From 2021 to 2025, China’s patent and trademark examination system underwent a major upgrade.
The average examination period for invention patents was reduced from 20 months to 15 months, while trademark registration was stabilized within 4 months. This means the applicants can obtain protection more quickly.
The accuracy rate for invention patent examination and reexamination decisions both exceed 95%, and the random inspection pass rate for trademark examination, opposition and review cases all exceed 97%. This provides applicants with a more stable foundation for granted rights and lowers the risk of subsequent invalidity challenges.
For emerging tech sectors such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy, the Guidelines for Patent Examination have been revised to offer clearer grant standards. In addition, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has fully adopted AI-assisted examination, significantly improving case-processing efficiency.