After 12 years, the Fourth Amendment to the Chinese Patent Law has passed and will be in effect on 1 Jun 2021. After years of multiple draft amendments that moved in various directions, we FINALLY have some clarity on what patent protection is going to look like in China in the coming future. Many of these changes were already in the proposed draft amendments that came out in 2019 and 2020, though there have also been some adjustments. Most notable aspects of this new law include (1) patent term extension due to regulatory or patent office delay (2) patent linkage between new drug approval and patent disputes; (3) litigation reform…
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China Forges Ahead with Draft Measures for New Patent Linkage System
Update! The finalized Implementation Measures are now out. You can read the details here: Breaking: China Released New Implementation Measures for the New Patent Linkage System Last month September 11, 2020, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) jointly issued a draft set of measures for public opinion about early dispute resolution mechanisms for drug patents, what is referred to as a patent linkage system. Below is a summary highlighting key provisions. Creation of an “Orange Book” List The NMPA will create a public registration platform that will list patent information for all drugs marketed or seeking marketing authority in China (similar to…
- China, Patent Linkage, Patent Term Extension, Pharma, Proposed Changes, Regulatory, Updates and Changes
Breaking News: Newest Draft Amendment to the Chinese Patent Law Available for Public Comment
Finally, after more than a year since the last draft amendment came out in 2019, a new draft has been submitted to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee for deliberation on June 28, 2020. The newest version is now published for public comments until August 16, 2020. As a whole, these proposed changes address a lot of the criticisms people have had regarding the strength of IP protection in China. These changes, once implemented, will make China a much more patent-friendly jurisdiction, benefiting innovators worldwide. Examples of notable changes include (1) a longer patent term for new drugs and design patents; (2) patent linkage; (3) litigation reform such as significantly…
