Recently, the State Council Information Office of China held a press conference to introduce the progress of China's intellectual property work in 2024. The main information extracted is as follows.

1. Regarding patents

In 2024, a total of 1.045 million invention patents were granted, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. 67000 patent reexaminations and invalidation cases were closed. The examination period for invention patents has been reduced to 15.5 months, and the accuracy of case closure has increased to 95.2%. 75000 PCT international patent applications were accepted. Chinese applicants submitted 4868 international design applications through the Hague Agreement, marking a year-on-year increase of 29.5%, ranking first in the world.

As of the end of 2024, the number of effective invention patents in China has reached 4.756 million, becoming the world's first country to surpass the 4 million lines. The number of high-value invention patents per 10000 people in China has reached 14.

2. Regarding trademarks

In 2024, there were 4.781 million registered trademarks, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.1%. 383000 trademark review cases and 103,000 opposition cases were concluded. The average examination period for trademark registration has remained stable at 4 months, and the average trial period for opposition review cases has been further reduced. The qualification rate of various trademark businesses has remained above 97%. Throughout the year, 7039 Madrid trademark international registration applications were received from Chinese applicants, representing a year-on-year increase of 13.6%.

As of the end of 2024, the number of valid trademark registrations in China was 47.62 million.

3. Regarding geographical indications

In 2024, 36 geographical indication products were affirmed, 125 geographical indications were approved as collective trademarks and certification trademarks, and 8680 business entities were approved to use special geographical indication.

As of the end of 2024, China has accredited a total of 2544 geographical indication products, approved 7402 geographical indications as collective trademarks and certification trademarks, and registered nearly 33000 business entities of special geographical indication. The direct output value of geographical indication products has exceeded RMB 960 billion, with stable growth for consecutive years.

4. Integrated Circuit Layout Design

11000 integrated circuit layout design registrations and certifications were issued throughout the year. As of the end of 2024, a total of 83,000 integrated circuit layout designs have been issued in China.

5. In terms of intellectual property protection

Six national intellectual property protection centers and seven rapid rights protection centers have been established, bringing the total number to 124, with over 193,000 innovative entities registered. 33 new overseas intellectual property dispute response guidance centers have been established, bringing the total number to 80. Throughout the year, the entire system handled 72,000 administrative cases of patent infringement disputes and guided intellectual property dispute mediation organizations to accept nearly 140,000 mediation cases.

6. Regarding IPR exploration

The number of patent transfer license registrations for the whole year reached 613,000, marking a year-on-year increase of 29.9%. The number of patent transfer license registrations for universities and research institutions reached 76000, marking a year-on-year increase of 39.1%. From January to November, the total import and export volume of intellectual property usage fees in China reached RMB 356.41 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.6%.

The main characteristics reflected by the overall data are:

1. the continuous burst of innovation and creativity vitality in the whole society;

2. The position of enterprises as innovation subjects continues to be consolidated; and

3. overseas applications for intellectual property rights are becoming more active.

In addition, CNIPA also held relevant meetings, which defined the general idea and work priorities of "five efforts" to promote "five highs" in intellectual property work in the new year:

1. focus on strengthening high innovation of IPR;

2. focus on promoting the efficient use of intellectual property rights;

3. focus on strengthening the high standard protection of intellectual property rights;

4. focus on creating high-quality intellectual property services; and

5. focus on deepening high-level international cooperation on intellectual property rights.

So as to ensure the high-quality completion of the objectives and tasks of the 14th Five Year Plan for intellectual property, lay a solid foundation for the good start of the 15th Five Year Plan, and provide strong support for intellectual property protection at large.