China Strengthens Patent and Trademark Regime Amid Record Growth

China’s intellectual property (IP) system recorded unprecedented achievements in 2024, reflecting the country’s accelerating transition from a manufacturing base to a global innovation hub. Recent figures released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) highlight both rapid expansion and ongoing reforms aimed at balancing growth with quality and enforcement.

By September 30, 2024, China had in force approximately 5.55 million invention patents, 11.63 million utility model patents, and 3.04 million design patents. Domestic applicants accounted for over 94% of all granted patents, with enterprises contributing 73.2% of invention patents, 90.4% of utility models, and 71.3% of design patents. During the first three quarters of 2024 alone, China granted 817,500 invention patents, 1,510,400 utility models, and 462,100 design patents. By the end of the year, invention patent grants reached 1.045 million, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. At the same time, the average examination cycle for invention patents was shortened to just 15.5 months, underscoring CNIPA’s commitment to efficiency and transparency.

China’s trademark system also registered historic growth. By late September 2024, valid trademark registrations stood at 48.9 million, with 3.59 million new registrations recorded in the first three quarters, up 450,000 from the previous year. By November, the number of valid registered trademarks had climbed further to 49.42 million. Between January and November, 6.4 million applications were filed and 4.33 million registrations completed. International participation also strengthened, with Chinese applicants filing 6,419 Madrid System international trademark applications over the same period.

Geographical indication (GI) protection advanced significantly in 2024, with 36 new GI products recognized, 123 GIs registered as collective or certification marks, and 7,959 business entities authorized to use them. These developments highlight growing brand-building efforts across China’s domestic industries and their integration into global markets.

Amid this expansion, enforcement and regulatory refinements have become a central focus. The non-use cancellation mechanism, essential for curbing trademark hoarding and speculative registrations, has seen marked growth. Applications for review of non-use cancellations rose from 13,413 in 2019 to 17,394 in 2024. Over 90% of such cases now result in either full or partial cancellation, underscoring the system’s effectiveness in maintaining market order. However, with growing misuse of cancellation procedures, including mass filings and repeated attacks on the same marks, CNIPA has tightened evidentiary requirements. Since early 2025, applicants have been required to provide systematic non-use evidence and detailed registrant information, a move intended to raise procedural integrity and reduce abuse.

CNIPA’s reforms are part of a broader shift from quantity to quality. In 2024, the agency and market regulators reviewed 668 million trademark applications, approving 478 million—an approval rate of 71%. While overall application volumes fell by 7%, approved registrations still rose by 9.1%, reflecting the emphasis on improving application quality rather than sheer numbers.

At the enforcement level, Chinese courts and agencies reported record activity. In 2024, courts accepted 8,079 first-instance trademark infringement cases, up 21.7% year-on-year, and concluded 8,017, an increase of 26.1%. Administrative authorities handled 44,000 IP-related cases, involving counterfeit goods valued at RMB 11.29 billion (approximately USD 1.55 billion), and referred 1,311 cases for criminal investigation. Customs agencies conducted 53,200 IP compliance checks, detained 41,600 infringing batches covering 81.6 million items, and approved 21,614 new IP filings for customs recordation. In parallel, courts and prosecutors advanced 9,452 criminal IP cases, up 17.4%, with the majority involving trademark counterfeiting and copyright violations.

These achievements demonstrate both the vitality and complexity of China’s IP ecosystem. While record levels of filings reflect robust innovation and branding activity, challenges remain in addressing speculative registrations, congested registries, and misuse of cancellation mechanisms. In response, CNIPA and related bodies have deepened procedural reforms, strengthened enforcement capacity, and emphasized efficiency and fairness in adjudication.

For businesses operating in China, these trends offer both opportunities and obligations. Shorter patent examination periods and higher granting rates promise faster protection, but companies must also prepare for increasingly rigorous trademark reviews and potential cancellation challenges. Effective market monitoring, particularly across online platforms, and cooperation with professional counsel will be essential in protecting and enforcing rights.

Looking forward, China’s IP regime appears set to align more closely with international best practices, prioritizing transparency, procedural rigor, and robust enforcement while fostering genuine innovation. For both domestic enterprises and international rights holders, those who adapt quickly to these evolving dynamics will be best placed to thrive in one of the world’s most dynamic IP markets.