The Chinese Patent Law excludes patenting methods of diagnosing or treating a disease. More specifically, this refers to processes of identifying, determining, or eliminating the cause or focus of diseases which are practiced directly on living human or animal bodies. Please keep in mind that instruments used for implementing these methods are still patentable. So what constitutes a diagnostic method that would be excluded from patent protection? It must meet the following two criteria: It is practiced on a living human or animal body Its immediate purpose is to obtain the diagnostic result of a disease or health condition Living Human or Animal Body This first requirement means that, for…
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Hong Kong Launches New Original Grant Patent System
Hong Kong will be launching a new patent system on December 19, 2019 that includes key changes, most notably the introduction of an original grant patent system. This new patent system includes both the Patents (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 and the Patents (General) (Amendment) Rules 2019. Currently, there are two types of patent applications available in Hong Kong – standard patent application (re-registration) and short-term patent application. The most noticeable change in the new patent system is the introduction of an original grant patent (OGP) system to provide an alternative route to those seeking standard (20-year) patent protection in Hong Kong. Under the new system, patent applicants will have the option…
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AI, Big Data, and Blockchain – CNIPA seeks public comment on draft patent examination guidelines
Exciting new changes continue to happen with the Chinese Patent Office (CNIPA). On November 12, 2019, the CNIPA published a new set of amendments to Part II Chapter 9 of the Patent Examination Guidelines (“Draft”) and requested public comment by December 11, 2019. In summary, the new guidelines clarify how emerging technologies involving artificial intelligence, Internet +, big data and blockchain should be examined. More specifically, the Draft provides examination guidelines for inventions comprising certain abstract features such as algorithms, business methods and rules. Examination Criteria Accordingly to the newly amended guidelines in the Draft, when determining patent eligibility, novelty or inventive step (Articles 25, 2, and 22 respectively),…
