China Patent Platform
CNIPA · Patent Law 2021
CNIPA prior art search · 发明/实用新型/外观设计 claim drafting · Chinese Patent Law 2021 Office Action response · PCT CN national phase
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Art. 22/26/33 CPL · 发明/实用新型/外观设计 · PCT CN · CNIPA Office Actions
Quick Law Reference — CNIPA
Art. 22 CPL
Novelty — not in state of the art before filing date
Art. 22(3) CPL
Inventive step (发明) — not obvious to PHOSITA
Art. 26 CPL
Description — sufficient disclosure & clarity
Art. 33 CPL
Amendment — no new matter beyond original disclosure
Art. 45 CPL
Invalidation trial — any person may request CNIPA review
Art. 42 CPL
Patent term — 20yr invention, 10yr utility, 15yr design
Patent Journey — Pre-filing to Grant
Prior Art Search
Search CNIPA, Paten DB, and WIPO PatentScope. ChinaForge AI assesses Art. 22 novelty and Art. 22(3) inventive step. Recommends patent type: 发明 vs. 实用新型 vs. 外观设计.
Application Filing
File 发明专利 application with 说明书 (description), independent + dependent claims in 三段式 format, 说明书附图 (drawings), and 摘要 (abstract). 实用新型 grants faster without substantive examination.
Examination & OA Response
Request substantive examination within 3 years. Respond to Office Action within 4 months. Three-part claim format mandatory. ChinaForge AI drafts 意见陈述书 and Chinese-language claim amendments.
Grant & Invalidation
Patent granted → annual fees from year 1. Any person may file invalidation trial (宣告无效) at any time. Strategic annuity management and monitoring of competitor filings essential.
Fee Schedule — CNIPA
| Patent Type | Filing Fee (CNY) | Examination / Request (CNY) | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 发明专利 (Invention Patent) | ¥950 | ¥2,500 (substantive exam) | 20 years |
| 实用新型 (Utility Model) | ¥500 | N/A (no examination) | 10 years |
| 外观设计 (Design Patent) | ¥500 | N/A | 15 years (post-2021) |
| PCT National Phase (CN) | ¥950 | ¥2,500 | 31 months from priority |
⚠️ Fees are approximate CNY. Verify at cnipa.gov.cn. Reduced fees (15–85%) available for individuals, small entities, and academic institutions.
ChinaForge AI — CNIPA Tools & Patent Law Guide
6 interactive toolsChinese Patent Law — Substantive Requirements
Art. 22 Novelty · Art. 22(3) Inventive Step · Art. 26 Sufficient Disclosure · CPL 2021
Legal Standard
Absolute novelty — the invention must not be known from any prior art anywhere in the world before the filing date.
Key Requirements
State of the art includes ALL prior disclosures worldwide — patents, publications, public use, exhibitions
No 12-month grace period under Chinese law (unlike US 102(b)(1) one-year bar) — DISCLOSE AFTER FILING
Limited grace periods: 6 months only for disclosures at government-approved exhibitions, academic conferences, or disclosures against applicant's will
Art. 22(2) CPL: prior art is any technology publicly known in China or abroad before the filing date
Internet disclosures (including preprints, arXiv, GitHub) destroy novelty — date of upload governs
Practice Tip
Critical: File the Chinese patent application BEFORE any public disclosure, presentation, or publication. The 6-month exhibition grace period is narrow and requires specific CNIPA-recognized events.
| Jurisdiction | Standard |
|---|---|
| China (CPL) | Absolute novelty · 6-month grace period only for recognized exhibitions/disclosures against will |
| US (AIA) | 1-year grace period for inventor's own disclosures (102(b)(1)(A)) |
| EPO (EPC) | Absolute novelty · 6-month grace period for abuse/exhibitions (Art. 55 EPC) |
| Japan (JPL) | 6-month grace period for inventor's own publications/presentations (Art. 30 JPL) |
Technical Effect Requirement (发明创造性)
Pharma · Chemistry · Software/AI · CNIPA Guidelines 2021
Pharmaceuticals — CNIPA Requirement
Must demonstrate unexpected pharmacological effect over structurally closest prior art compound. Comparative in vitro or in vivo data required in the description.
Art. 22(3) CPL + CNIPA Guidelines Part II, Chapter 10 (pharma inventions)
What CNIPA Accepts
Side-by-side comparative examples showing 5–10× improvement in IC50, EC50, or ED50 vs. closest compound
New mechanism of action demonstrating unexpected target selectivity
Demonstration of reduced toxicity profile alongside maintained efficacy
In vivo animal model data showing significantly improved pharmacokinetics (AUC, Cmax, t½)
Common Rejection Triggers
Structural novelty alone (new compound claim with no biological data)
Mere Me-too claim differing by one methyl group without effect comparison
Broad Markush claims not supported by working examples across the full claimed scope
ChinaForge AI can help
Analyze your claim language, identify which CNIPA examiner objection is most likely, and suggest specific experimental data strategies to overcome technical effect rejections.
Ask ChinaForge AICNIPA Fee Calculator — 2025 Official Schedule
发明 · 实用新型 · 外观设计 · PCT CN · Grace Period Rules
Patent Type
Substantive examination required (request within 3 yrs of filing). Average pendency 22–36 months.
Applicant Category
Renewal Period: 10 years
| Fee Type | Amount (CNY) |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee (申请费) | ¥950 |
| Substantive Examination Fee (实质审查费) | ¥2,500 |
| Annual Renewal Fees (10 yrs × ¥900/yr) | ¥9,000 |
CNIPA Grace Period Rules — Critical
⛔ NO general grace period — any public disclosure before filing DESTROYS novelty
✅ 6-month grace period: disclosure at a government-recognized international exhibition
✅ 6-month grace period: disclosure at an academic conference designated by the State Council
✅ 6-month grace period: disclosure made without the applicant's knowledge (theft/breach of confidence)
⚠️ The grace period applicant must include supporting declaration and evidence at filing
⚠️ Online disclosures (papers, social media, GitHub, arXiv) — NO grace period applies
Fees in CNY. Verify current schedule at cnipa.gov.cn. Exchange rate approx. 1 USD ≈ 7.2 CNY as of 2025.
CNIPA Opposition, Re-examination & Invalidation
Art. 41/45–48 CPL · Re-examination Board · Patent Courts
Patent Re-examination and Invalidation Board (CNIPA)
Deadline: 3 months from receipt of rejection decision
Locus standi: Applicant only
Grounds / Scope
Can submit new evidence, arguments, amendments
CNIPA Board reviews de novo
Appeal to Beijing IP Court if unsuccessful
Strategic Tips
File new experimental data and claim amendments simultaneously with the request
Identify new closest prior art and re-argue inventive step
Average timeline: 6–18 months before Board decision
Compulsory Licensing & Working Requirements
Art. 48–51 CPL · TRIPS Art. 31 · Public Health Exception
0/14
reviewed
Compulsory Licensing Triggers (Art. 48–51 CPL)
0/5Working & Exploitation Requirements (Art. 68 CPL)
0/5Public Health & Pharmaceutical Licensing (Art. 50 CPL)
0/4Note: Compulsory licensing in China remains relatively rare. However, for pharma/biotech patents, TRIPS Article 31 alignment means CL risk should be assessed in any China IP strategy. No Indian Section 3(d) equivalent applies.
CNIPA Official Resources & Filing Systems
cnipa.gov.cn · Electronic Filing · Patent Search · Fee Schedule
CNIPA English Portal
Official CNIPA English-language portal
CNIPA Electronic Filing
Online patent application and prosecution system
China Patent Search (SooPAT)
Comprehensive Chinese patent full-text search database
CNIPA Official Fee Schedule
Current CNIPA patent fee schedule (CNY)
Patent Law 2021 Text
Full text of the revised Chinese Patent Law (2021)
PCT China National Phase
PCT national phase entry requirements for China
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124 jurisdiction-specific training examples · CNIPA · Patent Law 2021