Source: China Intellectual Property Administration
In recent days, CNIPA issued the Several Provisions on Further Regulating Patent Application Activities, amending the patent funding policy.
The funds for patent applications in all phases will be completely abolished before June of 2021. The local organizations are prohibited any fiscal support to patent applications, including subsidizing, awarding or bonus. The scope of existing local funding should be limited to the granted invention patents (including PCT international applications and patents granted through other ways abroad). The granted patents are allowed to get various subsidies at all levels, of which the total amount received by the applicants shall not be higher than 50% of the official fees paid for applications. The subsidies shall not cover any patent annuity or agency fee. If the applicant makes a deceit to get subsidies, the funds allocated shall be returned.
In the 14th Five-Year Plan, the local organizations shall gradually reduce the financial contribution for applying patents and cancel all the funding before Ithe year of 2025. The use of fiscal fund for patents shall be optimized, with a focus on strengthening patent commercialization, patent protection, administrative protection and public service.
