Source: CNIPA

In July, CNIPA released its main statistical data for the first half of 2021. The statistics showed that the intellectual property business has been progressing steadily and China's main intellectual property indicators met expectations.

1. Statistical data of patents and trademarks in the first half of 2021

1.1 Patent

In the first half of 2021, 339,000 invention patents were granted in China. By the end of June, the valid granted invention patents in China reached 3.324 million. Among them, 2.454 million invention patents were from mainland China, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 23%.

During the same period, a total of 33,300 PCT applications were accepted, with a year-on-year increase of 12.6%. In addition, 1.327 million Chinese utility model applications and 393,000 design applications were granted. Also, 28,400 reexamination cases and 4,300 invalidation cases were closed.

1.2 Trademark

3.724 million trademarks were registered in China during the first half of this year. By the end of June, the number of valid registered trademarks in China reached 33.548 million, showing a year-over-year increase of 22.4%. CNIPA also received 2,954 applications for Madrid international trademark registration in the same period.

In addition, CNIPA received 188,000 trademark review and adjudication cases, and completed the examinations of 82,000 trademark opposition cases.

1.3 Examination period

The average examination periods for invention patents and high-value patents in China were reduced to 19.4 months and 13.4 months respectively. The average examination period for trademark registration has been stabilized to less than 4 months.

2. Applications from foreign applicants continued to increase in China

In the first half of the year, 54,000 invention patents of foreign applicants were granted in China, representing a year-on-year increase of 30%. Among them, patents from the US applicants increased by 35%. There were also 90,000 trademarks in the name of foreign applicants registered in China, with a year-on-year increase of 7.5%. Among them, US applicants' trademark registrations increased by 8.9%.
The data above shows that foreign companies have confidence in the overall business environment in China. They have increasingly trusted China's legal system to protect their IP rights and add value to their business.