Chinese Patent Applications Along Belt & Road Initiative Countries Increase

China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has released its half year figures for 2019 concerning patent filings in Belt and Road countries. The CNIPA is responsible for patent work and comprehensive coordination of the foreign related affairs in the field of Chinese national intellectual property.

According to CNIPA, Belt and Road countries saw a “steady increase” in the number of patent applications filed by China in the first half of 2019, with 3,125 patent applications marking an increase of 0.4 percent from 3,112 filings in the first half of 2018.
Of these, 1,558 (49 percent) of the patent applications were granted registration.

CNIPA also highlighted that many of the patent applications were concentrated in the “IP-intensive” manufacturing industries of telecommunications, electronic equipment, instruments, and chemical products, as well as software and information technology services. The most prolific companies that filed patent applications were Huawei, OPPO, Ping An Technology, Midea and BOE Technology

In addition, the CNIPA noted that the number of Chinese patent applications received by Belt and Road countries in the first half of 2019 increased 3 percent to 11,683, of which 8,029 were registered, marking a grant increase of 16 percent compared to the first half of 2019. CNIPA concluded that these statistics demonstrate that “the improving business environment in China is earning the approval from partners along the route”.

Chris Devonshire-Ellis of Dezan Shira & Associates comments ‘These patent applications demonstrate just how determined the Chinese are to market and develop their products along the Belt & Road countries. The Chinese take patent and trademark applications very seriously and so should foreign investors in China and these countries.’

Dezan Shira & Associates maintains an IP team in China and the Belt & Road and can handle such applications on behalf of clients. For assistance please email china@dezshira.com

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