中国依法严格保护外资企业的知识产权|外资企业_新浪财经

Vigorous legal protection for IPRs of foreign-funded enterprises

"It is essential to ensure equal treatment and protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) for both domestic and foreign-funded enterprises, foster a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, attract global resources, facilitate greater utilization of foreign investment, and contribute to the domestic-international 'dual circulation' development paradigm." Recently, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) held its November 2024 press conference, introducing initiatives and achievements in building a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, as part of advancing high-standard opening-up.

In recent years, CNIPA has actively implemented decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. It has provided equal legal protection for the IPRs of various enterprises, including foreign-funded ones, while addressing their IPR-related concerns and demands. These efforts have increasingly attracted foreign enterprises to invest and operate in China.

Statistics show that from January to October this year, 92,000 invention patents granted in China were from foreign-funded enterprises, up 5.3% year-on-year, while 121,000 trademarks registered in China were from foreign-funded enterprises, with a 13.1% increase compared to the same period last year. These figures reflect the recognition of foreign-funded enterprises towards China's IPR protection efforts.

At the press conference, Guo Wen, Director General of CNIPA's Intellectual Property Protection Department, elaborated on three key areas of CNIPA's work in addressing the IPR concerns of foreign-funded enterprises:

Firstly, CNIPA has proactively aligned with high- standard international trade rules. CNIPA has acceded to nearly all major international IP treaties, including the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, and the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. It is now a major user of these systems administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), facilitating numerous foreign enterprises in securing IPRs in China each year. Furthermore, CNIPA has completed the latest round of revisions to the Trademark Law and the Patent Law, establishing internationally recognized high-standard punitive damages systems.

Secondly, CNIPA has enforced high-standard IPR protection. CNIPA has efficiently resolved patent disputes in the pharmaceutical market review and approval process. As of the end of October 2024, it concluded 199 administrative rulings under the early resolution mechanism for drug patent disputes, protecting the rights of innovative pharmaceutical firms. Additionally, CNIPA has actively combated abusive actions related to patent invalidation, trademark registration, and trademark cancellation for non-use after three years, expedited the resolution of cases with clear facts and strong evidence, and addressed disputes involving enterprises from countries including the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Thailand, and Denmark.

Lastly, CNIPA has established a regular communication mechanism with foreign-funded enterprises. CNIPA has organized IPR seminars for foreign-funded enterprises in key regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, listening to their concerns and addressing them, and provided targeted services. Many foreign representatives have praised China's rapidly improving IPR environment, highlighting its role in driving innovation and bolstering confidence to invest further. In 2023, foreign-funded enterprises' satisfaction with China's IPR protection increased by 1.44 points, continuing a steady upward trend.

Guo emphasized that CNIPA will further enhance IPR protection standards, refine its communication mechanisms with foreign-funded enterprises, and make its efforts more robust and targeted. The objective is to cultivate a fairer, more transparent, and more predictable business environment, strengthening foreign-funded enterprises' confidence in deepening their engagement with the Chinese market. (by Zhang Binbin)

“要坚持对内外资企业的知识产权一视同仁、同等保护，营造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，更大力度吸引全球资源要素汇集，促进更大规模利用外资，助力实现国内国际‘双循环’。”近日，中国国家知识产权局2024年11月例行新闻发布会举行，介绍了在推进高水平对外开放过程中，持续加强市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境建设的举措与成效。

近年来，中国国家知识产权局认真贯彻落实党中央、国务院决策部署，依法平等保护包括外资企业在内的各类所有制企业的知识产权，积极回应和解决各类企业在知识产权方面的关切与诉求，吸引了越来越多的外资企业在华投资兴业。

数据显示，今年1月至10月，国外在华发明专利授权9.2万件，同比增长5.3%；国外在华商标注册12.1万件，同比增长13.1%。这些数据充分体现了外资企业对中国知识产权保护工作的认可。

中国国家知识产权局知识产权保护司司长郭雯在发布会上介绍，为了回应外资企业知识产权诉求关切，中国国家知识产权局主要开展3个方面的工作：

　　一是主动对接高标准的国际经贸规则。中国国家知识产权局已经加入了《专利合作条约》《商标国际注册马德里协定》《工业品外观设计国际注册海牙协定》等几乎所有主要的知识产权国际条约，成为世界知识产权组织管理的专利、商标、外观设计三大国际注册体系的重要用户。每年都有大量的国外企业通过这三大体系在华开展知识产权布局。同时，中国国家知识产权局还相继完成了商标法、专利法新一轮修改，建立了国际上高标准的惩罚性赔偿制度。

　　二是严格实施高水平的知识产权保护。中国国家知识产权局高效解决药品上市审评审批环节的专利纠纷，截至2024年10月底，累计审结199件药品专利纠纷早期解决机制行政裁决案件，保护了创新药企的合法权益。中国国家知识产权局坚决打击专利恶意无效和商标恶意注册、“撤三”等行为，对事实清楚、证据确凿的侵权案件依法加快办理，相继妥善处理涉及美国、德国、法国、意大利、泰国、丹麦等国家相关企业的多起知识产权纠纷。

　　三是建立了与外资企业的常态化沟通机制。中国国家知识产权局在北京、上海、江苏、广东等地召开了多场外资企业知识产权座谈会，现场听取和解答他们遇到的问题，有针对性地做好服务。许多外资企业代表在座谈时表示，中国快速完善的知识产权保护环境促进了外资企业的创新发展，坚定了他们在华加大投资的信心。2023年外资企业对华知识产权保护的满意度提高了1.44分，继续保持稳步提升。

　　郭雯表示，接下来，中国国家知识产权局将进一步提高知识产权保护水平，更加完善与外资企业的沟通机制，把各项工作做得更加扎实有效，更有针对性，营造更加公平、透明、可预期的营商环境，为外资企业深耕中国市场持续注入信心。（张彬彬）

（编辑：晏如责任编辑：吕可珂审校：冯飞）