TIPO, IPD, DSEDT,
public filings, specialist IP media
Primary sources: CNIPA, SPC, TIPO, IPD, DSEDT,
public filings, specialist IP media