China releases amended implementing rules of the Patent Law ​

According to news on December 21, Chinese Premier Li Qiang recently signed a State Council decree which introduced the “Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China(Decision)”. The amended rules, which will come into force on January 20, 2024, mainly cover the following aspects: improving the patent application system to provide convenience to the applicant; improving the patent examination system to enhance the quality of patent examination; strengthening patent protection and improving the patent dispute handling and mediation system; strengthening government services to promote patent creation and application; adding special provisions for international application for industrial design to comply with the Hague Agreement on the International Registration of Industrial Design.