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How foreign applicants can take advantage of China’s updated patent regime

By Benny Liu | Posted on January 27, 2025

China implemented the fourth amendment to its Patent Law, which came into effect on 1 July 2021. The amended Implementing Regulations and Guidelines took effect on 20 January 2024. This fourth round of amendments introduced several positive elements for foreign applicants. Procedural Changes Restoring Priority In line with patent practices in the UK, European Union,...

Tags: applicants, china, designs, examination, patents, priority, Procedure

China-Norway patent prosecution highway pilot launches

By AWA | Posted on April 20, 2020

A memorandum between China and Norway will speed up and reduce costs when applying for patents On April 1, the China-Norway Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot began and is in effect until March 31, 2023. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Norwegian Industrial Property Office...

Tags: china, examination, IP, Norway, patents, PPH

Amended Canadian Patent Rules Effective

By AWA | Posted on December 20, 2019

On October 30, 2019, amendments to the Rules Respecting the Patent Act (Rules) and the Patent Act (Act) became effective in Canada. The amendments have far-reaching impacts on Canadian patent practice in terms of filing and prosecution. PCT – National Phase Previously, a PCT application could enter the national phase in Canada within 42 months...

Tags: Canada, CIPO, examination, IP, national phase, patents, PCT, priority

An unknown exception error at the EPO

By Anders Heebøll-Nielsen | Posted on August 4, 2014

We recently blogged about how the EPO has introduced the concept of small entities for obtaining fee reductions in procedures before the EPO. The new procedure can create a peculiar error that at least I did not foresee. The EPO Form 1001E for request for grant of a European patent contains a field, Item 5,...

Tags: EPO, examination, Rule 6(4) EPC, small entity

Recent contributors

Ylva Strandberg, Counsel and AU and NZ Patent Attorney, Stockholm, Sweden

Ylva Strandberg

Counsel, AU and NZ Patent Attorney

Hongyue Li, Senior Associate and China Patent Attorney, Beijing, China

Hongyue Li

Senior Associate, China Patent Attorney

Isa Böttiger, Associate and Attorney at Law, Stockholm, Sweden

Isa Böttiger

Associate, Attorney at Law

Ylva Wikmark, Counsel and European Patent Attorney, Stockholm, Sweden

Ylva Wikmark

Counsel, European Patent Attorney

Ashley Zhao, Partner and Attorney at Law, Beijing, China

Ashley Zhao

Partner, Attorney at Law, Business Area Manager

Alexandre Theodorou, Partner and European Patent Attorney, Brussels, Belgium

Alexandre Theodorou

Partner, European Patent Attorney