Ta Kung Pao and Wen Wei Po:

We have noted that the CNIPA has issued data on intellectual property services in its annual statistics for the first time. What are the considerations behind this data release? What progress has China made in providing intellectual property public services over the past year? Thank you.  

Hu Wenhui:

Thank you for your question and your long-term interest in intellectual property-related work. Indeed, this is the first time we have officially released data on intellectual property public services in our annual statistics. So let me brief you on this. 

In recent years, according to decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on reforms to streamline administration and delegate power, improve regulation, and upgrade services, the NIPA has strengthened intellectual property public services and issued a guideline in 2021 on deepening the reforms mentioned above in the intellectual property field. This guideline includes 16 reform measures of six aspects to promote comprehensive progress in this regard.

First, we have deepened reforms to facilitate patent and trademark registration applications. As I mentioned earlier, the "one-window" service for patent and trademark business is now provided in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). At the same time, we continued to promote the online completion of the whole process of patent pledge registration. Furthermore, we have advocated the notification and promise principle in the process of patent and trademark exclusive right pledge registration. The measures of reform on notification-promise mechanism for licensing and approving agencies' operations have been replicated and applied nationwide. In addition, in terms of the review cycle, in 2021, the review cycle of high-value invention patents was reduced to 13.3 months, the average review cycle of invention patents was decreased to 18.5 months, the average review cycle of trademark registration remained stable at 4 months, and the general trademark registration cycle was reduced to 7 months.  

Second, we have made intellectual property public services more standardized, equitable, and accessible. Not long ago, the NIPA issued a list of intellectual property public services, which includes the online and offline access paths for 49 services in three categories of intellectual property application, management, and information. As a result, the intellectual property public service requests can be accepted without discrimination and processed with the same standard based on the list.  

Third, we have accelerated the establishment of an intellectual property public service system that is convenient for and beneficial to the people. As I mentioned earlier, in 2021, China's intellectual property information service institutions achieved full coverage at the provincial level, with 52 provincial-level institutes and 104 prefecture-level comprehensive institutes. At the same time, we have jointly set up 101 technology and innovation support centers with the World Intellectual Property Organization, built 80 national intellectual property information service centers in universities with the Ministry of Education, and filed the first batch of 88 national intellectual property information public service entities.  

Fourth, we have enhanced infrastructure construction for IT-based and intelligent intellectual property. We have further optimized the functions of the intellectual property public service network and advanced its connection with websites of governments at all levels, including the CNIPA's official website, as well as the technology and innovation support centers and the websites of the intellectual property information service centers in universities mentioned above and other resource platforms. We have cooperated with the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments to guide the establishment of the intellectual property pledge information platform, achieving "one-stop inquiry" and "one-window display."

Fifth, we have beefed up efforts to open and share intellectual property data resources. We opened 10 additional types of intellectual property data to the public. We provided the data of China's layout-designs of integrated circuits for the first time, realizing batch downloading of the data of 45 kinds of Chinese and foreign patents, trademarks, and layout-designs of integrated circuits. The European Union Trademark Search System was also launched to provide the public with foreign trademark information search services for the first time.  

A few days ago, the CNIPA issued the 14th Five-Year Plan for intellectual property public services, the first five-year plan in this field. The plan will render the intellectual property public services more accessible and convenient and comprehensively support and efficiently serve the building of a strong country for intellectual property rights. Thank you.