1) New Patent Examination Guidelines
The newly revised Patent Examination Guidelines issued by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has come into effect since January 1, 2026.
Details: https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2025/12/4/art_66_202935.html

2) Updated Patent Application Forms
To facilitate the implementation of the revised Guidelines, the relevant patent application request forms have been updated. The new versions can be accessed and downloaded under the “Government Services – Form Download” section on the CNIPA official website (http://www.cnipa.gov.cn). New forms are effective on January 1, 2026, after which previous versions will no longer be accepted.

3) Mandatory XML Format for Patent Submissions
Beginning January 1, 2026, the CNIPA requires all patent related electronic submissions—including applications, reexaminations, invalidations, and associated procedures—to be filed in XML format. Submissions in other electronic formats will no longer be accepted.
Details: https://www.sanyouip.com/en/insights/content/2/783.html

4) The CNIPA collects fees for the international phase of PCT applications on behalf of the WIPO International Bureau and the European Patent Office. The new RMB standard has been implemented since January 1, 2026.
Details: https://www.sanyouip.com/en/insights/content/2/782.html

5) The Supreme People's Court issued the Decision on Amending the Provisions on the Causes of Civil Cases (Fa [2025] No. 226) and the accompanying notice (Fa [2025] No. 227), marking the third amendment to the Provisions on the Causes of Civil Cases. Both documents were deliberated and approved on December 4, 2025, and have taken effect from January 1, 2026.

6) From January 1, 2026, trademark registration applications filed on or after January 1 shall be subject to the 2026 version of the 13th edition of the Nice Classification. Applications filed before this date shall still use the original version. The CNIPA will simultaneously adjust the "Classification Table of Similar Goods and Services", and the relevant amendments will be published together.
For details of the classification table, please refer to
https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/tzgg/202512/t20251226_36952.html

7) The revision of the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China has been passed, with Chapter 5 containing provisions on intellectual property protection related to foreign trade, which will come into effect on March 1, 2026.
Details: https://www.sanyouip.com/en/insights/content/2/785.html

8) The revised Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China, consisting of 8 chapters and 96 articles, will come into effect on March 1, 2026.
Details: https://www.sanyouip.com/en/insights/content/2/784.html

9) The pilot project of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) among the five offices of China, the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea has been extended for three years from January 6, 2026, to January 5, 2029, with no changes to the application requirements and procedures.