On April 21, 2025, China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) published the annual report titled “Status of Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in Chinese Courts (2024)” 中国法院知识产权司法保护状况(2024年). This comprehensive document provides critical insights into trends and developments in IP litigation across China in 2024, with a notable increase in criminal IP enforcement and stronger application of punitive damages in cases of serious infringement.
Overview: Slight Dip in Total Filings, Increase in Resolutions
In 2024, Chinese courts received a total of 529,370 IP-related cases, representing a 2.67% decrease compared to 2023. However, they concluded 543,911 cases, indicating an increase of 0.001% over the previous year. The rise in case resolutions highlights continued efforts by the judiciary to maintain efficiency and ensure timely protection of intellectual property rights.
Criminal IP Enforcement Sees Double-Digit Growth
Criminal prosecution of IP crimes showed the most significant year-on-year growth:
First-instance criminal IP cases received: 9,120 (+24.34% YoY)
First-instance criminal IP cases concluded: 9,003 (+29.22% YoY)
Breakdown:
Trademark infringement cases: 8,079 received, 8,017 concluded (+21.78% / +26.11%)
Copyright infringement cases: 938 received, 913 concluded (+49.6% / +68.14%)
Patent counterfeiting: 1 new case, 2 concluded
Other criminal cases: 102 received, 77 concluded (+39.73% / +7.58%)
The significant uptick in copyright-related criminal enforcement (+68.14%) reflects growing pressure on counterfeiters, especially in digital content and media sectors.
Civil IP Litigation: Modest Shifts with Tech Contracts Surging
Patent cases: 44,255 (-1.02%)
Trademark cases: 124,918 (-4.95%)
Copyright cases: 247,149 (-1.8%)
Technology contract disputes: 8,320 (+28.16%)
Unfair competition cases: 10,567 (+3.29%)
Other civil IP cases: 14,714 (-16.53%)
While traditional IP categories saw a slight decline, technology-related contracts emerged as a significant growth area, indicating increased commercial reliance on technology transfers, licensing, and R&D collaborations.
Punitive Damages on the Rise
Punitive damages were applied in 460 IP cases, marking a 44.2% increase compared to 2023. This reflects a judicial shift toward deterring malicious and repeat infringers, enhancing overall deterrence against IP violations.
Administrative IP Cases: Upward Trend in Resolutions
Administrative IP cases received (first-instance): 20,849 (+1.29%)
Cases concluded: 27,745 (+24.19%)
Breakdown:
Patent administrative cases: 1,679 (-15.63%)
Trademark cases: 19,130 (+3.08%)
Copyright cases: 9 (2 fewer than in 2023)
Other types: 31 (+29.17%)
This increase in administrative resolutions, especially in trademarks, suggests improved processing capacity and stronger institutional coordination between administrative and judicial organs.
Looking Ahead: Trends and Implications
Stronger Criminal Enforcement: The rising number of criminal cases, particularly involving copyright and trademark infringement, sends a clear message that China is cracking down more aggressively on commercial-scale IP crimes.
Judicial Embrace of Punitive Damages: With a sharp rise in punitive damage awards, the courts are becoming bolder in penalizing malicious actors, aligning with international expectations for deterrence.
Administrative Efficiency: Improved resolution rates for administrative disputes reflect a maturing legal infrastructure that can handle complex IP matters more swiftly.
Tech Commercialization on the Rise: The surge in technology contract litigation underscores China’s pivot toward protecting the commercialization of innovation alongside traditional IP enforcement.
Conclusion
The SPC's 2024 report paints a dynamic picture of China’s evolving IP enforcement landscape. With criminal enforcement and punitive damages on the rise, businesses and IP owners should take note of the increasingly robust legal environment.
For international rights holders, these trends highlight both the opportunities and responsibilities of operating within China’s maturing IP system.