SIPO recently released the 12th Five-Year Plan for Patent Examination (2011-2015) (hereinafter referred to as "The Plan"). The Plan reviewed the achievement made in patent examination during the 11th Five-Year Period and lays out the development and plan for the next 5 years.
According to the 12th Five-Year Plan, the efficiency, quality and services for patent examination are to be further improved and strengthened. It is expected that by the end the 12th Five-Year Plan, China will be at the same level as the advanced patent offices in the world with regard to its comprehensive capacities. It is also expected that Chinese Patent Office should play its role of assisting the creation, use, protection and administration of patent.
It is said that during the 12th Five-Year, 1.85 million applications for inventions will be concluded and 3.2 million applications for utility models and 3 million applications for designs are to be concluded. By 2015, the pending period for an application for invention shall be reduced to 22 months while 3 months are to be used to complete either a utility model or a design application. For re-examination and invalidation cases, the pending period will be reduced to 12 months and 6 months respectively.