The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has shared its latest data for 2024, showcasing remarkable growth across patents, trademarks, geographical indications, and integrated circuit layout designs.
This progress underlines China’s strategic focus on innovation, intellectual property (IP) protection, and global competitiveness.
Patents: Expanding Domestic and International Presence
From January to November 2024, CNIPA granted:
972,000 invention patents
1,816,000 utility model patents
576,000 design patents
Valid Patents Increase
As of November 2024, China had:
5.646 million valid invention patents, including 4.641 million domestic invention patents.
11.632 million valid utility model patents
3.055 million valid design patents
Global Engagement in Patents
CNIPA received 66,000 PCT international patent applications, with 61,000 filed by Chinese applicants.
Chinese innovators submitted 1,751 international design applications between January and October 2024, while 2,258 international design applications designating China were published through November.
Trademarks: A Booming Registration System
In 2024, China continued to dominate in trademark activity:
6.4 million trademark applications were submitted.
4.329 million trademarks were granted.
Trademarks in Force
By the end of November 2024, China had 49.424 million valid registered trademarks, reinforcing its role as a global leader in trademark filings.
Madrid System Participation
Chinese businesses also leveraged international trademark protections, filing 6,419 Madrid international trademark registration applications.
Geographical Indications (GIs) and Integrated Circuit Layout Designs
CNIPA recognized 36 new GI products and approved 123 GIs as collective or certification marks this year.
7,959 business entities were authorized to use GI-specific marks in 2024.
By November’s end, 2,544 GI products and 7,400 GIs as collective or certification marks had been recognized, with 32,091 entities authorized to use GI-specific marks.
Integrated Circuit Layout Designs
In the fast-evolving field of semiconductors, CNIPA received 10,306 applications for integrated circuit layout designs, issuing 9,626 certificates from January to November 2024.
Key Highlights of 2024
China’s achievements are not just about numbers but also efficiency and innovation:
The average patent examination period for invention patents dropped to 15.6 months, accelerating time-to-market for innovators.
CNIPA established 123 national-level IP protection centers to streamline dispute resolution, handling over 98,000 cases in under two weeks on average.
Patent and trademark pledge financing totaled 792.23 billion yuan, growing a stunning 60% year-on-year.
Through continued investment in intellectual property infrastructure and international collaborations, China demonstrates a strong commitment to promoting innovation, protecting intellectual assets and actively participating in the global intellectual property landscape.
These developments mark an exciting phase in the country’s journey as an innovation powerhouse, ensuring its IP framework evolves with the fast-paced demands of modern technology and business.