<发布日期： 2019-09-09 > <来源： >
（1984年3月12日第六届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议通过 根据1992年9月4日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十七次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第一次修正 根据2000年8月25日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十七次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第二次修正 根据2008年12月27日第十一届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第三次修正）
目 录
第一章 总则
第二章 授予专利权的条件
第三章 专利的申请
第四章 专利申请的审查和批准
第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效
第六章 专利实施的强制许可
第七章 专利权的保护
第八章 附则
第一章 总则
第一条 为了保护专利权人的合法权益，鼓励发明创造，推动发明创造的应用，提高创新能力，促进科学技术进步和经济社会发展，制定本法。
第二条 本法所称的发明创造是指发明、实用新型和外观设计。
发明，是指对产品、方法或者其改进所提出的新的技术方案。
实用新型，是指对产品的形状、构造或者其结合所提出的适于实用的新的技术方案。
外观设计，是指对产品的形状、图案或者其结合以及色彩与形状、图案的结合所作出的富有美感并适于工业应用的新设计。
第三条 国务院专利行政部门负责管理全国的专利工作；统一受理和审查专利申请，依法授予专利权。
省、自治区、直辖市人民政府管理专利工作的部门负责本行政区域内的专利管理工作。
第四条 申请专利的发明创造涉及国家安全或者重大利益需要保密的，按照国家有关规定办理。
第五条 对违反法律、社会公德或者妨害公共利益的发明创造，不授予专利权。
对违反法律、行政法规的规定获取或者利用遗传资源，并依赖该遗传资源完成的发明创造，不授予专利权。
第六条 执行本单位的任务或者主要是利用本单位的物质技术条件所完成的发明创造为职务发明创造。职务发明创造申请专利的权利属于该单位；申请被批准后，该单位为专利权人。
非职务发明创造，申请专利的权利属于发明人或者设计人；申请被批准后，该发明人或者设计人为专利权人。
利用本单位的物质技术条件所完成的发明创造，单位与发明人或者设计人订有合同，对申请专利的权利和专利权的归属作出约定的，从其约定。
第七条 对发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请，任何单位或者个人不得压制。
第八条 两个以上单位或者个人合作完成的发明创造、一个单位或者个人接受其他单位或者个人委托所完成的发明创造，除另有协议的以外，申请专利的权利属于完成或者共同完成的单位或者个人；申请被批准后，申请的单位或者个人为专利权人。
第九条 同样的发明创造只能授予一项专利权。但是，同一申请人同日对同样的发明创造既申请实用新型专利又申请发明专利，先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止，且申请人声明放弃该实用新型专利权的，可以授予发明专利权。
两个以上的申请人分别就同样的发明创造申请专利的，专利权授予最先申请的人。
第十条 专利申请权和专利权可以转让。
中国单位或者个人向外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织转让专利申请权或者专利权的，应当依照有关法律、行政法规的规定办理手续。
转让专利申请权或者专利权的，当事人应当订立书面合同，并向国务院专利行政部门登记，由国务院专利行政部门予以公告。专利申请权或者专利权的转让自登记之日起生效。
第十一条 发明和实用新型专利权被授予后，除本法另有规定的以外，任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，都不得实施其专利，即不得为生产经营目的制造、使用、许诺销售、销售、进口其专利产品，或者使用其专利方法以及使用、许诺销售、销售、进口依照该专利方法直接获得的产品。
外观设计专利权被授予后，任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，都不得实施其专利，即不得为生产经营目的制造、许诺销售、销售、进口其外观设计专利产品。
第十二条 任何单位或者个人实施他人专利的，应当与专利权人订立实施许可合同，向专利权人支付专利使用费。被许可人无权允许合同规定以外的任何单位或者个人实施该专利。
第十三条 发明专利申请公布后，申请人可以要求实施其发明的单位或者个人支付适当的费用。
第十四条 国有企业事业单位的发明专利，对国家利益或者公共利益具有重大意义的，国务院有关主管部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府报经国务院批准，可以决定在批准的范围内推广应用，允许指定的单位实施，由实施单位按照国家规定向专利权人支付使用费。
第十五条 专利申请权或者专利权的共有人对权利的行使有约定的，从其约定。没有约定的，共有人可以单独实施或者以普通许可方式许可他人实施该专利；许可他人实施该专利的，收取的使用费应当在共有人之间分配。
除前款规定的情形外，行使共有的专利申请权或者专利权应当取得全体共有人的同意。
第十六条 被授予专利权的单位应当对职务发明创造的发明人或者设计人给予奖励；发明创造专利实施后，根据其推广应用的范围和取得的经济效益，对发明人或者设计人给予合理的报酬。
第十七条 发明人或者设计人有权在专利文件中写明自己是发明人或者设计人。
专利权人有权在其专利产品或者该产品的包装上标明专利标识。
第十八条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织在中国申请专利的，依照其所属国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约，或者依照互惠原则，根据本法办理。
第十九条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织在中国申请专利和办理其他专利事务的，应当委托依法设立的专利代理机构办理。
中国单位或者个人在国内申请专利和办理其他专利事务的，可以委托依法设立的专利代理机构办理。
专利代理机构应当遵守法律、行政法规，按照被代理人的委托办理专利申请或者其他专利事务；对被代理人发明创造的内容，除专利申请已经公布或者公告的以外，负有保密责任。专利代理机构的具体管理办法由国务院规定。
第二十条 任何单位或者个人将在中国完成的发明或者实用新型向外国申请专利的，应当事先报经国务院专利行政部门进行保密审查。保密审查的程序、期限等按照国务院的规定执行。
中国单位或者个人可以根据中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约提出专利国际申请。申请人提出专利国际申请的，应当遵守前款规定。
国务院专利行政部门依照中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约、本法和国务院有关规定处理专利国际申请。
对违反本条第一款规定向外国申请专利的发明或者实用新型，在中国申请专利的，不授予专利权。
第二十一条 国务院专利行政部门及其专利复审委员会应当按照客观、公正、准确、及时的要求，依法处理有关专利的申请和请求。
国务院专利行政部门应当完整、准确、及时发布专利信息，定期出版专利公报。
在专利申请公布或者公告前，国务院专利行政部门的工作人员及有关人员对其内容负有保密责任。
第二章 授予专利权的条件
第二十二条 授予专利权的发明和实用新型，应当具备新颖性、创造性和实用性。
新颖性，是指该发明或者实用新型不属于现有技术；也没有任何单位或者个人就同样的发明或者实用新型在申请日以前向国务院专利行政部门提出过申请，并记载在申请日以后公布的专利申请文件或者公告的专利文件中。
创造性，是指与现有技术相比，该发明具有突出的实质性特点和显著的进步，该实用新型具有实质性特点和进步。
实用性，是指该发明或者实用新型能够制造或者使用，并且能够产生积极效果。
本法所称现有技术，是指申请日以前在国内外为公众所知的技术。
第二十三条 授予专利权的外观设计，应当不属于现有设计；也没有任何单位或者个人就同样的外观设计在申请日以前向国务院专利行政部门提出过申请，并记载在申请日以后公告的专利文件中。
授予专利权的外观设计与现有设计或者现有设计特征的组合相比，应当具有明显区别。
授予专利权的外观设计不得与他人在申请日以前已经取得的合法权利相冲突。
本法所称现有设计，是指申请日以前在国内外为公众所知的设计。
第二十四条 申请专利的发明创造在申请日以前六个月内，有下列情形之一的，不丧失新颖性：
（一）在中国政府主办或者承认的国际展览会上首次展出的；
（二）在规定的学术会议或者技术会议上首次发表的；
（三）他人未经申请人同意而泄露其内容的。
第二十五条 对下列各项，不授予专利权：
（一）科学发现；
（二）智力活动的规则和方法；
（三）疾病的诊断和治疗方法；
（四）动物和植物品种；
（五）用原子核变换方法获得的物质；
（六）对平面印刷品的图案、色彩或者二者的结合作出的主要起标识作用的设计。
对前款第（四）项所列产品的生产方法，可以依照本法规定授予专利权。
第三章 专利的申请
第二十六条 申请发明或者实用新型专利的，应当提交请求书、说明书及其摘要和权利要求书等文件。
请求书应当写明发明或者实用新型的名称，发明人的姓名，申请人姓名或者名称、地址，以及其他事项。
说明书应当对发明或者实用新型作出清楚、完整的说明，以所属技术领域的技术人员能够实现为准；必要的时候，应当有附图。摘要应当简要说明发明或者实用新型的技术要点。
权利要求书应当以说明书为依据，清楚、简要地限定要求专利保护的范围。
依赖遗传资源完成的发明创造，申请人应当在专利申请文件中说明该遗传资源的直接来源和原始来源；申请人无法说明原始来源的，应当陈述理由。
第二十七条 申请外观设计专利的，应当提交请求书、该外观设计的图片或者照片以及对该外观设计的简要说明等文件。
申请人提交的有关图片或者照片应当清楚地显示要求专利保护的产品的外观设计。
第二十八条 国务院专利行政部门收到专利申请文件之日为申请日。如果申请文件是邮寄的，以寄出的邮戳日为申请日。
第二十九条 申请人自发明或者实用新型在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内，或者自外观设计在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起六个月内，又在中国就相同主题提出专利申请的，依照该外国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约，或者依照相互承认优先权的原则，可以享有优先权。
申请人自发明或者实用新型在中国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内，又向国务院专利行政部门就相同主题提出专利申请的，可以享有优先权。
第三十条 申请人要求优先权的，应当在申请的时候提出书面声明，并且在三个月内提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本；未提出书面声明或者逾期未提交专利申请文件副本的，视为未要求优先权。
第三十一条 一件发明或者实用新型专利申请应当限于一项发明或者实用新型。属于一个总的发明构思的两项以上的发明或者实用新型，可以作为一件申请提出。
一件外观设计专利申请应当限于一项外观设计。同一产品两项以上的相似外观设计，或者用于同一类别并且成套出售或者使用的产品的两项以上外观设计，可以作为一件申请提出。
第三十二条 申请人可以在被授予专利权之前随时撤回其专利申请。
第三十三条 申请人可以对其专利申请文件进行修改，但是，对发明和实用新型专利申请文件的修改不得超出原说明书和权利要求书记载的范围，对外观设计专利申请文件的修改不得超出原图片或者照片表示的范围。
第四章 专利申请的审查和批准
第三十四条 国务院专利行政部门收到发明专利申请后，经初步审查认为符合本法要求的，自申请日起满十八个月，即行公布。国务院专利行政部门可以根据申请人的请求早日公布其申请。
第三十五条 发明专利申请自申请日起三年内，国务院专利行政部门可以根据申请人随时提出的请求，对其申请进行实质审查；申请人无正当理由逾期不请求实质审查的，该申请即被视为撤回。
国务院专利行政部门认为必要的时候，可以自行对发明专利申请进行实质审查。
第三十六条 发明专利的申请人请求实质审查的时候，应当提交在申请日前与其发明有关的参考资料。
发明专利已经在外国提出过申请的，国务院专利行政部门可以要求申请人在指定期限内提交该国为审查其申请进行检索的资料或者审查结果的资料；无正当理由逾期不提交的，该申请即被视为撤回。
第三十七条 国务院专利行政部门对发明专利申请进行实质审查后，认为不符合本法规定的，应当通知申请人，要求其在指定的期限内陈述意见，或者对其申请进行修改；无正当理由逾期不答复的，该申请即被视为撤回。
第三十八条 发明专利申请经申请人陈述意见或者进行修改后，国务院专利行政部门仍然认为不符合本法规定的，应当予以驳回。
第三十九条 发明专利申请经实质审查没有发现驳回理由的，由国务院专利行政部门作出授予发明专利权的决定，发给发明专利证书，同时予以登记和公告。发明专利权自公告之日起生效。
第四十条 实用新型和外观设计专利申请经初步审查没有发现驳回理由的，由国务院专利行政部门作出授予实用新型专利权或者外观设计专利权的决定，发给相应的专利证书，同时予以登记和公告。实用新型专利权和外观设计专利权自公告之日起生效。
第四十一条 国务院专利行政部门设立专利复审委员会。专利申请人对国务院专利行政部门驳回申请的决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内，向专利复审委员会请求复审。专利复审委员会复审后，作出决定，并通知专利申请人。
专利申请人对专利复审委员会的复审决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效
第四十二条 发明专利权的期限为二十年，实用新型专利权和外观设计专利权的期限为十年，均自申请日起计算。
第四十三条 专利权人应当自被授予专利权的当年开始缴纳年费。
第四十四条 有下列情形之一的，专利权在期限届满前终止：
（一）没有按照规定缴纳年费的；
（二）专利权人以书面声明放弃其专利权的。
专利权在期限届满前终止的，由国务院专利行政部门登记和公告。
第四十五条 自国务院专利行政部门公告授予专利权之日起，任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的，可以请求专利复审委员会宣告该专利权无效。
第四十六条 专利复审委员会对宣告专利权无效的请求应当及时审查和作出决定，并通知请求人和专利权人。宣告专利权无效的决定，由国务院专利行政部门登记和公告。
对专利复审委员会宣告专利权无效或者维持专利权的决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。人民法院应当通知无效宣告请求程序的对方当事人作为第三人参加诉讼。
第四十七条 宣告无效的专利权视为自始即不存在。
宣告专利权无效的决定，对在宣告专利权无效前人民法院作出并已执行的专利侵权的判决、调解书，已经履行或者强制执行的专利侵权纠纷处理决定，以及已经履行的专利实施许可合同和专利权转让合同，不具有追溯力。但是因专利权人的恶意给他人造成的损失，应当给予赔偿。
依照前款规定不返还专利侵权赔偿金、专利使用费、专利权转让费，明显违反公平原则的，应当全部或者部分返还。
第六章 专利实施的强制许可
第四十八条 有下列情形之一的，国务院专利行政部门根据具备实施条件的单位或者个人的申请，可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可：
（一）专利权人自专利权被授予之日起满三年，且自提出专利申请之日起满四年，无正当理由未实施或者未充分实施其专利的；
（二）专利权人行使专利权的行为被依法认定为垄断行为，为消除或者减少该行为对竞争产生的不利影响的。
第四十九条 在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时，或者为了公共利益的目的，国务院专利行政部门可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。
第五十条 为了公共健康目的，对取得专利权的药品，国务院专利行政部门可以给予制造并将其出口到符合中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约规定的国家或者地区的强制许可。
第五十一条 一项取得专利权的发明或者实用新型比前已经取得专利权的发明或者实用新型具有显著经济意义的重大技术进步，其实施又有赖于前一发明或者实用新型的实施的，国务院专利行政部门根据后一专利权人的申请，可以给予实施前一发明或者实用新型的强制许可。
在依照前款规定给予实施强制许可的情形下，国务院专利行政部门根据前一专利权人的申请，也可以给予实施后一发明或者实用新型的强制许可。
第五十二条 强制许可涉及的发明创造为半导体技术的，其实施限于公共利益的目的和本法第四十八条第（二）项规定的情形。
第五十三条 除依照本法第四十八条第（二）项、第五十条规定给予的强制许可外，强制许可的实施应当主要为了供应国内市场。
第五十四条 依照本法第四十八条第（一）项、第五十一条规定申请强制许可的单位或者个人应当提供证据，证明其以合理的条件请求专利权人许可其实施专利，但未能在合理的时间内获得许可。
第五十五条 国务院专利行政部门作出的给予实施强制许可的决定，应当及时通知专利权人，并予以登记和公告。
给予实施强制许可的决定，应当根据强制许可的理由规定实施的范围和时间。强制许可的理由消除并不再发生时，国务院专利行政部门应当根据专利权人的请求，经审查后作出终止实施强制许可的决定。
第五十六条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人不享有独占的实施权，并且无权允许他人实施。
第五十七条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人应当付给专利权人合理的使用费，或者依照中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约的规定处理使用费问题。付给使用费的，其数额由双方协商；双方不能达成协议的，由国务院专利行政部门裁决。
第五十八条 专利权人对国务院专利行政部门关于实施强制许可的决定不服的，专利权人和取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人对国务院专利行政部门关于实施强制许可的使用费的裁决不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
第七章 专利权的保护
第五十九条 发明或者实用新型专利权的保护范围以其权利要求的内容为准，说明书及附图可以用于解释权利要求的内容。
外观设计专利权的保护范围以表示在图片或者照片中的该产品的外观设计为准，简要说明可以用于解释图片或者照片所表示的该产品的外观设计。
第六十条 未经专利权人许可，实施其专利，即侵犯其专利权，引起纠纷的，由当事人协商解决；不愿协商或者协商不成的，专利权人或者利害关系人可以向人民法院起诉，也可以请求管理专利工作的部门处理。管理专利工作的部门处理时，认定侵权行为成立的，可以责令侵权人立即停止侵权行为，当事人不服的，可以自收到处理通知之日起十五日内依照《中华人民共和国行政诉讼法》向人民法院起诉；侵权人期满不起诉又不停止侵权行为的，管理专利工作的部门可以申请人民法院强制执行。进行处理的管理专利工作的部门应当事人的请求，可以就侵犯专利权的赔偿数额进行调解；调解不成的，当事人可以依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》向人民法院起诉。
第六十一条 专利侵权纠纷涉及新产品制造方法的发明专利的，制造同样产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法不同于专利方法的证明。
专利侵权纠纷涉及实用新型专利或者外观设计专利的，人民法院或者管理专利工作的部门可以要求专利权人或者利害关系人出具由国务院专利行政部门对相关实用新型或者外观设计进行检索、分析和评价后作出的专利权评价报告，作为审理、处理专利侵权纠纷的证据。
第六十二条 在专利侵权纠纷中，被控侵权人有证据证明其实施的技术或者设计属于现有技术或者现有设计的，不构成侵犯专利权。
第六十三条 假冒专利的，除依法承担民事责任外，由管理专利工作的部门责令改正并予公告，没收违法所得，可以并处违法所得四倍以下的罚款；没有违法所得的，可以处二十万元以下的罚款；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
第六十四条 管理专利工作的部门根据已经取得的证据，对涉嫌假冒专利行为进行查处时，可以询问有关当事人，调查与涉嫌违法行为有关的情况；对当事人涉嫌违法行为的场所实施现场检查；查阅、复制与涉嫌违法行为有关的合同、发票、账簿以及其他有关资料；检查与涉嫌违法行为有关的产品，对有证据证明是假冒专利的产品，可以查封或者扣押。
管理专利工作的部门依法行使前款规定的职权时，当事人应当予以协助、配合，不得拒绝、阻挠。
第六十五条 侵犯专利权的赔偿数额按照权利人因被侵权所受到的实际损失确定；实际损失难以确定的，可以按照侵权人因侵权所获得的利益确定。权利人的损失或者侵权人获得的利益难以确定的，参照该专利许可使用费的倍数合理确定。赔偿数额还应当包括权利人为制止侵权行为所支付的合理开支。
权利人的损失、侵权人获得的利益和专利许可使用费均难以确定的，人民法院可以根据专利权的类型、侵权行为的性质和情节等因素，确定给予一万元以上一百万元以下的赔偿。
第六十六条 专利权人或者利害关系人有证据证明他人正在实施或者即将实施侵犯专利权的行为，如不及时制止将会使其合法权益受到难以弥补的损害的，可以在起诉前向人民法院申请采取责令停止有关行为的措施。
申请人提出申请时，应当提供担保；不提供担保的，驳回申请。
人民法院应当自接受申请之时起四十八小时内作出裁定；有特殊情况需要延长的，可以延长四十八小时。裁定责令停止有关行为的，应当立即执行。当事人对裁定不服的，可以申请复议一次；复议期间不停止裁定的执行。
申请人自人民法院采取责令停止有关行为的措施之日起十五日内不起诉的，人民法院应当解除该措施。
申请有错误的，申请人应当赔偿被申请人因停止有关行为所遭受的损失。
第六十七条 为了制止专利侵权行为，在证据可能灭失或者以后难以取得的情况下，专利权人或者利害关系人可以在起诉前向人民法院申请保全证据。
人民法院采取保全措施，可以责令申请人提供担保；申请人不提供担保的，驳回申请。
人民法院应当自接受申请之时起四十八小时内作出裁定；裁定采取保全措施的，应当立即执行。
申请人自人民法院采取保全措施之日起十五日内不起诉的，人民法院应当解除该措施。
第六十八条 侵犯专利权的诉讼时效为二年，自专利权人或者利害关系人得知或者应当得知侵权行为之日起计算。
发明专利申请公布后至专利权授予前使用该发明未支付适当使用费的，专利权人要求支付使用费的诉讼时效为二年，自专利权人得知或者应当得知他人使用其发明之日起计算，但是，专利权人于专利权授予之日前即已得知或者应当得知的，自专利权授予之日起计算。
第六十九条 有下列情形之一的，不视为侵犯专利权：
（一）专利产品或者依照专利方法直接获得的产品，由专利权人或者经其许可的单位、个人售出后，使用、许诺销售、销售、进口该产品的；
（二）在专利申请日前已经制造相同产品、使用相同方法或者已经作好制造、使用的必要准备，并且仅在原有范围内继续制造、使用的；
（三）临时通过中国领陆、领水、领空的外国运输工具，依照其所属国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约，或者依照互惠原则，为运输工具自身需要而在其装置和设备中使用有关专利的；
（四）专为科学研究和实验而使用有关专利的；
（五）为提供行政审批所需要的信息，制造、使用、进口专利药品或者专利医疗器械的，以及专门为其制造、进口专利药品或者专利医疗器械的。
第七十条 为生产经营目的使用、许诺销售或者销售不知道是未经专利权人许可而制造并售出的专利侵权产品，能证明该产品合法来源的，不承担赔偿责任。
第七十一条 违反本法第二十条规定向外国申请专利，泄露国家秘密的，由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
第七十二条 侵夺发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请权和本法规定的其他权益的，由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分。
第七十三条 管理专利工作的部门不得参与向社会推荐专利产品等经营活动。
管理专利工作的部门违反前款规定的，由其上级机关或者监察机关责令改正，消除影响，有违法收入的予以没收；情节严重的，对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予行政处分。
第七十四条 从事专利管理工作的国家机关工作人员以及其他有关国家机关工作人员玩忽职守、滥用职权、徇私舞弊，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任；尚不构成犯罪的，依法给予行政处分。释义
第八章 附则
第七十五条 向国务院专利行政部门申请专利和办理其他手续，应当按照规定缴纳费用。
第七十六条 本法自1985年4月1日起施行。
(Adopted at the Fourth Session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress on March 12, 1984; First Amendment Made Pursuant to the Decision of the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on Revising the "Patent Law of the People's Republic of China" on September 4, 1992; Second Amendment Made Pursuant to the Decision of the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on Revising the "Patent Law of the People's Republic of China" on August 25, 2000; Third Amendment Made According to the Decision of the Sixth Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress on Revising the "Patent Law of the People's Republic of China" on December 27, 2008)
Content
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Chapter 2: Conditions for Granting Patent Rights
Chapter 3: Patent Application
Chapter 4: Examination and Approval of Patent Applications
Chapter 5: Duration, Termination and Invalidation of Patent Rights
Chapter 6: Compulsory License for the Exploitation of Patent
Chapter 7: Protection of Patent Rights
Chapter 8: Supplementary Provisions
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purposes of protecting the lawful rights and interests of patentees, encouraging invention, promoting the application of inventions, enhancing innovation capacity, facilitating the advancement of science and technology and the economic and social development.
Article 2 For the purposes of this Law, inventions shall include inventions, utility models and designs.
Inventions shall mean new technical solution proposed for a product, a process or the improvement thereof.
Utility models shall mean new technical solutions proposed for the shape and structure of a product, or the combination thereof, which are fit for practical applicability.
Designs shall mean, with respect to a product, new designs of the shape, pattern, the combination thereof, or the combination of the color with shape and pattern, which create an aesthetic feeling and are fit for industrial application.
Article 3 The Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of nationwide patent related work. It shall accept and examine patent applications in a uniform way and grant patent rights in accordance with the law.
The departments of the people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in charge of patent-related work shall be responsible for the patent administration within their respective administrative regions.
Article 4 Where an invention in a patent application involves national security or other major interest of the State and confidentiality shall be maintained, the application shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
Article 5 Patent rights shall not be granted for inventions that violate the law or social ethics, or harm public interests.
Patent rights shall not be granted for inventions that are obtained in violation of the provisions of laws and administrative regulations, or are accomplished by using and relying on genetic resources.
Article 6 An invention that is accomplished in the course of performing the duties of an employee, or mainly by using the material and technical conditions of an employer shall be deemed a service invention. For a service invention, the employer has the right to apply for a patent. After such an application is approved, the employer shall be the patentee.
For a non-service invention, the inventor or designer has the right to apply for a patent. After such an application is approved, the said inventor or designer shall be the patentee.
In cases that inventions are made by using the materials and technical conditions of an employer, if the employer has concluded a contract with the inventor or designer stipulating agreements concerning the right to apply for the patent or the ownership of the patent right concerned, such agreements shall prevail.
Article 7 No organization or individual shall prevent the inventor or designer from filing a patent application for a non-service invention.
Article 8 With regard to inventions accomplished by two or more organizations or individuals in collaboration, or an invention accomplished by an organization or individual under entrustment of other organizations or individuals, the right to apply for a patent shall vest in the organizations or individuals that have accomplished the invention either by themselves or in collaboration with others, unless it is otherwise agreed upon. If the application is approved, the applying organizations or individuals shall be the patentees.
Article 9 Only one patent right can be granted for the same invention. However, where the same applicant applies for a utility model patent and an invention patent with regard to the same invention on the same day, if the utility model patent acquired earlier is not terminated and the applicant declares to relinquish such utility model patent, the invention patent may be granted.
If two or more applicants apply for a patent for the same invention separately, the patent right shall be granted to the applicant who files first.
Article 10 The Right to apply for a patent and patent right can be transferred.
If a Chinese organization or individual transfers the right to apply for a patent or patent rights to a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organizations, they shall perform the relevant procedures in accordance with the relevant laws and administrative regulations.
For the transfer of the right to apply for a patent or patent right, the parties concerned shall conclude a written contract and file for registration at the Patent Administration Department under the State Council, and the latter shall make a public announcement. The transfer of the right to apply for a patent or patent right shall become effective on the registration date.
Article 11 After an invention or a utility model patent right is granted, unless otherwise specified in this Law, no organization or individual may exploit the patent without licensing from the patentee, i.e., they may not, for the purposes of production and business operation, produce, use, offer to sell, sell, or import the patented products, nor use the patented method or use, offer to sell, sell or import products that are acquired directly through the patented method.
After a design patent right is granted, no organization or individual may exploit the patent without licensing from the patentee, i.e., they may not produce, offer to sell, sell or import the design patent products for the purposes of production and business operation.
Article 12 Any organization or individual that intends to exploit the patent of another person shall conclude a license contract with the patentee and pay the royalties. The licensee shall not have the right to allow any organization or individual not specified in the contract to exploit the said patent.
Article 13 After the application for an invention patent is publicized, the applicant may require the organization or individual that exploits the said patent to pay appropriate fees.
Article 14 If an invention patent of a State-owned enterprise or institution is of great significance to the national or public interests, after the competent department under the State Council and the people's government of the relevant province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government has reported it to the State Council for approval, they may decide on applying the patent within the approved scope and allow the designated organizations to exploit such a patent. The said organizations shall pay the royalties to the patentee in accordance with the provisions of the State.
Article 15 If there are agreements regarding the exercise of rights by the co-owner of the right to apply for the patent and the patent right, such agreements shall prevail. In the absence of such an agreement, the co-owner may independently exploit such a patent or may license others to exploit the said patent. If others are licensed to exploit the patent, the royalties charged shall be distributed among the co-owners.
Except under the circumstances specified in the preceding paragraph, exercise of the co-owned right to apply for patent or patent right shall be subject to the consent of all the co-owners.
Article 16 The organization that is granted the patent right shall reward the inventor or designer of a service invention. After such invention patent is exploited, the inventor or designer shall be given reasonable reward according to the scope of application and the resulting economic benefit.
Article 17 Inventors or designers shall have the right to state in the patent documents that they are the inventors or designers.
Patentees shall have the right to indicate the patent mark on the patented products or the package of such products.
Article 18 Where a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization without habitual residence or business premises in China applies for a patent, the application shall be handled in accordance with the agreements concluded by his/its country and China or international treaties to which both the countries have acceded or in accordance with this Law on the principle of reciprocity.
Article 19 If foreigners, foreign enterprises, or other foreign organizations without habitual residence or business premises in China apply for patents or handle other patent-related matters, they shall entrust lawfully established patent agencies with such matters.
If Chinese organizations or individuals apply for patents or handle other patent-related matters, they may entrust legally established patent agencies with such matters.
Patent agencies shall abide by the laws and administrative regulations and handle patent applications or other patent-related matters as entrusted by their principals. They shall also be obligated to keep confidential the contents of the inventions of their clients, unless the patent applications have been publicized or announced. The specific measures for the administration of the patent agencies shall be formulated by the State Council.
Article 20 Any organization or individual that applies for a patent in a foreign country for an invention or utility model accomplished in China shall report to the Patent Administration Department under the State Council for confidentiality examination. The procedures and time limit for confidentiality examination shall be in conformity with the provisions of the State Council.
Chinese organizations or individuals may file for international patent applications in accordance with the international treaties to which China has acceded. The applicants filing international patent applications shall comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall handle international patent applications in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which China has acceded and the relevant provisions of this Law and the State Council.
With regard to an invention or utility model for which an application is filed for a patent in a foreign country in violation of the provisions of Paragraph 1 herein, if an application is also filed for the patent in China, the patent right shall not be granted.
Article 21 The Patent Administration Department under the State Council and its Patent Reexamination Board shall, according to the requirements of objectivity, fairness, accuracy, promptness, handle relevant patent applications and requests in accordance with the law.
The Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall publicize the patent related information in a complete, accurate and timely manner, and publish patent gazettes on a regular basis.
Before patent applications are publicized or announced, the staff members of the Patent Administration Department under the State Council and relevant personnel shall be obligated to keep such information confidential.
Chapter 2: Conditions for Granting Patent Rights
Article 22 Inventions and utility models for which patent rights are granted shall be of novelty, creativity and practical applicability.
Novelty shall mean that the invention or utility model concerned shall not be an existing technology; no patent application has been filed by any organization or individual for any identical invention or utility model with the Patent Administration Department under the State Council before the date of application, and such an application is to be recorded in the patent application documents or the patent documentations, which will be publicized or announced after the date of application.
Creativity shall mean that, compared with the existing technologies, an invention concerned possesses prominent substantive features and indicates remarkable advancements, and a utility model concerned possesses substantive features and indicates advancements.
Practical applicability shall mean that the said invention or utility model may be used for production or be utilized, and may produce positive effect.
For the purposes of this Law, existing technologies shall mean the technologies known to the public both domestically and abroad before the date of application.
Article 23 A design for which the patent right is granted shall not fall under any existing design; no application has been filed for the same design by any organization or individual with the Patent Administration Department under the State Council before the date of application, nor is such an application recorded in the patent documents announced after the date of application.
Designs for which the patent right is granted shall be distinctly different from the existing designs or the combination of such designs.
Designs for which a patent right is granted shall not be in conflict with lawful rights acquired by others before the date of application.
For the purposes of this Law, existing designs shall mean designs that are known to the public both domestically and abroad before the date of application.
Article 24 Within six months before the date of application, an invention for which an application is filed for a patent does not lose its novelty under any of the following circumstances:
(1) It is exhibited for the first time at an international exhibition sponsored or recognized by the Chinese Government;
(2) It is published, for the first time, at a specified academic or technological conference; or
(3) Its contents are divulged by others without the consent of the applicant.
Article 25 Patent rights shall not be granted for any of the following items:
(1) Scientific discoveries;
(2) Rules and methods for intellectual activities;
(3) Methods for the diagnosis or treatment of diseases;
(4) Animal or plant varieties;
(5) Substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation; and
(6) Designs that are mainly used for marking the pattern, color or combination of these two of prints.
The patent right may be granted for the production methods of the products specified in Item (4) of the preceding paragraph in accordance with this Law.
Chapter 3: Patent Application
Article 26 For the application for an invention or utility model patent, the relevant documents shall be submitted, such as a written request, a written description and its abstract, and a written claim.
A written request shall specify the name of the invention or utility model, the name of the inventor, the name and address of the applicant and other related matters.
A description shall describe the invention or utility model in a clear and comprehensive way to enable a technician in the relevant technology field to carry it out; when necessary, pictures shall be attached. An abstract shall briefly introduce the main technical points of an invention or utility model.
A written claim shall be based on the written description, and shall clearly and concisely define the proposed scope of patent protection.
With regard to an invention accomplished by relying on genetic resources, the applicant shall, in the patent application documents, indicate the direct source and original source of such genetic resources. If the applicant fails to indicate the original source, reasons shall be provided.
Article 27 For the application for a design patent, a written request, a drawing or picture of the design, a brief description of the design, and other relevant documents shall be submitted.
The relevant drawings or pictures submitted by the applicant shall clearly show the design of the products for which patent protection is requested.
Article 28 The date when the Patent Administration Department under the State Council receives the patent application document shall be deemed as the date of application. If the application documents are delivered by post, the date of mailing indicated by the postmark shall be deemed as the date of application.
Article 29 If, within twelve months after an application for an invention or utility model patent is filed in a foreign country for the first time, or within six months after an application for a design patent is filed in a foreign country for the first time, the applicant files an application for a patent in China for the same subject matter, such applicant may be entitled to the right of priority in accordance with any agreement concluded between the said foreign country and China, or in accordance with any international treaty to which both countries have acceded, or on the basis of the principle of mutual recognition of the right of priority.
If, within twelve months after an application for an invention or utility model patent is filed in China for the first time, the applicant files an application for a patent with the Patent Administration Department under the State Council for the same subject matter, the applicant may be entitled to the right of priority.
Article 30 An applicant who claims the right of priority shall submit a written declaration at the time of application and submit, within three months, duplicates of the patent application documents filed for the first time. If the written declaration is not submitted or duplicates of the patent application documents are not submitted within the specified time limit, the applicant shall be deemed to have waived the right of priority.
Article 31 An application for an invention patent or utility model patent shall be limited to one invention or utility model. Two or more inventions or utility models belonging to a single general invention concept may be handled with one application.
An application for a design patent shall be limited to one design. Two or more similar designs of the same product or two or more designs of products of the same class that are sold or used in sets may be handled with one application.
Article 32 An applicant may withdraw the patent application before it is granted the patent right.
Article 33 An applicant may amend the patent application documents, provided that the amendment to the invention patent or utility patent application documents does not exceed the scope specified in the original written description and written claim or the amendment to the design patent application documents does not exceed the scope shown in the original drawing or picture.
Chapter 4: Examination and Approval of Patent Applications
Article 34 Upon receipt of an invention patent application, if the Patent Administration Department under the State Council confirms that the application meets the requirements of this Law after preliminary examination, the application shall be publicized within 18 months from the date of application. The Patent Administration Department under the State Council may publicize the application on an earlier date upon the request of the applicant.
Article 35 Within three years after an invention patent application is filed, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may, upon the request by the applicant at any time, carry out substantive examination of the application. If the applicant, without legitimate ground, fails to request substantive examination within the given time limit, such an application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
The Patent Administration Department under the State Council may take the initiative to carry out substantive examination when necessary.
Article 36 When an applicant of an invention patent requests substantive examination, reference materials relating to the invention existing prior to the date of application shall be submitted.
If an application has been filed for an invention patent in a foreign country, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may require the applicant to submit within a specified time limit materials concerning any search made for the purpose of examining that application in that foreign country, or materials concerning the results of any examination made in that country. In the event of failure of submission within the specified time limit without legitimate ground, the application shall be deemed as having been withdrawn.
Article 37 After the Patent Administration Department under the State Council has made the substantive examination in respect to the invention patent application, if it finds that the application does not meet the provisions of this Law, it shall notify the applicant to state its opinions within a specified time limit or make amendment to the application. If no reply is given within the specified time limit without legitimate ground, such an application shall be deemed as having been withdrawn.
Article 38 After the applicant states opinions on or makes amendments to the invention patent application, if the Patent Administration Department under the State Council still believes the application does not meet the provisions of this Law, it shall reject such an application.
Article 39 If no reason for rejection is discovered after an invention patent application is substantively examined, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall make a decision on the granting of the invention patent right, issue an invention patent certificate, and meanwhile register and announce the same. The invention patent right shall become effective on the date of the announcement.
Article 40 If no reason for rejection is discovered after a utility model or design patent application is preliminarily examined, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall make a decision on granting utility model or design patent rights, issue a corresponding patent certificate, and meanwhile register and announce the same. The utility model patent right or design patent right shall become effective on the date of its announcement.
Article 41 The Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall establish a Patent Reexamination Board. If a patent applicant is dissatisfied with the decision of rejecting the application by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council, the applicant may, within three months after receipt of the notice, file a request with the Patent Reexamination Board for review. After review, the Patent Reexamination Board shall make a decision and notify the patent applicant.
If the patent applicant is dissatisfied with the review decision of the Patent Reexamination Board, the applicant may bring a suit in the people's court within three months from receipt of the notice.
Chapter 5: Duration, Termination and Invalidation of Patent Rights
Article 42 The duration of the invention patent right shall be 20 years and that of the utility model patent right or design patent right shall be 10 years, commencing from the date of application.
Article 43 The patentee shall pay annual fees commencing from the year when the patent right is granted.
Article 44 Under any of the following circumstances, the patent right shall be terminated before the expiration of the duration:
(1) The annual fee is not paid as specified; or
(2) The patentee waives the patent right by a written declaration;
If any patent right is terminated before the duration expires, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall register and announce such a termination.
Article 45 After the Patent Administration Department under the State Council announces the grant of the patent right, if any organization or individual believes that the grant of the said patent right does not conform to the relevant provisions of this Law, such an organization or individual may request that the Patent Reexamination Board declares the said patent right invalid.
Article 46 The Patent Reexamination Board shall examine the request to declare the patent right invalid and make a decision in a timely manner and notify the person that has filed the request and the patentee. The decision to declare any patent right invalid shall be registered and announced by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council.
Anyone that is dissatisfied with the Patent Reexamination Board's decision to declare the patent right invalid or its decision to affirm the patent right may, bring a suit in the people's court, within three months from receipt of the notice. The people's court shall notify the opposite party in the invalidation procedure to participate in the litigation as a third party.
Article 47 Any patent right that has been declared invalid shall be deemed to be non-existent from the beginning.
The decision declaring the patent right invalid shall have no retroactive effect on any written judgment or written mediation on patent infringement that has been made and enforced by the people's court, or on any decision concerning the handling of a dispute over the patent infringement that has been performed or compulsively executed, or on any contract of patent license or of transfer of patent rights that has been performed prior to the invalidation declaration of the patent right; however, compensations shall be made for the losses caused to other persons mala fide on the part of the patentee.
If the patent infringement compensation, royalties, and patent right transfer fees are not required to be refunded pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, but such treatment is in obvious violation of the principle of equity, the refund shall be made fully or partly.
Chapter 6: Compulsory License for the Exploitation of Patent
Article 48 Under any of the following circumstances, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may, upon the application of any organization or individual that possesses exploitation conditions, grant a compulsory license for the exploitation of an invention patent or utility model patent:
(1) When it has been three years since the date of granting the patent right and four years since the patent application date, the patentee fails to exploit or fails to fully exploit the patent without legitimate grounds; or
(2) The patentee's act of exercising the patent right is determined as monopoly in accordance with the law and the negative impact of such an act on competition needs to be eliminated or reduced.
Article 49 Where a national emergency or any extraordinary state of affairs occurs, or the public interest so requires, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may grant a compulsory license to exploit the invention patent or utility model patent.
Article 50 For the purpose of public health, with regard to patented drugs, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may grant a compulsory license to manufacture such drugs and export them to countries or regions that conform to the provisions of relevant international treaties to which the People's Republic of China has acceded.
Article 51 If a patented invention or utility model had made significant technological advancement with remarkable economic significance, compared with an earlier patented invention or utility model and the exploitation of the former relies on the exploitation of the latter, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may, upon the application of the latter patentee, grant a compulsory license to exploit the earlier invention or utility model.
Under the circumstance that a compulsory license for exploitation is granted in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council may, upon application by an earlier patentee, grant a compulsory license to exploit the latter invention or utility model.
Article 52 If an invention involved in a compulsory license is a semi-conductor technology, the exploitation thereof shall be limited to be for the purpose of public interest and for the circumstances as provided in Item (2) of Article 48 herein.
Article 53 Except for the compulsory license granted in accordance with Item (2) of Article 48 or Article 50 of this Law, the implementation of a compulsory license shall be mainly for the supply in the domestic market.
Article 54 An organization or individual that applies for a compulsory license in accordance with Item (1) of Article 48 or Article 51 of this Law shall provide evidence to prove that they have, under reasonable conditions, proposed a request to the patentee for being licensed to exploit the patent, but fails to obtain such license within reasonable time period.
Article 55 A decision made by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council on the granting of a compulsory license for exploitation shall be notified to the patentee and shall be registered and announced.
A decision on the granting of the compulsory license for exploitation shall specify the scope and time for exploitation according to the reasons justifying the compulsory license. When such reasons are eliminated and are unlikely to recur, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall make a decision to terminate the compulsory license through examination, upon request by the patentee.
Article 56 Any organization or individual that is granted a compulsory license for exploitation shall not have an exclusive right to exploitation and shall not have the right to license others for the exploitation.
Article 57 The organization or individual that is granted a compulsory license for exploitation shall pay reasonable royalties to the patentee, or handle the issue of royalties in accordance with the provisions of the relevant international treaties to which the People's Republic of China has acceded. The amount of royalties shall be subject to the negotiations between the two parties. In the event of failure to reach an agreement by the two parties concerning the said amount, the Patent Administration Department under the State Council shall make a ruling.
Article 58 If a patentee is dissatisfied with the decision on the granting of the compulsory license for exploitation made by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council, or if the patentee and the organization or individual that has been granted the compulsory license for exploitation are dissatisfied with the ruling made by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council regarding the royalties for the compulsory license for exploitation, they may file an action with the people's court within three months from receipt of the notice.
Chapter 7: Protection of Patent Rights
Article 59 For the patent right of an invention or a utility model, the scope of protection shall be subject to the content of claims, and the written description and the pictures attached may be used for explaining the content of claims.
For the design patent right, the scope of protection shall be subject to the design of the product as shown in the drawings or pictures, brief descriptions may be used for describing the said design shown in the drawings or pictures.
Article 60 If a dispute arises as a result of exploitation of a patent without the authorization of the patentee, that is, the patent right of the patentee is infringed; the dispute shall be settled through negotiation by the parties. If the parties are not willing to negotiate or if negotiation fails, the patentee or interested parties may file an action with the people's court, and may also request the department of the administration of patent-related work to handle the dispute. If the said department believes the infringement is established when handling the dispute, it may order the infringer to cease the infringement act immediately. Any party that is dissatisfied may, within 15 days from receipt of the notice on handling of dispute, file an action with the people's court in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. If the infringer neither files an action upon expiration of the period nor ceases the infringement act, the said department may file an application with the people's court for compulsory enforcement. The department of the administration of patent-related work shall, upon request of the parties concerned, carry out mediation concerning the amount of compensation for the patent right infringement. If mediation fails, the parties may file an action with the people's court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 61 If a dispute over patent infringement involves an invention patent for the manufacturing method of a new product, the organization or individual manufacturing the same product shall prove that the manufacturing method of their own products is different from the patented method.
If an infringement dispute involves a utility model patent or a design patent, the people's court or the department of the administration of patent-related work may require the patentee or interested parties to present a patent right assessment report, which shall be prepared by the Patent Administration Department under the State Council through searching, analyzing, and assessing the relevant utility model or design. Such a report shall serve as evidence for trying or handling the patent infringement dispute.
Article 62 In a patent infringement dispute, if the accused infringer has evidence to prove that the technology or design they utilized falls under an existing technology or design, their act of exploitation shall not constitute a patent right infringement.
Article 63 Anyone who counterfeits a patent of others shall, in addition to bearing civil liabilities in accordance with the law, be ordered by the department of the administration of patent-related work to make a correction, and an announcement shall be made accordingly. The relevant illegal gains shall be confiscated, and a fine of no more than four times the illegal gains may be imposed. If there are no illegal gains, a fine of no more than RMB 200,000 may be imposed. If the act constitutes a criminal offense, criminal liabilities shall be imposed in accordance with the law.
Article 64 When investigating and handling the act of counterfeiting a patent, the department of the administration of patent-related work may, based on existing evidence, inquire the relevant parties, and investigate the situations relating to the alleged illegal acts. It may also conduct on-the-spot inspection against the places where the alleged illegal acts occur, examine and photocopy the relevant contracts, invoices, account books and other materials, and check products relating to the alleged illegal acts. Products that are proved to be produced by counterfeiting the patent may be sealed up or detained.
When the department of the administration of patent-related work performs its duties as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the parties concerned shall provide assistance and cooperation instead of refusal or obstruction.
Article 65 The amount of compensation for patent right infringement shall be determined according to the actual losses of the patentee caused by the infringement. If the actual losses cannot be easily determined, the compensation amount may be determined according to the benefit acquired by the infringer through the infringement. If the losses of the patentee or the benefit of the infringer cannot be easily determined, the compensation amount may be determined reasonably by referring to the times of the royalties of that patent. The amount of compensation shall include the reasonable expenditures paid by the patentee for preventing the infringement act.
If the losses of the patentee, gains of the infringer, or royalties of the patent cannot be easily determined, the people's court may, on the basis of the factors such as the type of patent right, nature of the infringement, and severity of the case, determine the amount of compensation within the range from RMB 10,000 to RMB 1,000,000.
Article 66 If the patentee or interested party has evidence to prove that others are conducting or are to conduct any patent infringement, and such act, unless being prevented in a timely manner, will cause irreparable harm to their lawful rights and interests, the patentee or interested party may file an application with the people's court for ordering to have such act ceased before the litigation.
When filing such an application, the applicant shall provide guarantee. In the event of failure to provide guarantee, the application may be denied.
The people's court shall make a ruling within 48 hours from receipt of the application. If an extension is needed due to special circumstances, a 48-hour extension may be allowed. If a ruling is made to order to have the relevant act ceased, it shall be enforced immediately. The party dissatisfied with the ruling may apply once for review, and the enforcement shall not be suspended during the period of review.
If the applicant fails to file an action within 15 days after the people's court takes the said measures to cease the relevant act, the people's court shall lift such measures.
If the application is erroneous, the applicant shall compensate the losses suffered by the respondent for ceasing the relevant act.
Article 67 To prevent a patent infringement act, when evidence might be lost or might not be acquired thereafter, the patentee or interested party may file an application with the people's court for evidence preservation.
If the people's court takes preservation measures, the applicant may be ordered to provide guarantee. The application shall be rejected if the applicant fails to provide the guarantee.
The people's court shall make a ruling within 48 hours from its acceptance of the application. If it rules to take preservation measures, such a ruling shall be enforced immediately.
If the applicant does not file an action within 15 days after the people's court takes preservation measures, the people's court may lift such measures.
Article 68 The period of limitation of action for patent right infringement shall be two years, commencing from the date when the patentee or interested party knows or should know the infringement act.
If an appropriate royalty is not paid for using an invention after the invention patent application is publicized and before the patent right is granted, the time limit for action filed by the patentee claiming the payment of royalties shall be two years, commencing from the date when the patentee knows or should know the use of that patent by others. However, the period of limitation of action shall commence from the date when the patent right is granted if the patentee has already known or should know the use before patent right is granted.
Article 69 The following circumstances shall not be deemed as a patent right infringement:
(1) After a patented product or a product directly obtained by using the patented method is sold by the patentee or sold by any organization or individual with licensing from the patentee, any other person uses, offers to sell, sells or imports that product;
(2) Before the date of application, any person has already produced identical products, used identical method or has made necessary preparation for the production or usage and continues to produce or use them within the original scope;
(3) Any foreign means of transportation that temporarily passes through the territory, territorial waters, or territorial airspace of China uses the relevant patent in its devices and installations for its own needs, in accordance with the agreement concluded between that foreign country and china, or in accordance with any international treaty to which both countries have acceded, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity;
(4) Any person uses the relevant patent specially for the purposes of scientific research and experiment; or
(5) Any person produces, uses, or imports patented drugs or patented medical devices, for the purposes of providing information required for administration examination and approval, or produces, uses, or imports patented drugs or patented medical devices especially for that purpose.
Article 70 Where an organization or individual, for the purposes of production and business operation, utilizes, offers to sell or sells a patent infringing product without knowing that such a product is produced and sold without licensing from the patentee, they shall not be liable for compensation provided that the legitimate source of the product can be proved.
Article 71 If, in violation of the provisions of Article 20 of this Law, an application is filed for patent in a foreign country, thereby divulging the national secret, the employer or the superior competent authority of the violating party shall impose administrative sanctions. If such acts constitute a criminal offense, the violating party shall be subject to criminal liability.
Article 72 If a person usurps the right to apply for a non-service invention, or usurps any other rights and interests specified in this Law, of an inventor or designer, the violating party shall be subject to administrative sanctions by its employer or the superior competent authority.
Article 73 The departments of the administration of patent-related work shall not be involved in recommending patented products to the public or engage in any other similar business activities.
If the departments of the administration of patent-related work violate the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the authority at the higher level or the supervisory authority shall order it to make a correction and eliminate the bad effects. If illegal gains are involved, such illegal gains shall be confiscated. If the case is serious, the person directly in charge and other person subject to direct liability shall be imposed administrative sanctions in accordance with the law.
Article 74 Where the staff members of the authorities for patent administration or other relevant State agencies are derelict in their duties, abuse their power, practice favoritism or commit irregularities and such acts constitute criminal offenses, criminal liabilities shall be imposed. If such acts not yet constitute criminal offenses, administrative sanctions shall be imposed in accordance with the law.
Chapter 8: Supplementary Provisions
Article 75 To apply for patent or handle other procedures, the relevant fees and charges shall be paid to the Patent Administration Department under the State Council in accordance with the relevant provisions.
Article 76 This Law shall become effective on April 1, 1985.
