China Ceases Issuance of Physical Patent Certificates
Kenny Knox
Kenny Knox
On January 29, 2023, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the Chinese equivalent to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the United States, announced that they would no longer issue physical patent certificates. A machine-translation of the announcement is provided below:
Announcement on Fully Implementing Electronic Patent Certificates (No. 515)
Release time: 2023-01-29
Announcement of the State Intellectual Property Office
No. 515
In order to implement the decision-making arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on strengthening the construction of digital government, and continuously improve the level of informatization and facilitation of patent examination services, the State Intellectual Property Office will fully implement the electronic patent certificate system from February 7, 2023 (including the day) change.
If the party applies for and obtains the patent authorization in electronic form, download the electronic patent certificate through the patent business handling system; if the party applies for and obtains the patent authorization in paper form, download the electronic patent certificate according to the method notified in the "Notice of Obtaining the Electronic Patent Certificate".
Special announcement.
State Intellectual Property Office
January 19, 2023
Source: https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2023/1/29/art_74_181610.html
The USPTO has similarly stopped issuing physical certificates of trademark registrations, instead electing to make available digital versions of trademark registrations, which can be downloaded from the TSDR database at the USPTO. Likewise, the USPTO has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking the public’s input regarding rules in which the USPTO will no longer issue “ribbon copies” (physical bound copies) automatically upon grant of a patent. Instead, ribbon copies may be purchased upon payment of a fee.
About PKH. Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP is an intellectual property boutique law firm based in the Atlanta, Georgia area. The firm is committed to the service of its clients in the establishment, enforcement, and defense of intellectual property rights. Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt, LLP maintains an office in downtown Alpharetta, at 44 Milton Ave., Suite 144, with its web site at www.pkhip.com.
