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Section 01 / Executive Briefing
- CNIPA and Rospatent sign IP cooperation MOU, witnessed by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The agreement was signed at the Great Hall of the People on May 20 during Putin's state visit to Beijing, marking the highest-level endorsement yet given to a bilateral CNIPA cooperation agreement and signalling deepening China-Russia IP coordination across patent, trademark, and enforcement channels.
- CNIPA confirms it is drafting China's IP plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). Commissioner Shen Changyu disclosed the planning process is underway in recent bilateral talks with WIPO Director General Daren Tang, setting the stage for China's next five-year IP policy framework — with implications for every multinational operating in the jurisdiction.
- SAMR Trade Secret Protection Regulations: one week to effectiveness. June 1 is now imminent. This is the final full working week to complete internal trade secret audits before the new administrative enforcement channel goes live.
- NMPA data exclusivity filing deadline approaches: May 30. Pharmaceutical companies with already-approved or pending-review products in China face a hard transitional filing deadline within days.
- CNIPA expands outbound IP diplomacy: Eurasian Patent Organization roadshow and Egypt/Seychelles delegation. Parallel international engagements this month — an IP Eurasia roadshow across Guangxi and Hainan, and a CNIPA delegation visit to Egypt and Seychelles — illustrate the breadth of China's bilateral and regional IP outreach beyond its core trading partners.
5
Mainland China
1
Hong Kong SAR
1
Taiwan
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Macau SAR
02
Legislation & Policy
Mainland China
⭐ Landmark
International Cooperation
May 20, 2026
CNIPA and Rospatent Sign IP Cooperation MOU at the Great Hall of the People, Witnessed by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin
On May 20, 2026, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit to Beijing, CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu and Rospatent Head Yury Zubov signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Intellectual Property at the Great Hall of the People — with the signing witnessed directly by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Putin. The visit, Putin's 25th to China, coincided with the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.
The head-of-state-level witnessing of the signing is a notable elevation in protocol for a bilateral IP agreement — CNIPA and Rospatent have maintained working-level cooperation for years under frameworks including the Belt and Road Initiative, WIPO, BRICS, and the China-Mongolia-Russia trilateral mechanism, but this MOU's prominent placement within the broader state visit agenda signals that IP cooperation is now treated as a visible component of the wider strategic relationship, alongside biosecurity, investment protection, and the digital economy. The specific scope of cooperation — covering patent examination, trademark protection, and IP enforcement coordination — has not yet been published in full detail.
The head-of-state-level witnessing of the signing is a notable elevation in protocol for a bilateral IP agreement — CNIPA and Rospatent have maintained working-level cooperation for years under frameworks including the Belt and Road Initiative, WIPO, BRICS, and the China-Mongolia-Russia trilateral mechanism, but this MOU's prominent placement within the broader state visit agenda signals that IP cooperation is now treated as a visible component of the wider strategic relationship, alongside biosecurity, investment protection, and the digital economy. The specific scope of cooperation — covering patent examination, trademark protection, and IP enforcement coordination — has not yet been published in full detail.
Companies operating across both the Chinese and Russian markets, or managing parallel IP portfolios in both jurisdictions, should monitor for implementing measures under this MOU — particularly any prosecution highway, mutual recognition, or expedited examination arrangements that may follow, which would materially affect dual-filing strategy.
Mainland China
Strategic Planning
Disclosed late May 2026
CNIPA Confirms Drafting of National IP Plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period (2026–2030)
CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu disclosed, in recent bilateral talks with WIPO Director General Daren Tang, that the agency is actively studying and formulating the national plan for the protection and utilisation of intellectual property during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). Shen indicated this top-level design exercise aims to strengthen the institutional architecture for China's IP system over the next five years, building on the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan period documented in the May 7 White Paper (see Issue 05).
While the substantive content of the new plan has not yet been released, its eventual publication — expected sometime in 2026 — will set national priorities across patent quality, trademark reform, copyright modernisation, data IP, and cross-border enforcement for the remainder of the decade. Given the consistent pattern of CNIPA five-year plans directly shaping subsequent legislative and administrative priorities (as seen with the outgoing 14th Five-Year Plan's influence on the Trademark Law amendment, the punitive damages framework, and the data IP pilot programmes), the new plan's release will be a significant event for long-term China IP strategy planning across all industries.
While the substantive content of the new plan has not yet been released, its eventual publication — expected sometime in 2026 — will set national priorities across patent quality, trademark reform, copyright modernisation, data IP, and cross-border enforcement for the remainder of the decade. Given the consistent pattern of CNIPA five-year plans directly shaping subsequent legislative and administrative priorities (as seen with the outgoing 14th Five-Year Plan's influence on the Trademark Law amendment, the punitive damages framework, and the data IP pilot programmes), the new plan's release will be a significant event for long-term China IP strategy planning across all industries.
03
Enforcement & Administration
Mainland China
Regional Cooperation
May 2026
IP Eurasia Roadshow Visits Guangxi and Hainan — CNIPA Deepens Ties with Eurasian Patent Organization
The IP Eurasia in China roadshow, a joint initiative of CNIPA and the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), was held successively in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Haikou, Hainan Province. CNIPA Deputy Commissioner Zhang Zhicheng and Hainan Vice Governor Li Feng attended the Hainan session, with Zhang noting that IP serves as an important institutional safeguard for innovation protection, business environment improvement, and high-level opening-up. EAPO President Grigory Ivliev led a delegation presenting six topics on the Eurasian patent system's basic framework. The roadshow aims to help innovative entities in these regions better understand and utilise Eurasian patent protection — relevant for companies in Guangxi and Hainan looking to expand into Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other EAPO member states via a single regional filing.
Companies with R&D or manufacturing operations in Guangxi or Hainan considering expansion into Central Asian or Eurasian markets should evaluate whether a Eurasian Patent Organization filing offers efficiency gains over separate national filings — particularly relevant given the strengthening CNIPA-Rospatent relationship reported elsewhere in this issue.
Mainland China
International Cooperation
May 2026
CNIPA Deputy Commissioner Leads Delegation to Egypt and Seychelles for IP Cooperation Visits
At the invitation of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) and Seychelles' Department of Legal Affairs, a CNIPA Deputy Commissioner led a working delegation to Egypt and Seychelles this month. The visits form part of CNIPA's broader pattern of bilateral outreach to African and Indian Ocean jurisdictions, complementing the agency's existing network of 99 overseas IP dispute response guidance platforms across 30 Chinese provinces. While details of specific agreements reached have not been published, the visits are consistent with China's pattern of building IP cooperation infrastructure alongside Belt and Road trade and investment relationships in these regions.
04
Courts & Key Decisions
Mainland China
SPC · Trademark
Enforcement Statistics
Recently published analysis
SPC Clarifies Domain Name / Trademark Conflict Standard in DataFocus Case; Criminal IP Enforcement Statistics Show Sustained Growth
Recently published practitioner analysis has drawn renewed attention to the Supreme People's Court's ruling in the DataFocus trademark invalidation case, an administrative lawsuit in which the SPC clarified the criteria for determining whether a trademark registration infringes upon a party's prior legitimate interests in a domain name. The ruling provides important guidance for the recurring conflict between domain name rights established through earlier internet use and subsequently filed trademark registrations covering the same or similar terms — a fact pattern that arises frequently in China's fast-moving internet and e-commerce sectors.
The same body of recently published analysis also highlights sustained growth in criminal IP enforcement: Chinese courts received 9,120 first-instance criminal IP infringement cases in the most recent full reporting year, an increase of over 24% year-on-year, with 8,079 of these cases involving registered trademark infringement specifically — an increase of nearly 22%. Second-instance criminal IP case volumes also rose by over 16%. These figures, read together with the civil litigation volume decline reported in Q1 2026 (see Issue 02), suggest that while China's courts are actively discouraging low-value civil IP litigation, the criminal enforcement channel — reserved for more serious infringement — continues to expand steadily.
The same body of recently published analysis also highlights sustained growth in criminal IP enforcement: Chinese courts received 9,120 first-instance criminal IP infringement cases in the most recent full reporting year, an increase of over 24% year-on-year, with 8,079 of these cases involving registered trademark infringement specifically — an increase of nearly 22%. Second-instance criminal IP case volumes also rose by over 16%. These figures, read together with the civil litigation volume decline reported in Q1 2026 (see Issue 02), suggest that while China's courts are actively discouraging low-value civil IP litigation, the criminal enforcement channel — reserved for more serious infringement — continues to expand steadily.
Brand owners with conflicts between earlier-established domain names and later third-party trademark filings covering similar terms should review the DataFocus standard with counsel, as it provides a clearer evidentiary framework for asserting prior domain name rights in trademark invalidation proceedings. Rights holders considering whether to pursue criminal referral for serious infringement should note that this channel continues to see strong court receptivity and growing case volumes.
05
Industry, Market & Emerging Issues
Hong Kong SAR
IP Hub Strategy
May 2026
Hong Kong's IP Hub Strategy Gains Renewed Relevance Amid Expanding Mainland Outbound IP Cooperation
As CNIPA's bilateral cooperation network continues to expand — this week alone spanning Russia, Egypt, Seychelles, and the Eurasian Patent Organization — Hong Kong's positioning as a neutral, internationally trusted venue for structuring and financing cross-border IP transactions involving Mainland-originated assets gains additional strategic relevance. Industry observers note that as Chinese entities increasingly engage in outbound IP licensing and joint development arrangements across an expanding set of partner jurisdictions, the demand for sophisticated, common-law-governed transaction structuring — a core Hong Kong strength — is likely to grow correspondingly. This reinforces the logic underpinning the city's continued investment in IP hub infrastructure since April's Con-Con festival and the financial secretary's budget commitments.
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Macau SAR
MacauMay 18–24, 2026
No significant IP policy, legislative, or enforcement announcements were issued by Macao's Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) during this reporting period. IP registration and enforcement operations continue normally. For Macau-specific IP enquiries, please contact foridom@foridom.com.
📅 Upcoming Dates & Key Deadlines
May 30
NMPA data exclusivity transitional filing deadline for most already-approved or pending-review pharmaceutical products. ⚠ Urgent
Jun 1
SAMR Trade Secret Protection Regulations take effect. One week remaining — finalise internal audits immediately. ⚠ Urgent
Jun 5
NMPA data exclusivity deadline for Class 1 chemical drugs approved May 15, 2020 – May 14, 2026. China
H2 2026
Trademark Law (Amendment) — second NPC Standing Committee reading expected. China
2026
CNIPA's national IP plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) — publication expected later this year. China
Pending
SPC Judicial Interpretation (III) on Patent Infringement Disputes — finalisation expected following closed comment period. China
Publication
Greater China IP Watch, Issue No. 07
Reporting period: May 18–24, 2026
Published: Monday, May 25, 2026
Reporting period: May 18–24, 2026
Published: Monday, May 25, 2026
Prepared & Proofread by
Foridom IP Law Firm (百一知识产权)
Proofread by: Wiky Wang — Attorney at Law, Patent Attorney & Trademark Attorney
Proofread by: Wiky Wang — Attorney at Law, Patent Attorney & Trademark Attorney
Contact & Subscriptions
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For subscription, feedback, or IP enquiries
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Coverage & Sources
Mainland China · Hong Kong SAR · Taiwan · Macau SAR
Primary: CNIPA, SPC, NMPA, SAMR, TIPO, IPD, DSEDT
Primary: CNIPA, SPC, NMPA, SAMR, TIPO, IPD, DSEDT