CHINA UNIFORMLAW NET

PATENT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(Adopted at the 4th Session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth

National People's Congress on March  12,  1984  Amended  by  the  Decision

Regarding the Revision of the Patent  Law  of  the  People's  Republic  of

China, adopted at the 27th  Session  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the

Seventh National People's Congress on September 4, 1992)

(Translated by the Patent  Office  of  the  People's  Republic  of  China.

In case of discrepancy, the original version in  Chinese  shall  prevail.)

        TABLE OF CONTENTS [*1]

Chapter I General Provisions

Article

1 Purpose of the Law

2 Subject Matter of Patents: Inventions-Creations (Inventions and Utility

  Models; Designs)

3 Tasks of the Patent Office

4 Subject Matters to be Kept Secret

5 Subject Matter Contrary to Public Order

6 Right to Apply for Patent; Ownership of Patent Right

7 Prohibition of Preventing Filing Application for Non Service Inventions-

  Creations

8 Inventions-Creations Made Jointly or on Commission

9 First-to-File Rule

10 Assignment of Right to Apply for Patent or of Patent Right

11 Rights Conferred by Patent

12 Patent License Contract

13 Inventions: Exploitation after Publication of Application

14 Planned Exploitation of Certain Patents Owned by Chinese Entities or

   Individuals

15 Marking of Patents

16 Reward of Inventors or Creators of Service Inventions-Creations

17 Naming of Inventor or Creator in Patent

18 Foreigners Entitled to File Patent Applications

19 Representation by Chinese Agency

20 Filing of Applications Abroad by Chinese

21 Secrecy of Patent Application

Chapter II Requirements for Grant of Patent Right

22 Inventions and Utility Models: Substantive Requirements of

   Patentability

23 Designs: Substantive Requirements of Patentability

24 Disclosures Not Causing Loss of Novelty

25 Subject Matters Excluded from Patentability

Chapter III Application for Patent

26 Inventions and Utility Models: Documents Required for Filing Patent

   Application

27 Designs: Documents Required for Filing Patent Application

28 Filing Date

29 Right of Priority

30 Claiming of Right of Priority

31 Unity of Subject Matter

32 Withdrawal of Application

33 Amendment of Application

Chapter IV Examination and Approval of Application for Patent

34 Inventions: Publication of Application

35 Inventions: Initiative for Examination as to Substance

36 Inventions: Information by Applicant for Examination as to Substance

37 Inventions: Invitation to Amend or Make Observations

38 Inventions: Rejection of Application after Examination as to Substance

39 Inventions: Grant of Patent Right after Examination as to Substance

40 Utility Model and Designs: Grant of Patent Right after Preliminary

   Examination

41 Request for Revocation

42 Decision on Request for Revocation

43 Reexamination and, for Inventions, Court Proceedings

44 Effect of Revocation

Chapter V Duration, Cessation and Invalidation of Patent Right

45 Duration

46 Annual Fees

47 Cessation of Patent Right

48 Request for Invalidation

49 Decision on Request for Invalidation

50 Effect of Invalidation

Chapter VI Compulsory License for Exploitation of Patent

51 Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Failure

   to Obtain Authorization from Patentee

52 Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Use for

   Public Interest

53 Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Dependent

   Patents

54 Inventions and Utility Models: Proof Required from Requestor of

   Compulsory License

55 Inventions and Utility Models: Registration and Announcement of

   Compulsory License

56 Inventions and Utility Models: Limitation of Rights of Compulsory

   Licensee

57 Inventions and Utility Models: Exploitation Fee to be Paid by

   Compulsory Licensee

58 Inventions and Utility Models: Court Proceedings by Patentee Concerning

   Compulsory License

Chapter VII Protection of Patent Right

59 Determination of Extent of Protection

60 Definition of Infringement and Remedies; Inventions: Proof in Case of

   Process of Patents

61 Prescription for Instituting Legal Proceedings for Infringements

62 Acts not Constituting Infringement

63 Remedies and Penalties for Passing Off

64 Sanctions for Not Respecting Provision of Article 20

65 Sanctions for Usurpation of Rights of Inventor or Creator

66 Sanctions Against Offending Officials

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

67 Fees

68 Implementing Regulations

69 Date of Entry Into Force of the Law

    【章名】  Chapter I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.

This Law is enacted to protect patent rights for inventions-creations,   to

encourage inventions-creations, to foster the spreading and application of

inventions-creations, and  to  promote  the  development  of  science  and

technology, for  meeting  the  needs  of  the  construction  of  socialist

modernization.

Article 2.

In this Law, "inventions-creations" mean inventions,  utility  models  and

designs.

Article 3.

The Patent Office of the People's Republic of China receives and  examines

patent applications and grants patent rights for inventions-creations that

conform with the provisions of this Law.

Article 4.

Where the invention-creation for which a patent is applied for relates  to

the security or other vital interests of the State and is required  to  be

kept secret, the application shall  be  treated  in  accordance  with  the

relevant prescriptions of the State.

Article 5.

No patent right shall  be   granted  for  any  invention-creation  that  is

contrary to  the  laws  of  the  State  or  social  morality  or  that  is

detrimental to public interest.

Article 6.

For a service invention-creation, made by a person  in  execution  of  the

tasks of the entity to which he belongs or made by him mainly by using the

material means of the entity, the right to apply for a patent  belongs  to

the entity. For any non service invention-creation, the right to apply for

a patent belongs to the inventor or creator.   After  the  application  is

approved, if it was filed by  an  entity  under  ownership  by  the  whole

people, the patent right shall be held by the entity; if it was  filed  by

an entity under collective ownership or by an individual, the patent right

shall be owned by the entity or individual.

For a service invention-creation made by any staff member or worker   of  a

foreign enterprise, or of  a  Chinese-foreign   joint  venture  enterprise,

located in China,  the  right  to  apply  for  a  patent  belongs  to  the

enterprise. For any non service invention-creation, the right to apply for

a patent belongs to the inventor or  creator.  After  the  application  is

approved, the patent right  shall  be  owned  by  the  enterprise  or  the

individual that applied for it.

The owner of the patent right and the  holder  of  the  patent  right  are

referred to as "patentee".

Article 7.

No entity or individual shall prevent the inventor or creator from   filing

an application for a patent for a non service invention-creation.

Article 8.

For an invention-creation made in cooperation by two or more entities,  or

made by an entity in execution of a commission for research  or  designing

given to it by another entity, the right to apply for  a  patent  belongs,

unless otherwise agreed upon, to the entity which made, or to the entities

which jointly made,  the   invention-creation.  After  the  application  is

approved, the patent right shall  be  owned  or  held  by  the  entity  or

entities that applied for it.

Article 9.

Where two  or  more  applicants  file  applications   for  patent  for  the

identical invention-creation, the patent right shall  be  granted  to  the

applicant whose application was filed first.

Article 10.

The right to apply for a patent and the patent right may be assigned.  Any

assignment, by an entity under ownership by the whole people, of the right

to apply for a patent, or of the patent right, must  be  approved  by  the

competent authority at the higher level.

Any assignment, by a Chinese entity or individual, of the right  to  apply

for a patent, or of the patent right, to a foreigner must be  approved  by

the competent department concerned of the State Council.

Where the right to apply for a patent or the patent right is assigned, the

parties must conclude a written contract, which will come into force after

it is registered with and announced by the Patent Office.

Article 11. [*2] [*3]

After the grant of the patent right for an  invention  or  utility  model,

except as otherwise provided for in the law, no entity or individual   may,

without the authorization of the patentee, make, use or sell the   patented

product, or use the patented process and use or sell the product  directly

obtained by the patented process, for production or business purposes.

After the grant of the patent right for a design, no entity or  individual

may, without the authorization of the patentee, make or sell the  product,

incorporating its or his  patented  design,  for  production  or  business

purposes.

After the grant of the patent right, except as otherwise provided  for  in

the law, the patentee has the right  to  prevent  any  other  person  from

importing, without its or his authorization, the patented product, or  the

product directly obtained by its or his patented  process,  for  the  uses

mentioned in the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 12.

Any entity or individual exploiting the patent of another must, except   as

provided for in Article 14 of this  Law,  conclude  with  the  patentee  a

written license contract for exploitation and pay the patentee a  fee  for

the exploitation of the patent. The licensee has no right to authorize any

entity or individual, other than that referred  to  in  the  contract  for

exploitation, to exploit the patent.

Article 13.

After the publication of the application for a patent for  invention,  the

applicant may require the entity or individual exploiting the invention to

pay an appropriate fee.

Article 14.

The competent departments concerned of the State Council and the  people's

governments of provinces, autonomous regions  or  municipalities   directly

under the Central Government have the power to decide, in accordance  with

the State plan, that any entity under ownership by the whole  people  that

is within their system or directly under  their  administration   and  that

holds the patent right to an  important  invention-creation   is  to  allow

designated entities to exploit that invention-creation; and the exploiting

entity shall, according to the prescriptions of the State, pay a  fee  for

exploitation to the entity holding the patent right.

Any patent of a Chinese individual or entity under  collective  ownership,

which is of great significance to the interests of the  State  or  to  the

public interest and is in need of spreading and  application,  may,  after

approval by the  State  Council  at  the  solicitation   of  its  competent

department  concerned,  be  treated  alike  by  making  reference  to  the

provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 15.

The patentee has the right to affix a patent marking and to  indicate  the

number of the patent on the patented product or on  the  packing  of  that

product.

Article 16.

The entity owning or holding the patent right shall award to the  inventor

or creator of a service invention-creation a reward and, upon exploitation

of the patented invention-creation, shall award to the inventor or creator

a reward based on the extent of spreading and application and the economic

benefits yielded.

Article 17.

The inventor or creator has the right to be named as such  in  the  patent

document.

Article 18.

Where any foreigner, foreign  enterprise  or  other  foreign  organization

having no  habitual  residence  or  business  office  in  China  files  an

application for a patent in China, the application shall be treated  under

this Law in accordance with any agreement concluded between the country to

which  the  applicant  belongs  and  China,  or  in  accordance  with  any

international treaty to which both countries are party, or on the basis of

the principle of reciprocity.

Article 19.

Where any foreigner, foreign  enterprise  or  other  foreign  organization

having no habitual residence or business office in  China  applies  for  a

patent, or has other patent matters to attend to, in China, he or it shall

appoint a patent agency designated by the State Council  of  the  People's

Republic of China to act as his or its agent.  Where any Chinese entity or

individual applies for a patent or has other patent matters to  attend  to

in the country, it or he may appoint a patent agency to act as its or  his

agent.

Article 20.

Where any Chinese entity or individual intends to file an application in a

foreign country for a patent for invention-creation made in  the  country,

it or he shall file first an application for patent with the Patent Office

and, with the sanction of the competent department concerned of the   State

Council, shall appoint a patent agency designated by the State Council   to

act as its or his agent.

Article 21.

Until the publication or announcement of the  application  for  a  patent,

staff members of the Patent Office and persons involved have the  duty  to

keep its content secret.

    【章名】  Chapter II REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT OF PATENT RIGHT

Article 22.

Any invention or utility model for which patent right may be granted  must

possess novelty, inventiveness and practical applicability.

Novelty means that, before the date of filing, no identical  invention  or

utility model has been publicly disclosed in publications in  the  country

or abroad or has been publicly used or made known to  the  public  by  any

other means in the country, nor has any other person filed previously with

the Patent Office an application which described the  identical  invention

or utility model and was published after the said date of filing.

Inventiveness means that, as compared with the technology existing   before

the date of filing the invention has prominent  substantive  features  and

represents a notable progress and that the utility model  has  substantive

features and represents progress.  Practical applicability means that  the

invention or utility model can be made or used and can  produce  effective

results.

Article 23.

Any design for which patent right may be granted  must  not  be  identical

with or similar to any design which, before the date of filing,  has  been

publicly disclosed in publications in the country or abroad  or  has  been

publicly used in the country.

Article 24.

An invention-creation for which a patent is applied for does not lose  its

novelty where, within six months before the date of  filing,  one  of  the

following events occurred:

(1) where it was first exhibited at an international exhibition  sponsored

or recognized by the Chinese Government;

(2)  where  it  was  first  made  public  at  a  prescribed  academic   or

technological meeting;

(3) where it was disclosed by  any  person  without  the  consent  of  the

applicant.

Article 25. [*4]

For any of the following, no patent right shall be granted:

(1) scientific discoveries;

(2) rules and methods for mental activities;

(3) methods for the diagnosis or for the treatment of diseases;

(4) animal and plant varieties;

(5) substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation.

For processes used in producing products referred to in items (4)  of  the

preceding paragraph, patent right may be granted in  accordance  with  the

provisions of this Law.

    【章名】  Chapter III APPLICATION FOR PATENT

Article 26.

Where an application for a patent for invention or utility model is filed,

a request, a description and its abstract, and claims shall be submitted.

The request shall state the title of the invention or utility  model,  the

name of the inventor or creator, the name and the address of the applicant

and other related matters.

The description shall set forth the invention or utility model in a manner

sufficiently clear and complete so as to enable a person  skilled  in  the

relevant field of technology to carry it out;  where  necessary,  drawings

are required. The abstract shall state briefly the main  technical  points

of the invention or utility model.

The claims shall be supported by  the  description  and  shall  state  the

extent of the patent protection asked for.

Article 27.

Where an application for a patent for design is filed, a request, drawings

or  photographs  of  the  design  shall  be  submitted,  and  the  product

incorporating the design and the class to which that product belongs shall

be indicated.

Article 28.

The date on which the Patent Office receives the application shall be  the

date of filing. If the application is sent by mail, the  date  of  mailing

indicated by the postmark shall be the date of filing.

Article 29. [*5]

Where, within twelve months from the date on  which  any  applicant  first

filed in a foreign country an application for a patent  for  invention  or

utility model, or within six months from the date on which  any  applicant

first filed in a foreign country an application for a patent  for  design,

he or it files in China an application for a patent for the  same  subject

matter, he or it may, in accordance with any agreement  concluded  between

the  said  foreign  country  and  China,  or  in   accordance   with    any

international treaty to which both countries are party, or on the basis of

the principle of mutual recognition of the  right  of  priority,  enjoy  a

right of priority.

Where, within twelve months from the date on  which  any  applicant  first

filed in China an application for a patent for invention or utility model,

he or it files with the Patent Office an application for a patent for   the

same subject matter, he or it may enjoy a right of priority.

Article 30. [*6]

Any applicant who claims the  right  of  priority  shall  make  a  written

declaration when the  application  is  filed,  and  submit,  within  three

months, a copy of the patent application document which was first filed;

if the applicant fails to make the written declaration or to meet the time

limit for submitting the patent application document,  the  claim  to  the

right of priority shall be deemed not to have been made.

Article 31.

An application for a patent  for   invention  or  utility  model  shall  be

limited to one invention or utility  model.  Two  or  more  inventions  or

utility models belonging to a single  general  inventive  concept  may  be

filed as one application.

An application for a patent for design shall  be  limited  to  one  design

incorporated in one product. Two or more designs which are incorporated in

products belonging to the same class and are sold or used in sets  may  be

filed as one application.

Article 32.

An applicant may withdraw his or its application for a patent at any  time

before the patent right is granted.

Article 33. [*7]

An applicant may amend his or  its  application  for  a  patent,  but  the

amendment to the application for a patent for invention or  utility  model

may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure  contained  in  the  initial

description and claims, and the amendment to the application for a  patent

for design may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure as shown  in  the

initial drawings or photographs.

    【章名】  Chapter IV EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT

Article 34. [*8]

Where, after receiving an application for  a  patent  for  invention,  the

Patent Office, upon preliminary examination, finds the application  to  be

in conformity with the requirements of this  Law,  it  shall  publish  the

application promptly after the expiration of eighteen months from the date

of filing. Upon the request of the applicant, the Patent Office  publishes

the application earlier.

Article 35.

Upon the request of the applicant for a patent for invention, made at   any

time within three years from the date of filing, the  Patent  Office  will

proceed to examine the application as to its substance.  If,  without  any

justified  reason,  the  applicant  fails  to  meet  the  time  limit  for

requesting examination as to substance, the application shall be deemed to

have been withdrawn.

The Patent Office may, on its  own  initiative,  proceed  to  examine  any

application for a patent for invention as to its substance when  it  deems

it necessary.

Article 36.

When the applicant for a patent for invention requests examination  as  to

substance, he or it shall  furnish  pre-filing  date  reference  materials

concerning the invention.  The applicant for a patent  for  invention  who

has filed in a foreign country an application for a patent  for  the  same

invention shall, at the time of requesting examination  as  to  substance,

furnish documents concerning any search made for the purpose of  examining

that application, or concerning the results of any  examination  made,  in

that country. If, without any justified reason, the said documents are not

furnished, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Article 37.

Where the Patent Office, after it has made the examination as to substance

of the application for a patent for invention, finds that the  application

is not in conformity with the provisions of this Law, it shall notify   the

applicant and request him or it to submit, within a specified time   limit,

his or its observations or to  amend  the  application.  If,  without  any

justified reason, the time limit for  making  response  is  not  met,  the

application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

Article 38.

Where, after the applicant has made the observations  or  amendments,  the

Patent Office finds that the application for a  patent  for  invention  is

still not in conformity with the provisions of this Law,  the  application

shall be rejected.

Article 39. [*9]

Where it is found after examination as to substance that there is no cause

for rejection of the application for a patent for  invention,  the  Patent

Office shall make a decision to grant  the  patent  right  for  invention,

issue the certificate of patent for invention, and register  and  announce

it.

Article 40. [*10]

Where it is found after preliminary examination that there is no cause for

rejection of the application for a patent for utility model or design, the

Patent Office shall make a decision to grant the patent right for  utility

model  or  the  patent  right  for  design,  issue  the  relevant    patent

certificate, and register and announce it.

Article 41. [*11]

Where, within six months from the date of the announcement of the grant of

the patent right by the Patent Office, any entity or individual  considers

that the grant of the said patent right is  not  in  conformity  with  the

relevant provisions of this Law, it or he may request the Patent Office to

revoke the patent right.

Article 42. [*12]

The Patent Office shall examine the request for revocation of  the  patent

right, make a decision revoking or upholding the patent right, and   notify

the person who made the request and the patentee.  The  decision  revoking

the patent right shall be registered and announced by the Patent Office.

Article 43. [*13]

The Patent Office shall set up a Patent  Reexamination  Board.  Where  any

party is not satisfied with the decision of the  Patent  Office  rejecting

the application,  or  the  decision  of  the  Patent  Office  revoking  or

upholding the patent right, such party may, within three months  from  the

date of receipt of the  notification,  request  the  Patent  Reexamination

Board to make a reexamination. The Patent Reexamination Board shall, after

reexamination, make a decision and notify the applicant, the  patentee  or

the person who made the request for revocation of the patent right.

Where the applicant for  a  patent  for  invention,  the  patentee  of  an

invention or the person who made the request for revocation of the  patent

right for invention is not satisfied  with  the  decision  of  the  Patent

Reexamination Board, he or it may, within three months from  the  date  of

receipt of the notification, institute legal proceedings in  the  people's

court.

The decision of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of any  request,

made by the applicant, the patentee or the person who made the request for

revocation of the patent right, for  reexamination  concerning  a  utility

model or design is final.

Article 44. [*14]

Any patent right which has been revoked shall be deemed to be  nonexistent

from the beginning.

    【章名】  Chapter V DURATION, CESSATION AND INVALIDATION OF PATENT RIGHT

Article 45. [*15]

The duration of patent right for inventions shall  be  twenty  years,  the

duration of patent right for utility models and patent right  for  designs

shall be ten years, counted from the date of filing.

Article 46.

The patentee shall pay an annual fee beginning with the year in which  the

patent right was granted.

Article 47.

In any of the following cases, the patent right  shall  cease  before  the

expiration of its duration:

(1) where an annual fee is not paid as prescribed;

(2) where the patentee abandons his or  its  patent  right  by  a  written

declaration.  Any cessation of the patent right shall  be  registered  and

announced by the Patent Office.

Article 48. [*16]

Where,  after  the  expiration  of  six  months  from  the  date  of   the

announcement of the grant of the patent right by the  Patent  Office,  any

entity or individual considers that the grant of the said patent right  is

not in conformity with the relevant provisions of this Law, it or  he  may

request the  Patent  Reexamination  Board  to  declare  the  patent  right

invalid.

Article 49.

The Patent Reexamination Board shall examine the request for  invalidation

of the patent right, make a decision and notify the person  who  made  the

request and the patentee. The decision declaring the patent right  invalid

shall be registered and announced by the Patent Office.

Where any  party  is  not  satisfied  with  the  decision  of  the  Patent

Reexamination Board declaring the patent right for  invention  invalid  or

upholding the patent right for invention, such  party  may,  within  three

months from receipt of the notification of the decision,  institute  legal

proceedings in the people's court.

The decision of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of a request   to

declare invalid the patent right for utility model or design is final.

Article 50. [*17]

Any patent right which has been declared invalid shall  be  deemed  to  be

nonexistent from the beginning.

The decision of invalidation shall  have  no  retroactive  effect  on  any

judgement or order on patent infringement which has  been  pronounced  and

enforced by the people's court, on any decision concerning the handling of

patent infringement which has been made and enforced by the administrative

authority for patent affairs, and on any contract of patent license and of

assignment of patent  right   which  have  been  performed,  prior  to  the

decision of invalidation; however, the damages caused to other persons   in

bad faith on the part of the patentee shall be compensated.

If, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph,  no  repayment,

by the patentee or the assignor of the patent right to the licensee or the

assignee of the patent right, of the  fee  for  the  exploitation   of  the

patent or the price for the assignment of the patent  right  is  obviously

contrary to the principle of equity, the patentee or the assignor  of  the

patent right shall repay the whole or part of the fee for the exploitation

of the patent or the price for the assignment of the patent right  to  the

licensee or the assignee of the patent right.

The provisions of the second and third paragraph  of  this  Article  shall

apply to the patent right which has been revoked.

    【章名】  Chapter VI COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF THE PATENT

Article 51. [*18]

Where any entity which is qualified to exploit the  invention  or  utility

model has  made  requests  for  authorization  from  the  patentee  of  an

invention or utility model to exploit its  or  his  patent  on  reasonable

terms and such efforts have not been successful within a reasonable period

of time, the Patent Office may, upon the application of that entity, grant

a compulsory license to exploit the patent for invention or utility model.

Article 52. [*19]

Where a national emergency or any extraordinary state of  affairs  occurs,

or where the public interest so requires, the Patent Office  may  grant  a

compulsory license to exploit the patent for invention or utility model.

Article 53.

Where the invention or utility  model  for  which  the  patent  right  was

granted is technically more advanced than  another  invention  or  utility

model  for  which  a  patent  right  has  been  granted  earlier  and  the

exploitation of the later  invention  or  utility  model  depends  on  the

exploitation of the earlier invention or utility model, the Patent  Office

may, upon the request of the later patentee, grant a compulsory license to

exploit the earlier invention or utility model.

Where, according to the  preceding  paragraph,  a  compulsory  license  is

granted, the Patent Office may, upon the request of the earlier  patentee,

also grant a compulsory license to exploit the later invention or   utility

model.

Article 54.

The entity or individual requesting, in accordance with the provisions   of

this Law, a compulsory license for exploitation shall furnish  proof  that

it or he has not been  able   to  conclude  with  the  patentee  a  license

contract for exploitation on reasonable terms.

Article 55.

The decision made by the Patent Office granting a compulsory  license  for

exploitation shall be registered and announced.

Article 56.

Any entity  or  individual  that  is  granted  a  compulsory  license  for

exploitation shall not have an exclusive right to exploit  and  shall  not

have the right to authorize exploitation by any others.

Article 57.

The entity  or  individual  that  is  granted  a  compulsory  license  for

exploitation shall pay to the patentee a reasonable exploitation fee,  the

amount of which shall be fixed by both parties in consultations. Where the

parties fail to reach an agreement, the Patent Office shall adjudicate.

Article 58.

Where the patentee is not satisfied with the decision of the Patent Office

granting a compulsory license for exploitation or  with  the  adjudication

regarding the exploitation fee payable for exploitation,  he  or  it  may,

within three months from the receipt of the notification, institute   legal

proceedings in the people's court.

    【章名】  Chapter VII PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHT

Article 59.

The extent of protection of the patent  right  for  invention  or  utility

model shall be determined by the terms of the claims. The description   and

the appended drawings may be used to interpret the claims.

The extent  of  protection  of  the  patent  right  for  design  shall  be

determined by the product incorporating the patented design  as  shown  in

the drawings or photographs.

Article 60.

For any exploitation of the  patent,  without  the  authorization   of  the

patentee, constituting an infringing act, the patentee or  any  interested

party may request the  administrative  authority  for  patent  affairs  to

handle the matter or may  directly  institute  legal  proceedings  in  the

people's court. The administrative authority for patent  affairs  handling

the matter shall have the  power   to  order  the  infringer  to  stop  the

infringing act and to compensate for the damage.  Any  party  dissatisfied

may, within three months from the receipt of the  notification,  institute

legal proceedings in the people's  court.  If  such  proceedings  are  not

instituted within the time limit and if the order is  not  complied  with,

the administrative authority for patent affairs may approach the  people's

court for compulsory execution.

When any infringement dispute arises, if the patent  for  invention  is  a

process for the manufacture of a new product,  any  entity  or  individual

manufacturing the identical product shall furnish  proof  of  the  process

used in the manufacture of its or his product. [*20]

Article 61.

Prescription for instituting legal proceedings concerning the infringement

of patent right is two years counted from the date on which  the  patentee

or any interested party obtains or should have obtained knowledge  of  the

infringing act.

Article 62.

None of the following shall be deemed an infringement of the patent right:

(1) Where, after the sale of a patented  product  that  was  made  by  the

patentee or with the authorization of the patentee, any other person  uses

or sells that product;

(2) Where any person uses or sells a patented product not knowing that   it

was made and sold without the authorization of the patentee;

(3) Where, before the date of filing of the application  for  patent,  any

person who has already made the  identical  product,  used  the  identical

process, or made necessary preparations for its making or using, continues

to make or use it within the original scope only;

(4) Where any foreign means of transport which temporarily passes  through

the territory, territorial waters or territorial airspace  of  China  uses

the patent concerned, in accordance with any agreement  concluded  between

the country to which the foreign means of transport belongs and China,   or

in accordance with any international treaty to which  both  countries  are

party, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, for its own needs,

in its devices and installations;

(5) Where any person uses the patent concerned solely for the purposes   of

scientific research and experimentation.

Article 63.

Where any person passes off the patent of another person, such passing off

shall be treated in accordance  with  Article  60  of  this  Law.  If  the

circumstances are  serious,  any  person  directly  responsible  shall  be

prosecuted, for his  criminal   liability,  by  applying  mutatis  mutandis

Article 127 of the Criminal Law.

Where any person passes any unpatented product off as patented product   or

passes any unpatented process off as patented process, such  person  shall

be ordered by the administrative authority for patent affairs to stop  the

passing off, correct it publicly, and pay a fine. [*21]

Article 64.

Where any person, in violation of the provisions of  Article  20  of  this

Law, unauthorizedly files in a foreign country an application for a patent

that divulges an important secret of the State, he  shall  be  subject  to

disciplinary sanction by  the  entity  to  which  he  belongs  or  by  the

competent authority concerned at the higher level.  If  the  circumstances

are serious, he shall be prosecuted for his criminal  liability  according

to the law.

Article 65.

Where any person usurps the right of an inventor or creator to apply for a

patent for a non service invention-creation, or usurps any other right   or

interest of an inventor or creator, prescribed by this Law,  he  shall  be

subject to disciplinary sanction by the entity to which he belongs   or  by

the competent authority at the higher level.

Article 66.

Where any staff member of the Patent Office, or any staff member concerned

of the State, acts wrongfully out of personal  considerations  or  commits

fraudulent acts, he shall be  subject  to  disciplinary  sanction  by  the

Patent Office or the competent authority concerned. If  the  circumstances

are serious, he shall  be   prosecuted,  for  his  criminal  liability,  by

applying mutatis mutandis Article 188 of the Criminal Law.

    【章名】  Chapter VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Article 67.

Any application for a patent filed with, and any other proceedings before,

the Patent Office shall be subject to the payment of a fee as prescribed.

Article 68.

The implementing Regulations of this Law shall be drawn up by  the  Patent

Office and shall enter into force after approval by the State Council.

Article 69.

This Law shall enter into force on April 1, 1985.

This Decision [*22] shall  enter  into  force  on  January  1,  1993.  The

applications for patent filed before the entry into force of this Decision

and the patent rights granted on the basis of the said applications   shall

continue to be governed by the provisions of the  Patent  Law  before  its

amendment. However, the procedures provided by the amended Articles 39   to

44 and the amended Article 48 of the Patent Law concerning the approval of

applications for patent, and the revocation and invalidation of the patent

right shall apply  to  the  said  applications  which  are  not  announced

according to the provisions of Articles 39 and 40 of the Patent Law before

its amendment. (Extract from the Decision Regarding the  Revision  of  the

Patent Law of the People's Republic of China, Adopted at the 27th  Session

of the Standing Committee of the Seventh  National  People's  Congress  on

September 4, 1992)

=======================================================================

[*1] This Table of Contents was established for  the  convenience  of  the

reader by the Patent Laws Research Institute of the Chinese Patent Office.

The text of the Patent Law  adopted  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  the

National People's Congress does not contain such a table and the  Articles

have no titles in the Law.

[*2] The texts of those articles  of  the  Law  printed  in  boldface  are

amended texts.  The  relevant  old  texts  are,  for  the  convenience  of

reference, printed in the footnotes on the same page.

[*3] Old Article 11. After the grant of the patent right for an  invention

or utility model, except as provided for in Article 14  of  this  Law,  no

entity or individual may,  without  the  authorization  of  the  patentee,

exploit the patent, that is, make, use or sell the  patented  product,  or

use the patented process, for production or business purposes.

After the grant of the patent right for a design, no entity or  individual

may, without the authorization of the patentee, exploit the  patent,  that

is, make or sell the  product,   incorporating  the  patented  design,  for

production or business purposes.

[*4] Old Article 25. For any of the following, no patent  right  shall  be

granted:

(1) scientific discoveries;

(2) rules and methods for mental activities;

(3) methods for the diagnosis or for the treatment of diseases;

(4) food, beverages and flavorings;

(5) pharmaceutical products and substances obtained by means of a chemical

process;

(6) animal and plant varieties;

(7) substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation.

For processes used in producing products referred to in items (4) to (6)

of the preceding paragraph, patent right may be granted in accordance with

the provisions of this Law.

[*5] Old Article 29.

Where any foreign applicant files an application in  China  within  twelve

months from the date on which he or it first filed in a foreign country an

application for a patent for the identical invention or utility model,   or

within six months from the date on which he or it first filed in a foreign

country an application for a patent for the identical  design,  he  or  it

may, in accordance with any agreement concluded  between  the  country  to

which he or it belongs and China, or in accordance with any  international

treaty to which both countries are party, or on the basis of the principle

of mutual recognition of the right of priority, enjoy a right of priority,

that is, the date on which the application was first filed in the  foreign

country shall be regarded as the date of filing.

Where the applicant claims a right of priority and where one of the events

listed in Article 24 of this Law occurred, the  period  of  the  right  of

priority shall be counted from the date on which the event occurred.

[*6] Old Article 30. Any applicant who claims the right of priority  shall

make a written declaration when the application is filed,  indicating  the

date of filing of the earlier application in the foreign country  and  the

country in which that application was  filed,  and  submit,  within  three

months, a copy of that application document, certified  by  the  competent

authority of that country; if the applicant  fails  to  make  the  written

declaration or to meet the time limit for  submitting  the  document,  the

claim to the right of priority shall be deemed not to have been made.

[*7] Old Article 33. An applicant may amend his or its application  for  a

patent, but may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure contained in the

initial description.

[*8] Old Article 34. Where, after receiving an application  for  a  patent

for invention, the Patent Office, upon preliminary examination, finds  the

application to be in conformity with the  requirements  of  this  Law,  it

shall publish the application within 18 months from the date of filing.

Upon the request  of  the  applicant,  the  Patent  Office  publishes  the

application earlier.

[*9] Old Article 39. Where it is found after examination as  to  substance

that there is no cause for rejection of the application for a  patent  for

invention, the Patent Office shall make a decision, announce it and notify

the applicant.

[*10] Old Article 40. Where, after receiving the application for a  patent

for utility model or design, the  Patent  Office  finds  upon  preliminary

examination that the application is in conformity with the requirements of

this Law, it shall not proceed to examine it as  to  substance  but  shall

immediately make an announcement and notify the applicant.

[*11]  Old  Article  41.  Within  three  months  from  the  date  of   the

announcement  of  the  application  for  a  patent,  any  person  may,  in

accordance with the provisions of this Law, file with the Patent Office an

opposition to that application. The Patent Office shall send a copy of the

opposition to the applicant, to  which  the  applicant  shall  respond  in

writing within three months from the date of its receipt; if, without   any

justified reason, the time limit for making the written  response  is  not

met, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

[*12] Old Article 42. Where, after examination, the  Patent  Office  finds

that the opposition is justified, it shall make a decision to   reject  the

application and notify the opponent and the applicant.

[*13]  Old  Article  43.  The  Patent  Office  shall  set  up   a   Patent

Reexamination Board.  Where   the  applicant  is  not  satisfied  with  the

decision of the Patent Office rejecting the application,  he  or  it  may,

within three months from the date of receipt of the notification,   request

the Patent  Reexamination   Board  to  make  a  reexamination.   The  Patent

Reexamination Board shall, after reexamination, make a decision and notify

the applicant.

Where the applicant for a patent for invention is not satisfied   with  the

decision of the Patent  Reexamination  Board  rejecting  the  request  for

reexamination, he or it may within three months from the date  of  receipt

of the notification, institute legal proceedings in the people's court.

The decision of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of  any  request

by the applicant for reexamination concerning a utility model or design is

final.

[*14] Old Article 44. Where no opposition to the application for a  patent

is filed  or  where,  after  its  examination,   the  opposition  is  found

unjustified, the Patent Office shall make a decision to grant  the  patent

right, issue  the  patent  certificate,   and  register  and  announce  the

relevant matters.

[*15] Old Article 45. The duration of patent right for inventions shall be

15 years counted from the date of filing.

The duration of patent right for utility models or designs shall  be  five

years counted from the date of filing. Before the expiration of  the  said

term, the patentee may apply for a renewal for three years.

Where the patentee enjoys a right of  priority,  the  duration  of  patent

right shall be counted from the date on which the application was filed in

China.

[*16] Old Article 48. Where, after the grant  of  the  patent  right,  any

entity or individual considers that the grant of the said patent right  is

not in conformity with the provisions of this Law, it or  he  may  request

the Patent Reexamination Board to declare the patent right invalid.

[*17] Old Article 50. Any patent right which  has  been  declared  invalid

shall be deemed to be nonexistent from the beginning.

[*18] Old Article 51. The patentee himself or itself has the obligation to

make the patented product, or to use the patented process,  in  China,  or

otherwise to authorize other persons to make the patented product,   or  to

use the patented process, in China.

[*19] Old Article 52. Where the patentee of an invention or utility  model

fails, without any justified reason, by the expiration of three years from

the date of the grant of the patent right, to fulfil  the  obligation  set

forth in Article 51, the Patent Office may, upon the request of an  entity

which is qualified to exploit the invention  or  utility  model,  grant  a

compulsory license to exploit the patent.

[*20] The old second  paragraph  of  Article  60:  When  any  infringement

dispute arises,  if  the  patent  for  invention  is  a  process  for  the

manufacture of a product,  any   entity  or  individual  manufacturing  the

identical  product  shall  furnish  proof  of  the  process  used  in  the

manufacture of its or his product.

[*21] This is a new paragraph added to Article 63.

[*22] This Decision relates to the amendments of Articles 11, 25, 29,   30,

33, 34, 39-45, 48, 50-52, 60 and 63 of the Patent Law.