BEIJING

CNIPA rulings being published online

The National Intellectual Property Administration's Trademark Office started publicizing its rulings on trademark review petitions from Jan 1. Related rulings are published online on the office's website－sbj.cnipa.gov.cn－within 20 working days after the documents are mailed to related parties. Exceptions including those related to trade secrets and personal privacy will not be open to the public.

NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION

JIANGXI

Illegal protective goods investigated

The Jiangxi Administration for Market Regulation has recently investigated and dealt with a number of infringements involving the manufacture and sale of counterfeit face masks and other protective products. The administration published 10 typical cases involving seven prefecturelevel cities in Jiangxi province including Nanchang, Ganzhou and Yingtan. The enforcement operation started in early February and the administration said it will continue in cooperation with eight provincial government departments to ensure market order and people's health and safety.

CHINA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NEWS

GUANGDONG

Province offering companies support

Amid the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, trademark authorities in cities of Guangdong province including Nansha, Shenzhen and Zhuhai have provided applicants with online services. For example, handling trademark filings via apps, WeChat and telephone. The authorities have also created green channels for trademark registrations concerning epidemic prevention, as well as for applications using trademarks as loan collateral. This is to help companies overcome a shortage of funds after weeks of closure.

IPRCHN.COM

HAINAN

New IP exchange aims to be biggest

Hainan province set up an intellectual property exchange in late December in the latest move to support the construction of a pilot free-trade zone. The IP International Exchange of Hainan, located in the provincial capital of Haikou, aims to become the largest IP trading place in China. The exchange's trade volume is expected to surpass 1 trillion yuan ($143 billion) in the next five years. Hainan was approved in April 2018 to build a pilot free-trade zone covering the whole island.

XINHUA

OVERSEAS

EU time extension for Chinese bids

The European Union Intellectual Property Office recently announced it is extending the time limit for Chinese applications for trademarks and industrial designs in the EU, considering the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. The announcement mainly applies to EU trademarks and industrial designs filed by Chinese applicants with the EUIPO. It includes filings and applications for review and invalidity. If the legal period of such cases is between Jan 30 to Feb 28, it can be extended to Feb 29.

CNIPR.COM