The CNIPA released its Annual Report 2021 on June 1, 2022. The report’s comprehensive information on the many types of intellectual property in that year is one of its highlights. The following list of significant trends is summarized.
Highlights of the CNIPA’s 2021 annual report
1.59 million new invention patent applications were submitted in China in 2021, an increase of 5.9% over 2020. In addition, 696,000 invention patents were issued in 2021, a 31.3% increase from 2020.
2.85 million utility model applications were submitted, a 2.5% decline from 2020, and 3.12 million utility models that had been approved. There were 806,000 design applications submitted, increasing 4.6% from 2020, and 786,000 design patents were approved.
According to recent trends, China’s invention patent grant rate was 55% in 2021, and for the first time in eight years, fewer utility model patent applications were filed.
7.74 million trademark applications were filed in total, and CNIPA also received 5928 Madrid international trademark registrations. Regarding other types of intellectual property, 13,000 layout designs for integrated circuits were registered; 99 products were given permission to use the special indication for geographical indications; 477 GI certification marks and collective trademarks were registered; and 7,677 market entities were given permission to use the sign.
The report also included the status of the examination. The average time spent on invention patents was reduced to 18.5 months in 2021, while it decreased to 13.3 months for high-value invention patents. The average timeframe for trademark examinations stayed the same at 4 months.
You can find a list of China IP firms here.