Since patents were traditionally intended to protect technical solutions such as those required for mechanical devices, it is still not possible to obtain a patent for a computer program per se. However, there are ways to include software in a patent application. In 2020, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) revised its examination guidelines… Continue reading Patentability of Software-Related Inventions
Category: Innovation
Fluid Trademarks Can Create Free Space for Counterfeiters
Fluid trademarks appear in different and frequently changing variations, all based on a specific base brand. While they can be a creative way to connect with audiences, brand owners should use this tool with caution. Those who change their visual brand identity frequently can quickly confuse customers. The brand becomes undifferentiated and loses contour, leading… Continue reading Fluid Trademarks Can Create Free Space for Counterfeiters
The New Stamp Duty Law also Reduces the IP Costs
On June 10, 2021, the new Stamp Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国印花税法) was passed by the National People’s Congress. It will reduce or even eliminate the stamp tax previously levied on certain legal documents, licenses or certificates issued by an administrative authority. The new law replaces the previous Transitional Stamp Tax… Continue reading The New Stamp Duty Law also Reduces the IP Costs
Undesirable Technology Transfer through Chinese Investment
The method is familiar, what is new is that a lawsuit is being filed over it. Highly innovative U.S. company Icon Aircraft has filed a lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court against its Chinese majority shareholders, including major shareholder Shanghai Pudong Science and Technology Investment (PDSTI). Icon developed the A5 amphibious aircraft, which set new standards… Continue reading Undesirable Technology Transfer through Chinese Investment
China Expands IP Legal System
The Chinese government is focusing more on legal certainty in intellectual property and is condensing the network of agencies responsible for IP. Currently, the structure of courts handling IP infringement lawsuits is organized according to the principle of “1 plus 4 plus 22.” Here, the number 1 represents the IP court at the national level,… Continue reading China Expands IP Legal System
Creative Commons and Copyleft: Open-Source Licenses in China
Free open source software is highly popular in China. A recent report by the Chinese think tank China Academy for Information and Communication Technology (CAICT) states that in 2019, 87.4% of Chinese companies had already used open source technologies, and by now the figure is likely to be even higher. Standardized licenses (public copyright licenses),… Continue reading Creative Commons and Copyleft: Open-Source Licenses in China
Market Entry with Strong IP: Not Always Recommended
Western companies are often enthusiastic about their innovative technology and rely on their strong patents to be monetized globally. But what about the company’s own competitive advantage in the Chinese market and in third markets already served by strong-patent Chinese competitors? Does the company have freedom of exercise there, or does it infringe already existing… Continue reading Market Entry with Strong IP: Not Always Recommended
Blockchain Makes Evidence Secure
The use of public blockchains and cryptocurrency trading have been heavily restricted in China since 2017. However, in 2019, the Chinese government realized that this technology is not only a risk of losing control, but can be very useful. Since then, it has been trying to target blockchain technology to improve cybersecurity and build a… Continue reading Blockchain Makes Evidence Secure
IP Due Diligence Reduces Risk of Investments in Startups
Because new technologies such as artificial intelligence, Big Data, the Internet of Things and blockchain are developing rapidly in China, Chinese high-tech startups have become the most popular investment targets for multinational companies. While intellectual property is the greatest asset of these startups, it also poses a high risk to investors. Is its IP protected… Continue reading IP Due Diligence Reduces Risk of Investments in Startups
China Fights Misleading through Deepfakes
China is increasingly cracking down on illegal deepfakes – fake digital representations of people in image, video or audio formats created using artificial intelligence for the purpose of deception. The counterfeiter usually collects facial or body data of a person in the form of images and uploads them to an AI algorithm. This processes the… Continue reading China Fights Misleading through Deepfakes
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