SIPO Adjusted the Type of Patent Statistical Data Available to the Public

Starting from January 2017, the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) adjusted the type of patent statistical data available to the public. SIPO will disclose patent applications rather than acceptances monthly, which is aimed at improving patent quality and bringing into play the guiding role of patent statistic data in promoting innovation.

For years, SIPO made public both patent acceptances and patent applications each month. The former referred to patent applications accepted by SIPO, while patent applications meant the ones which had paid official application fees and met the requirements for entry into initial examination.

In practice, applications and acceptances were basically equal in number. The public were more familiar with acceptances due to timeliness. Indeed, patent applications could reflect the overall application activities of China in a more realistic and objective way. Taking 2016 as an example, patent acceptances and applications were 3,465,000 and 3,200,000 respectively.

The adjustment would guide applicants to fairly utilize patent system, help optimize allocation of examination resources and really reflect the innovation level of the society. The move had no impact on the legal rights enjoyed by patent applicants and holders.

Next, SIPO will provide the public exact statistic data timely according to statistic law and government information disclosure regulations. Patent statistic data will be available to the public monthly, half yearly and annually. [Chinese version is available on sipo.gov.cn]

Source | IPRdaily

Editor | Roger