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中华人民共和国专利法（修正）（附英文）
目 录
第一章 总 则
第二章 授予专利权的条件
第三章 专利的申请
第四章 专利申请的审查和批准
第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效
第六章 专利实施的强制许可
第七章 专利权的保护
第八章 附 则
第一章 总 则
第一条 为了保护发明创造专利权，鼓励发明创造，有利于发明创造的推广
应用，促进科学技术的发展，适应社会主义现代化建设的需要，特制定本法。
第二条 本法所称的发明创造是指发明、实用新型和外观设计。
第三条 中华人民共和国专利局受理和审查专利申请，对符合本法规定的发
明创造授予专利权。
第四条 申请专利的发明创造涉及国家安全或者重大利益需要保密的，按照
国家有关规定办理。
第五条 对违反国家法律、社会公德或者妨害公共利益的发明创造，不授予
专利权。
第六条 执行本单位的任务或者主要是利用本单位的物质条件所完成的职务
发明创造，申请专利的权利属于该单位；非职务发明创造，申请专利的权利属于
发明人或者设计人。申请被批准后，全民所有制单位申请的，专利权归该单位持
有；集体所有制单位或者个人申请的，专利权归该单位或者个人所有。
在中国境内的外资企业和中外合资经营企业的工作人员完成的职务发明创造
，申请专利的权利属于该企业；非职务发明创造，申请专利的权利属于发明人或
者设计人。申请被批准后，专利权归申请的企业或者个人所有。
专利权的所有人和持有人统称专利权人。
第七条 对发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请，任何单位或者个
人不得压制。
第八条 两个以上单位协作或者一个单位接受其他单位委托的研究、设计任
务所完成的发明创造，除另有协议的以外，申请专利的权利属于完成或者共同完
成的单位；申请被批准后，专利权归申请的单位所有或者持有。
第九条 两个以上的申请人分别就同样的发明创造申请专利的，专利权授予
最先申请的人。
第十条 专利申请权和专利权可以转让。
全民所有制单位转让专利申请权或者专利权的，必须经上级主管机关批准。
中国单位或者个人向外国人转让专利申请权或者专利权的，必须经国务院有
关主管部门批准。
转让专利申请权或者专利权的，当事人必须订立书面合同，经专利局登记和
公告后生效。
第十一条 发明和实用新型专利权被授予后，除法律另有规定的以外，任何
单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，不得为生产经营目的制造、使用、销售其专利
产品，或者使用其专利方法以及使用、销售依照该专利方法直接获得的产品。
外观设计专利权被授予后，任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，不得为生
产经营目的制造、销售其外观设计专利产品。
专利权被授予后，除法律另有规定的以外，专利权人有权阻止他人未经专利
权人许可，为上两款所述用途进口其专利产品或者进口依照其专利方法直接获得
的产品。
第十二条 任何单位或者个人实施他人专利的，除本法第十四条规定的以外
，都必须与专利权人订立书面实施许可合同，向专利权人支付专利使用费。被许
可人无权允许合同规定以外的任何单位或者个人实施该专利。
第十三条 发明专利申请公布后，申请人可以要求实施其发明的单位或者个
人支付适当的费用。
第十四条 国务院有关主管部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府根据国家计
划，有权决定本系统内或者所管辖的全民所有制单位持有的重要发明创造专利允
许指定的单位实施，由实施单位按照国家规定向持有专利权的单位支付使用费。
中国集体所有制单位和个人的专利，对国家利益或者公共利益具有重大意义
，需要推广应用的，由国务院有关主管部门报国务院批准后，参照上款规定办理
。
第十五条 专利权人有权在其专利产品或者该产品的包装上标明专利标记和
专利号。
第十六条 专利权的所有单位或者持有单位应当对职务发明创造的发明人或
者设计人给予奖励；发明创造专利实施后，根据其推广应用的范围和取得的经济
效益，对发明人或者设计人给予奖励。
第十七条 发明人或者设计人有在专利文件中写明自己是发明人或者设计人
的权利。
第十八条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其
他组织在中国申请专利的，依照其所属国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际
条约，或者依照互惠原则，根据本法办理。
第十九条 在中国没有经常居所或者营业所的外国人、外国企业或者外国其
他组织在中国申请专利和办理其他专利事务的，应当委托中华人民共和国国务院
指定的专利代理机构办理。
中国单位或者个人在国内申请专利和办理其他专利事务的，可以委托专利代
理机构办理。
第二十条 中国单位或者个人将其在国内完成的发明创造向外国申请专利的
，应当首先向专利局申请专利，并经国务院有关主管部门同意后，委托国务院指
定的专利代理机构办理。
第二十一条 在专利申请公布或者公告前，专利局工作人员及有关人员对其
内容负有保密责任。
第二章 授予专利权的条件
第二十二条 授予专利权的发明和实用新型，应当具备新颖性、创造性和实
用性。
新颖性，是指在申请日以前没有同样的发明或者实用新型在国内外出版物上
公开发表过、在国内公开使用过或者以其他方式为公众所知，也没有同样的发明
或者实用新型由他人向专利局提出过申请并且记载在申请日以后公布的专利申请
文件中。
创造性，是指同申请日以前已有的技术相比，该发明有突出的实质性特点和
显著的进步，该实用新型有实质性特点和进步。
实用性，是指该发明或者实用新型能够制造或者使用，并且能够产生积极效
果。
第二十三条 授予专利权的外观设计，应当同申请日以前在国内外出版物上
公开发表过或者国内公开使用过的外观设计不相同或者不相近似。
第二十四条 申请专利的发明创造在申请日以前六个月内，有下列情形之一
的，不丧失新颖性：
一、在中国政府主办或者承认的国际展览会上首次展出的；
二、在规定的学术会议或者技术会议上首次发表的；
三、他人未经申请人同意而泄露其内容的。
第二十五条 对下列各项，不授予专利权：
一、科学发现；
二、智力活动的规则和方法；
三、疾病的诊断和治疗方法；
四、动物和植物品种；
五、用原子核变换方法获得的物质。
对上款第四项所列产品的生产方法，可以依照本法规定授予专利权。
第三章 专利的申请
第二十六条 申请发明或者实用新型专利的，应当提交请求书、说明书及其
摘要和权利要求书等文件。
请求书应当写明发明或者实用新型的名称，发明人或者设计人的姓名，申请
人姓名或者名称、地址，以及其他事项。
说明书应当对发明或者实用新型作出清楚、完整的说明，以所属技术领域的
技术人员能够实现为准；必要的时候，应当有附图。摘要应当简要说明发明或者
实用新型的技术要点。
权利要求书应当以说明书为依据，说明要求专利保护的范围。
第二十七条 申请外观设计专利的，应当提交请求书以及该外观设计的图片
或者照片等文件，并且应当写明使用该外观设计的产品及其所属的类别。
第二十八条 专利局收到专利申请文件之日为申请日。如果申请文件是邮寄
的，以寄出的邮戳日为申请日。
第二十九条 申请人自发明或者实用新型在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起
十二个月内，或者自外观设计在外国第一次提出专利申请之日起六个月内，又在
中国就相同主题提出专利申请的，依照该外国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的
国际条约，或者依照相互承认优先权的原则，可以享有优先权。
申请人自发明或者实用新型在中国第一次提出专利申请之日起十二个月内，
又向专利局就相同主题提出专利申请的，可以享有优先权。
第三十条 申请人要求优先权的，应当在申请的时候提出书面声明，并且在
三个月内提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本；未提出书面声明或者逾期未提
交专利申请文件副本的，视为未要求优先权。
第三十一条 一件发明或者实用新型专利申请应当限于一项发明或者实用新
型。属于一个总的发明构思的两项以上的发明或者实用新型，可以作为一件申请
提出。
一件外观设计专利申请应当限于一种产品所使用的一项外观设计。用于同一
类别并且成套出售或者使用的产品的两项以上的外观设计，可以作为一件申请提
出。
第三十二条 申请人可以在被授予专利权之前随时撤回其专利申请。
第三十三条 申请人可以对其专利申请文件进行修改，但是，对发明和实用
新型专利申请文件的修改不得超出原说明书和权利要求书记载的范围，对外观设
计专利申请文件的修改不得超出原图片或者照片表示的范围。
第四章 专利申请的审查和批准
第三十四条 专利局收到发明专利申请后，经初步审查认为符合本法要求的
，自申请日起满十八个月，即行公布。专利局可以根据申请人的请求早日公布其
申请。
第三十五条 发明专利申请自申请日起三年内，专利局可以根据申请人随时
提出的请求，对其申请进行实质审查；申请人无正当理由逾期不请求实质审查的
，该申请即被视为撤回。
专利局认为必要的时候，可以自行对发明专利申请进行实质审查。
第三十六条 发明专利的申请人请求实质审查的时候，应当提交在申请日前
与其发明有关的参考资料。
发明专利已经在外国提出过申请的，申请人请求实质审查的时候，应当提交
该国为审查其申请进行检索的资料或者审查结果的资料；无正当理由不提交的，
该申请即被视为撤回。
第三十七条 专利局对发明专利申请进行实质审查后，认为不符合本法规定
的，应当通知申请人，要求其在指定的期限内陈述意见，或者对其申请进行修改
；无正当理由逾期不答复的，该申请即被视为撤回。
第三十八条 发明专利申请经申请人陈述意见或者进行修改后，专利局仍然
认为不符合本法规定的，应当予以驳回。
第三十九条 发明专利申请经实质审查没有发现驳回理由的，专利局应当作
出授予发明专利权的决定，发给发明专利证书，并予以登记和公告。
第四十条 实用新型和外观设计专利申请经初步审查没有发现驳回理由的，
专利局应当作出授予实用新型专利权或者外观设计专利权的决定，发给相应的专
利证书，并予以登记和公告。
第四十一条 自专利局公告授予专利权之日起六个月内，任何单位或者个人
认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的，都可以请求专利局撤销该专利权。
第四十二条 专利局对撤销专利权的请求进行审查，作出撤销或者维持专利
权的决定，并通知请求人和专利权人。撤销专利权的决定，由专利局登记和公告
。
第四十三条 专利局设立专利复审委员会。对专利局驳回申请的决定不服的
，或者对专利局撤销或者维持专利权的决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个
月内，向专利复审委员会请求复审。专利复审委员会复审后，作出决定，并通知
专利申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人。
发明专利的申请人、发明专利权人或者撤销发明专利权的请求人对专利复审
委员会的复审决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
专利复审委员会对申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人关于实用新型
和外观设计的复审请求所作出的决定为终局决定。
第四十四条 被撤销的专利权视为自始即不存在。
第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效
第四十五条 发明专利权的期限为二十年，实用新型专利权和外观设计专利
权的期限为十年，均自申请日起计算．
第四十六条 专利权人应当自被授予专利权的当年开始缴纳年费。
第四十七条 有下列情形之一的，专利权在期限届满前终止：
一、没有按照规定缴纳年费的；
二、专利权人以书面声明放弃其专利权的。
专利权的终止，由专利局登记和公告。
第四十八条 自专利局公告授予专利权之日起满六个月后，任何单位或者个
人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的，都可以请求专利复审委员会宣告
该专利权无效。
第四十九条 专利复审委员会对宣告专利权无效的请求进行审查，作出决定
，并通知请求人和专利权人。宣告专利权无效的决定，由专利局登记和公告。
对专利复审委员会宣告发明专利权无效或者维持发明专利权的决定不服的，
可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
专利复审委员会对宣告实用新型和外观设计专利权无效的请求所作出的决定
为终局决定。
第五十条 宣告无效的专利权视为自始即不存在。
宣告专利权无效的决定，对在宣告专利权无效前人民法院作出并已执行的专
利侵权的判决、裁定，专利管理机关作出并已执行的专利侵权处理决定，以及已
经履行的专利实施许可合同和专利权转让合同，不具有追溯力。但是因专利权人
的恶意给他人造成的损失，应当给予赔偿。
如果依照上款规定，专利权人或者专利权转让人不向被许可实施专利人或者
专利权受让人返还专利使用费或者专利权转让费，明显违反公平原则，专利权人
或者专利权转让人应当向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还全部或者部分
专利使用费或者专利权转让费。
本条第二款、第三款的规定适用于被撤捎的专利权。
第六章 专利实施的强制许可
第五十一条 具备实施条件的单位以合理的条件请求发明或者实用新型专利
权人许可实施其专利，而未能在合理长的时间内获得这种许可时，专利局根据该
单位的申请，可以给予实施该发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。
第五十二条 在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时，或者为了公共利益的目
的，专利局可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。
第五十三条 一项取得专利权的发明或者实用新型比前已经取得专利权的发
明或者实用新型在技术上先进，其实施又有赖于前一发明或者实用新型的实施的
，专利局根据后一专利权人的申请，可以给予实施前一发明或者实用新型的强制
许可。
在依照上款规定给予实施强制许可的情形下，专利局根据前一专利权人的申
请，也可以给予实施后一发明或者实用新型的强制许可。
第五十四条 依照本法规定申请实施强制许可的单位或者个人，应当提出未
能以合理条件与专利权人签订实施许可合同的证明。
第五十五条 专利局作出的给予实施强制许可的决定，应当予以登记和公告
。
第五十六条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人不享有独占的实施权，并且
无权允许他人实施。
第五十七条 取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人应当付给专利权人合理的使
用费，其数额由双方商定；双方不能达成协议的，由专利局裁决。
第五十八条 专利权人对专利局关于实施强制许可的决定或者关于实施强制
许可的使用费的裁决不服的，可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
第七章 专利权的保护
第五十九条 发明或者实用新型专利权的保护范围以其权利要求的内容为准
，说明书及附图可以用于解释权利要求。
外观设计专利权的保护范围以表示在图片或者照片中的该外观设计专利产品
为准。
第六十条 对未经专利权人许可，实施其专利的侵权行为，专利权人或者利
害关系人可以请求专利管理机关进行处理，也可以直接向人民法院起诉。专利管
理机关处理的时候，有权责令侵权人停止侵权行为，并赔偿损失；当事人不服的
，可以在收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉；期满不起诉又不履行的，专
利管理机关可以请求人民法院强制执行。
在发生侵权纠纷的时候，如果发明专利是一项新产品的制造方法，制造同样
产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法的证明。
第六十一条 侵犯专利权的诉讼时效为二年，自专利权人或者利害关系人得
知或者应当得知侵权行为之日起计算。
第六十二条 有下列情形之一的，不视为侵犯专利权：
一、专利权人制造或者经专利权人许可制造的专利产品售出后，使用或者销
售该产品的；
二、使用或者销售不知道是未经专利权人许可而制造并售出的专利产品的；
三、在专利申请日前已经制造相同产品、使用相同方法或者已经作好制造、
使用的必要准备，并且仅在原有范围内继续制造、使用的；
四、临时通过中国领土、领水、领空的外国运输工具，依照其所属国同中国
签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约，或者依照互惠原则，为运输工具自身需要
而在其装置和设备中使用有关专利的；
五、专为科学研究和实验而使用有关专利的。
第六十三条 假冒他人专利的，依照本法第六十条的规定处理；情节严重的
，对直接责任人员比照刑法第一百二十七条的规定追究刑事责任。
将非专利产品冒充专利产品的或者将非专利方法冒充专利方法的，由专利管
理机关责令停止冒充行为，公开更正，并处以罚款。
第六十四条 违反本法第二十条规定，擅自向外国申请专利，泄露国家重要
机密的，由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分；情节严重的，依法追究刑
事责任。
第六十五条 侵夺发明人或者设计人的非职务发明创造专利申请权和本法规
定的其他权益的，由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分。
第六十六条 专利局工作人员及有关国家工作人员徇私舞弊的，由专利局或
者有关主管机关给予行政处分；情节严重的，比照刑法第一百八十八条的规定追
究刑事责任。
第八章 附 则
第六十七条 向专利局申请专利和办理其他手续，应当按照规定缴纳费用。
第六十八条 本法实施细则由专利局制订，报国务院批准后施行。
第六十九条 本法自１９８５年４月１日起施行。
附件：全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改《中华人民共和国专利法》
的决定
全文
第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十七次会议审议了国务院关于《中
华人民共和国专利法修正案（草案）》的议案，决定对《中华人民共和国专利法
》作如下修改：
一、第十一条第一款修改为：“发明和实用新型专利权被授予后，除法律另
有规定的以外，任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，不得为生产经营目的制造
、使用、销售其专利产品，或者使用其专利方法以及使用、销售依照该专利方法
直接获得的产品。”
第十一条第二款修改为：“外观设计专利权被授予后，任何单位或者个人未
经专利权人许可，不得为生产经营目的制造、销售其外观设计专利产品。”
第十一条增加一款，作为第三款：“专利权被授予后，除法律另有规定的以
外，专利权人有权阻止他人未经专利权人许可，为上两款所述用途进口其专利产
品或者进口依照其专利方法直接获得的产品。”
二、第二十五条第一款修改为：“对下列各项，不授予专利权：
一、科学发现；
二、智力活动的规则和方法；
三、疾病的诊断和治疗方法；
四、动物和植物品种；
五、用原子核变换方法获得的物质。”
第二十五条第二款修改为：“对上款第四项所列产品的生产方法，可以依照
本法规定授予专利权。”
三、第二十九条第一款修改为：“申请人自发明或者实用新型在外国第一次
提出专利申请之日起十二个月内，或者自外观设计在外国第一次提出专利申请之
日起六个月内，又在中国就相同主题提出专利申请的，依照该外国同中国签订的
协议或者共同参加的国际条约，或者依照相互承认优先权的原则，可以享有优先
权。”
第二十九条第二款修改为：“申请人自发明或者实用新型在中国第一次提出
专利申请之日起十二个月内，又向专利局就相同主题提出专利申请的，可以享有
优先权。”
四、第三十条修改为：“申请人要求优先权的，应当在申请的时候提出书面
声明，并且在三个月内提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本；未提出书面声明
或者逾期未提交专利申请文件副本的，视为未要求优先权。”
五、第三十三条修改为：“申请人可以对其专利申请文件进行修改，但是，
对发明和实用新型专利申请文件的修改不得超出原说明书和权利要求书记载的范
围，对外观设计专利申请文件的修改不得超出原图片或者照片表示的范围。”
六、第三十四条修改为：“专利局收到发明专利申请后，经初步审查认为符
合本法要求的，自申请日起满十八个月，即行公布。专利局可以根据申请人的请
求早日公布其申请。”
七、第三十九条修改为：“发明专利申请经实质审查没有发现驳回理由的，
专利局应当作出授予发明专利权的决定，发给发明专利证书，并予以登记和公告
。”
八、第四十条修改为：“实用新型和外观设计专利申请经初步审查没有发现
驳回理由的，专利局应当作出授予实用新型专利权或者外观设计专利权的决定，
发给相应的专利证书，并予以登记和公告。”
九、第四十一条修改为：“自专利局公告授予专利权之日起六个月内，任何
单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的，都可以请求专利局撤
销该专利权。”
十、第四十二条修改为：“专利局对撤销专利权的请求进行审查，作出撤销
或者维持专利权的决定，并通知请求人和专利权人。撤销专利权的决定，由专利
局登记和公告。”
十一、第四十三条第一款修改为：“专利局设立专利复审委员会。对专利局
驳回申请的决定不服的，或者对专利局撤销或者维持专利权的决定不服的，可以
自收到通知之日起三个月内，向专利复审委员会请求复审。专利复审委员会复审
后，作出决定，并通知专利申请人、专利权人或者撤销专利权的请求人。”
第四十三条第二款修改为：“发明专利的申请人、发明专利权人或者撤销发
明专利权的请求人对专利复审委员会的复审决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起
三个月内向人民法院起诉。”
第四十三条第三款修改为：“专利复审委员会对申请人、专利权人或者撤销
专利权的请求人关于实用新型和外观设计的复审请求所作出的决定为终局决定。
”
十二、第四十四条修改为：“被撤销的专利权视为自始即不存在。”
十三、第四十五条修改为：“发明专利权的期限为二十年，实用新型专利权
和外观设计专利权的期限为十年，均自申请日起计算。”
十四、第四十八条修改为：“自专利局公告授予专利权之日起满六个月后，
任何单位或者个人认为该专利权的授予不符合本法有关规定的，都可以请求专利
复审委员会宣告该专利权无效。”
十五、第五十条修改为：“宣告无效的专利权视为自始即不存在。
宣告专利权无效的决定，对在宣告专利权无效前人民法院作出并已执行的专
利侵权的判决、裁定，专利管理机关作出并已执行的专利侵权处理决定，以及已
经履行的专利实施许可合同和专利权转让合同，不具有追溯力。但是因专利权人
的恶意给他人造成的损失，应当给予赔偿。
如果依照上款规定，专利权人或者专利权转让人不向被许可实施专利人或者
专利权受让人返还专利使用费或者专利权转让费，明显违反公平原则，专利权人
或者专利权转让人应当向被许可实施专利人或者专利权受让人返还全部或者部分
专利使用费或者专利权转让费。
本条第二款、第三款的规定适用于被撤销的专利权。”
十六、第五十一条修改为：“具备实施条件的单位以合理的条件请求发明或
者实用新型专利权人许可实施其专利，而未能在合理长的时间内获得这种许可时
，专利局根据该单位的申请，可以给予实施该发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制
许可。”
十七、第五十二条修改为：“在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时，或者为
了公共利益的目的，专利局可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可
。”
十八、第六十条第二款修改为：“在发生侵权纠纷的时候，如果发明专利是
一项新产品的制造方法，制造同样产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法
的证明。”
十九、第六十三条增加一款，作为第二款：“将非专利产品冒充专利产品的
或者将非专利方法冒充专利方法的，由专利管理机关责令停止冒充行为，公开更
正，并处以罚款。”
本决定自１９９３年１月１日起施行。本决定施行前提出的专利申请和根据
该申请授予的专利权，适用修改以前的专利法的规定。但是，专利申请在本决定
施行前尚未依照修改以前的专利法第三十九条、第四十条的规定公告的，该专利
申请的批准和专利权的撤销、宣告无效的程序适用修改后的专利法第三十九条至
第四十四条和第四十八条的规定。
《中华人民共和国专利法》根据本决定作相应的修正，重新公布。
PATENT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Adopted at the 4th Session of the Standing Committee of the Si
xthNational People's Congress on March 12, 1984 Amended by the D
ecisionRegarding the Revision of the Patent Law of the People's R
epublic ofChina, adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Com
mittee of theSeventh National People's Congress on September 4, 1992
)
Important Notice: (注意事项)
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prev
ail.
Whole Document (法规全文)PATENT LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA(Adopted at the 4th Session of the Standing Committee of the Six
thNational People's Congress on March 12, 1984 Amended by the De
cisionRegarding the Revision of the Patent Law of the People's Re
public ofChina, adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Comm
ittee of theSeventh National People's Congress on September 4, 1992)
(Translated by the Patent Office of the People's Republic of Ch
ina.In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall p
revail.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS [*1]Chapter I General ProvisionsArticle1 Purp
ose of the Law2 Subject Matter of Patents: Inventions-Creations (Inven
tions and Utility Models; Designs)3 Tasks of the Patent Office4 Subje
ct Matters to be Kept Secret5 Subject Matter Contrary to Public Order6
Right to Apply for Patent; Ownership of Patent Right7 Prohibition of
Preventing Filing Application for Non Service Inventions- Creations8
Inventions-Creations Made Jointly or on Commission9 First-to-File Rule
10 Assignment of Right to Apply for Patent or of Patent Right11 Rights
Conferred by Patent12 Patent License Contract13 Inventions: Exploitat
ion after Publication of Application14 Planned Exploitation of Certain
Patents Owned by Chinese Entities or Individuals15 Marking of Paten
ts16 Reward of Inventors or Creators of Service Inventions-Creations17
Naming of Inventor or Creator in Patent18 Foreigners Entitled to File
Patent Applications19 Representation by Chinese Agency20 Filing of Ap
plications Abroad by Chinese21 Secrecy of Patent ApplicationChapter II
Requirements for Grant of Patent Right22 Inventions and Utility Model
s: Substantive Requirements of Patentability23 Designs: Substantive
Requirements of Patentability24 Disclosures Not Causing Loss of Novelt
y25 Subject Matters Excluded from PatentabilityChapter III Application
for Patent26 Inventions and Utility Models: Documents Required for Fi
ling Patent Application27 Designs: Documents Required for Filing Pat
ent Application28 Filing Date29 Right of Priority30 Claiming of Right
of Priority31 Unity of Subject Matter32 Withdrawal of Application33 Am
endment of ApplicationChapter IV Examination and Approval of Applicati
on for Patent34 Inventions: Publication of Application35 Inventions: I
nitiative for Examination as to Substance36 Inventions: Information by
Applicant for Examination as to Substance37 Inventions: Invitation to
Amend or Make Observations38 Inventions: Rejection of Application aft
er Examination as to Substance39 Inventions: Grant of Patent Right aft
er Examination as to Substance40 Utility Model and Designs: Grant of P
atent Right after Preliminary Examination41 Request for Revocation42
Decision on Request for Revocation43 Reexamination and, for Invention
s, Court Proceedings44 Effect of RevocationChapter V Duration, Cessati
on and Invalidation of Patent Right45 Duration46 Annual Fees47 Cessati
on of Patent Right48 Request for Invalidation49 Decision on Request fo
r Invalidation50 Effect of InvalidationChapter VI Compulsory License f
or Exploitation of Patent51 Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory
Licenses in Case of Failure to Obtain Authorization from Patentee52
Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory Licenses in Case of Use for
Public Interest53 Inventions and Utility Models: Compulsory Licenses
in Case of Dependent Patents54 Inventions and Utility Models: Proof
Required from Requestor of Compulsory License55 Inventions and Util
ity Models: Registration and Announcement of Compulsory License56 In
ventions and Utility Models: Limitation of Rights of Compulsory Lice
nsee57 Inventions and Utility Models: Exploitation Fee to be Paid by
Compulsory Licensee58 Inventions and Utility Models: Court Proceeding
s by Patentee Concerning Compulsory LicenseChapter VII Protection of
Patent Right59 Determination of Extent of Protection60 Definition of
Infringement and Remedies; Inventions: Proof in Case of Process of P
atents61 Prescription for Instituting Legal Proceedings for Infringeme
nts62 Acts not Constituting Infringement63 Remedies and Penalties for
Passing Off64 Sanctions for Not Respecting Provision of Article 2065 S
anctions for Usurpation of Rights of Inventor or Creator66 Sanctions A
gainst Offending OfficialsChapter VIII Supplementary Provisions67 Fees
68 Implementing Regulations69 Date of Entry Into Force of the Law
Chapter I GENERAL PROVISIONSArticle 1.This Law is enacted to pr
otect patent rights for inventions-creations, toencourage inventions-
creations, to foster the spreading and application ofinventions-creati
ons, and to promote the development of science andtechnology, f
or meeting the needs of the construction of socialistmoderniza
tion.Article 2.In this Law, "inventions-creations" mean inventions, u
tility models anddesigns.Article 3.The Patent Office of the People's
Republic of China receives and examinespatent applications and grant
s patent rights for inventions-creations thatconform with the provisio
ns of this Law.Article 4.Where the invention-creation for which a pate
nt is applied for relates tothe security or other vital interests of
the State and is required to bekept secret, the application shall b
e treated in accordance with therelevant prescriptions of the Sta
te.Article 5.No patent right shall be granted for any invention-c
reation that iscontrary to the laws of the State or social m
orality or that isdetrimental to public interest.Article 6.For a se
rvice invention-creation, made by a person in execution of thetask
s of the entity to which he belongs or made by him mainly by using the
material means of the entity, the right to apply for a patent belongs
tothe entity. For any non service invention-creation, the right to a
pply fora patent belongs to the inventor or creator. After the app
lication isapproved, if it was filed by an entity under ownership
by the wholepeople, the patent right shall be held by the entity;
if it was filed byan entity under collective ownership or by an indi
vidual, the patent rightshall be owned by the entity or individual.For
a service invention-creation made by any staff member or worker of
aforeign enterprise, or of a Chinese-foreign joint venture enterp
rise,located in China, the right to apply for a patent belongs
to theenterprise. For any non service invention-creation, the right
to apply fora patent belongs to the inventor or creator. After the
application isapproved, the patent right shall be owned by the
enterprise or theindividual that applied for it.The owner of the p
atent right and the holder of the patent right arereferred to as
"patentee".Article 7.No entity or individual shall prevent the invent
or or creator from filingan application for a patent for a non servic
e invention-creation.Article 8.For an invention-creation made in coope
ration by two or more entities, ormade by an entity in execution of a
commission for research or designinggiven to it by another entity,
the right to apply for a patent belongs,unless otherwise agreed upo
n, to the entity which made, or to the entitieswhich jointly made, th
e invention-creation. After the application isapproved, the paten
t right shall be owned or held by the entity orentities that a
pplied for it.Article 9.Where two or more applicants file applica
tions for patent for theidentical invention-creation, the patent r
ight shall be granted to theapplicant whose application was filed
first.Article 10.The right to apply for a patent and the patent right
may be assigned. Anyassignment, by an entity under ownership by the w
hole people, of the rightto apply for a patent, or of the patent right
, must be approved by thecompetent authority at the higher level.A
ny assignment, by a Chinese entity or individual, of the right to ap
plyfor a patent, or of the patent right, to a foreigner must be appro
ved bythe competent department concerned of the State Council.Where t
he right to apply for a patent or the patent right is assigned, thepar
ties must conclude a written contract, which will come into force afte
rit is registered with and announced by the Patent Office.Article 11.
[*2] [*3]After the grant of the patent right for an invention or ut
ility model,except as otherwise provided for in the law, no entity or
individual may,without the authorization of the patentee, make, use
or sell the patentedproduct, or use the patented process and use or s
ell the product directlyobtained by the patented process, for product
ion or business purposes.After the grant of the patent right for a des
ign, no entity or individualmay, without the authorization of the pat
entee, make or sell the product,incorporating its or his patented d
esign, for production or businesspurposes.After the grant of the p
atent right, except as otherwise provided for inthe law, the patente
e has the right to prevent any other person fromimporting, witho
ut its or his authorization, the patented product, or theproduct dire
ctly obtained by its or his patented process, for the usesmentione
d in the preceding two paragraphs.Article 12.Any entity or individual
exploiting the patent of another must, except asprovided for in Artic
le 14 of this Law, conclude with the patentee awritten license c
ontract for exploitation and pay the patentee a fee forthe exploitat
ion of the patent. The licensee has no right to authorize anyentity or
individual, other than that referred to in the contract forexplo
itation, to exploit the patent.Article 13.After the publication of the
application for a patent for invention, theapplicant may require th
e entity or individual exploiting the invention topay an appropriate f
ee.Article 14.The competent departments concerned of the State Council
and the people'sgovernments of provinces, autonomous regions or mu
nicipalities directlyunder the Central Government have the power to d
ecide, in accordance withthe State plan, that any entity under owners
hip by the whole people thatis within their system or directly under
their administration and thatholds the patent right to an import
ant invention-creation is to allowdesignated entities to exploit t
hat invention-creation; and the exploitingentity shall, according to t
he prescriptions of the State, pay a fee forexploitation to the enti
ty holding the patent right.Any patent of a Chinese individual or enti
ty under collective ownership,which is of great significance to the
interests of the State or to thepublic interest and is in need of
spreading and application, may, afterapproval by the State Counci
l at the solicitation of its competentdepartment concerned, be
treated alike by making reference to theprovisions of the prec
eding paragraph.Article 15.The patentee has the right to affix a paten
t marking and to indicate thenumber of the patent on the patented pr
oduct or on the packing of thatproduct.Article 16.The entity ownin
g or holding the patent right shall award to the inventoror creator o
f a service invention-creation a reward and, upon exploitationof the p
atented invention-creation, shall award to the inventor or creatora re
ward based on the extent of spreading and application and the economic
benefits yielded.Article 17.The inventor or creator has the right to b
e named as such in the patentdocument.Article 18.Where any foreigne
r, foreign enterprise or other foreign organizationhaving no hab
itual residence or business office in China files anapplicatio
n for a patent in China, the application shall be treated underthis L
aw in accordance with any agreement concluded between the country towh
ich the applicant belongs and China, or in accordance with a
nyinternational treaty to which both countries are party, or on the ba
sis ofthe principle of reciprocity.Article 19.Where any foreigner, for
eign enterprise or other foreign organizationhaving no habitual r
esidence or business office in China applies for apatent, or has o
ther patent matters to attend to, in China, he or it shallappoint a pa
tent agency designated by the State Council of the People'sRepublic
of China to act as his or its agent. Where any Chinese entity orindi
vidual applies for a patent or has other patent matters to attend to
in the country, it or he may appoint a patent agency to act as its or
hisagent.Article 20.Where any Chinese entity or individual intends to
file an application in aforeign country for a patent for invention-cr
eation made in the country,it or he shall file first an application
for patent with the Patent Officeand, with the sanction of the compete
nt department concerned of the StateCouncil, shall appoint a patent a
gency designated by the State Council toact as its or his agent.Artic
le 21.Until the publication or announcement of the application for
a patent,staff members of the Patent Office and persons involved have
the duty tokeep its content secret.
Chapter II REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANT OF PATENT RIGHTArticle 22.Any
invention or utility model for which patent right may be granted mus
tpossess novelty, inventiveness and practical applicability.Novelty me
ans that, before the date of filing, no identical invention orutilit
y model has been publicly disclosed in publications in the countryor
abroad or has been publicly used or made known to the public by a
nyother means in the country, nor has any other person filed previousl
y withthe Patent Office an application which described the identical
inventionor utility model and was published after the said date of fi
ling.Inventiveness means that, as compared with the technology existin
g beforethe date of filing the invention has prominent substantive
features andrepresents a notable progress and that the utility model
has substantivefeatures and represents progress. Practical applicab
ility means that theinvention or utility model can be made or used an
d can produce effectiveresults.Article 23.Any design for which paten
t right may be granted must not be identicalwith or similar to any
design which, before the date of filing, has beenpublicly disclosed
in publications in the country or abroad or has beenpublicly used
in the country.Article 24.An invention-creation for which a patent is
applied for does not lose itsnovelty where, within six months before
the date of filing, one of thefollowing events occurred:(1) where
it was first exhibited at an international exhibition sponsoredor rec
ognized by the Chinese Government;(2) where it was first made pu
blic at a prescribed academic ortechnological meeting;(3) where
it was disclosed by any person without the consent of theapplic
ant.Article 25. [*4]For any of the following, no patent right shall be
granted:(1) scientific discoveries;(2) rules and methods for mental a
ctivities;(3) methods for the diagnosis or for the treatment of diseas
es;(4) animal and plant varieties;(5) substances obtained by means of
nuclear transformation.For processes used in producing products referr
ed to in items (4) of thepreceding paragraph, patent right may be gr
anted in accordance with theprovisions of this Law.
Chapter III APPLICATION FOR PATENTArticle 26.Where an applicati
on for a patent for invention or utility model is filed,a request, a d
escription and its abstract, and claims shall be submitted.The request
shall state the title of the invention or utility model, thename of
the inventor or creator, the name and the address of the applicantand
other related matters.The description shall set forth the invention o
r utility model in a mannersufficiently clear and complete so as to en
able a person skilled in therelevant field of technology to carry i
t out; where necessary, drawingsare required. The abstract shall st
ate briefly the main technical pointsof the invention or utility mod
el.The claims shall be supported by the description and shall sta
te theextent of the patent protection asked for.Article 27.Where an a
pplication for a patent for design is filed, a request, drawingsor ph
otographs of the design shall be submitted, and the productin
corporating the design and the class to which that product belongs sha
llbe indicated.Article 28.The date on which the Patent Office receives
the application shall be thedate of filing. If the application is se
nt by mail, the date of mailingindicated by the postmark shall be t
he date of filing.Article 29. [*5]Where, within twelve months from the
date on which any applicant firstfiled in a foreign country an ap
plication for a patent for invention orutility model, or within six
months from the date on which any applicantfirst filed in a foreign
country an application for a patent for design,he or it files in Ch
ina an application for a patent for the same subjectmatter, he or it
may, in accordance with any agreement concluded betweenthe said f
oreign country and China, or in accordance with anyinternat
ional treaty to which both countries are party, or on the basis ofthe
principle of mutual recognition of the right of priority, enjoy a
right of priority.Where, within twelve months from the date on which
any applicant firstfiled in China an application for a patent for i
nvention or utility model,he or it files with the Patent Office an app
lication for a patent for thesame subject matter, he or it may enjoy
a right of priority.Article 30. [*6]Any applicant who claims the righ
t of priority shall make a writtendeclaration when the applicat
ion is filed, and submit, within threemonths, a copy of the pate
nt application document which was first filed;if the applicant fails t
o make the written declaration or to meet the timelimit for submitting
the patent application document, the claim to theright of priorit
y shall be deemed not to have been made.Article 31.An application for
a patent for invention or utility model shall belimited to one
invention or utility model. Two or more inventions orutility mod
els belonging to a single general inventive concept may befiled a
s one application.An application for a patent for design shall be li
mited to one designincorporated in one product. Two or more designs
which are incorporated inproducts belonging to the same class and are
sold or used in sets may befiled as one application.Article 32.An a
pplicant may withdraw his or its application for a patent at any time
before the patent right is granted.Article 33. [*7]An applicant may am
end his or its application for a patent, but theamendment to th
e application for a patent for invention or utility modelmay not go
beyond the scope of the disclosure contained in the initialdescrip
tion and claims, and the amendment to the application for a patentfor
design may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure as shown in th
einitial drawings or photographs.
Chapter IV EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR PATENTAr
ticle 34. [*8]Where, after receiving an application for a patent fo
r invention, thePatent Office, upon preliminary examination, finds t
he application to bein conformity with the requirements of this Law
, it shall publish theapplication promptly after the expiration of
eighteen months from the dateof filing. Upon the request of the appli
cant, the Patent Office publishesthe application earlier.Article 35.U
pon the request of the applicant for a patent for invention, made at
anytime within three years from the date of filing, the Patent Offic
e willproceed to examine the application as to its substance. If, w
ithout anyjustified reason, the applicant fails to meet the t
ime limit forrequesting examination as to substance, the application
shall be deemed tohave been withdrawn.The Patent Office may, on its
own initiative, proceed to examine anyapplication for a patent fo
r invention as to its substance when it deemsit necessary.Article 36
.When the applicant for a patent for invention requests examination a
s tosubstance, he or it shall furnish pre-filing date reference
materialsconcerning the invention. The applicant for a patent for i
nvention whohas filed in a foreign country an application for a paten
t for the sameinvention shall, at the time of requesting examinatio
n as to substance,furnish documents concerning any search made for
the purpose of examiningthat application, or concerning the results o
f any examination made, inthat country. If, without any justified r
eason, the said documents are notfurnished, the application shall be d
eemed to have been withdrawn.Article 37.Where the Patent Office, after
it has made the examination as to substanceof the application for a p
atent for invention, finds that the applicationis not in conformity w
ith the provisions of this Law, it shall notify theapplicant and requ
est him or it to submit, within a specified time limit,his or its obs
ervations or to amend the application. If, without anyjustified
reason, the time limit for making response is not met, theapplic
ation shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.Article 38.Where, after t
he applicant has made the observations or amendments, thePatent Off
ice finds that the application for a patent for invention isstill
not in conformity with the provisions of this Law, the applicationsh
all be rejected.Article 39. [*9]Where it is found after examination as
to substance that there is no causefor rejection of the application f
or a patent for invention, the PatentOffice shall make a decision t
o grant the patent right for invention,issue the certificate of p
atent for invention, and register and announceit.Article 40. [*10]Wh
ere it is found after preliminary examination that there is no cause f
orrejection of the application for a patent for utility model or desig
n, thePatent Office shall make a decision to grant the patent right fo
r utilitymodel or the patent right for design, issue the rel
evant patentcertificate, and register and announce it.Article 41. [*
11]Where, within six months from the date of the announcement of the g
rant ofthe patent right by the Patent Office, any entity or individual
considersthat the grant of the said patent right is not in confor
mity with therelevant provisions of this Law, it or he may request t
he Patent Office torevoke the patent right.Article 42. [*12]The Patent
Office shall examine the request for revocation of the patentright,
make a decision revoking or upholding the patent right, and notifyth
e person who made the request and the patentee. The decision revoki
ngthe patent right shall be registered and announced by the Patent Off
ice.Article 43. [*13]The Patent Office shall set up a Patent Reexamin
ation Board. Where anyparty is not satisfied with the decision of t
he Patent Office rejectingthe application, or the decision of
the Patent Office revoking orupholding the patent right, such part
y may, within three months from thedate of receipt of the notificat
ion, request the Patent ReexaminationBoard to make a reexamination
. The Patent Reexamination Board shall, afterreexamination, make a dec
ision and notify the applicant, the patentee orthe person who made t
he request for revocation of the patent right.Where the applicant for
a patent for invention, the patentee of aninvention or the per
son who made the request for revocation of the patentright for invent
ion is not satisfied with the decision of the PatentReexaminatio
n Board, he or it may, within three months from the date ofreceipt
of the notification, institute legal proceedings in the people'scour
t.The decision of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of any re
quest,made by the applicant, the patentee or the person who made the r
equest forrevocation of the patent right, for reexamination concerni
ng a utilitymodel or design is final.Article 44. [*14]Any patent rig
ht which has been revoked shall be deemed to be nonexistentfrom the b
eginning.
Chapter V DURATION, CESSATION AND INVALIDATION OF PATENT RIGHTA
rticle 45. [*15]The duration of patent right for inventions shall be
twenty years, theduration of patent right for utility models and pa
tent right for designsshall be ten years, counted from the date of f
iling.Article 46.The patentee shall pay an annual fee beginning with t
he year in which thepatent right was granted.Article 47.In any of the
following cases, the patent right shall cease before theexpiratio
n of its duration:(1) where an annual fee is not paid as prescribed;(2
) where the patentee abandons his or its patent right by a writt
endeclaration. Any cessation of the patent right shall be registere
d andannounced by the Patent Office.Article 48. [*16]Where, after t
he expiration of six months from the date of theannouncement
of the grant of the patent right by the Patent Office, anyentity o
r individual considers that the grant of the said patent right isnot
in conformity with the relevant provisions of this Law, it or he may
request the Patent Reexamination Board to declare the patent r
ightinvalid.Article 49.The Patent Reexamination Board shall examine th
e request for invalidationof the patent right, make a decision and no
tify the person who made therequest and the patentee. The decision
declaring the patent right invalidshall be registered and announced b
y the Patent Office.Where any party is not satisfied with the d
ecision of the PatentReexamination Board declaring the patent right
for invention invalid orupholding the patent right for invention,
such party may, within threemonths from receipt of the notificatio
n of the decision, institute legalproceedings in the people's court.
The decision of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of a request
todeclare invalid the patent right for utility model or design is fi
nal.Article 50. [*17]Any patent right which has been declared invalid
shall be deemed to benonexistent from the beginning.The decision o
f invalidation shall have no retroactive effect on anyjudgement
or order on patent infringement which has been pronounced andenforc
ed by the people's court, on any decision concerning the handling ofpa
tent infringement which has been made and enforced by the administrati
veauthority for patent affairs, and on any contract of patent license
and ofassignment of patent right which have been performed, prio
r to thedecision of invalidation; however, the damages caused to oth
er persons inbad faith on the part of the patentee shall be compensat
ed.If, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, no rep
ayment,by the patentee or the assignor of the patent right to the lice
nsee or theassignee of the patent right, of the fee for the exploi
tation of thepatent or the price for the assignment of the patent r
ight is obviouslycontrary to the principle of equity, the patentee o
r the assignor of thepatent right shall repay the whole or part of t
he fee for the exploitationof the patent or the price for the assignme
nt of the patent right to thelicensee or the assignee of the patent
right.The provisions of the second and third paragraph of this Arti
cle shallapply to the patent right which has been revoked.
Chapter VI COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF THE PATENTArt
icle 51. [*18]Where any entity which is qualified to exploit the inve
ntion or utilitymodel has made requests for authorization from
the patentee of aninvention or utility model to exploit its or h
is patent on reasonableterms and such efforts have not been success
ful within a reasonable periodof time, the Patent Office may, upon the
application of that entity, granta compulsory license to exploit the
patent for invention or utility model.Article 52. [*19]Where a nationa
l emergency or any extraordinary state of affairs occurs,or where th
e public interest so requires, the Patent Office may grant acompuls
ory license to exploit the patent for invention or utility model.Artic
le 53.Where the invention or utility model for which the patent
right wasgranted is technically more advanced than another inventio
n or utilitymodel for which a patent right has been granted
earlier and theexploitation of the later invention or utility m
odel depends on theexploitation of the earlier invention or utility
model, the Patent Officemay, upon the request of the later patentee,
grant a compulsory license toexploit the earlier invention or utility
model.Where, according to the preceding paragraph, a compulsory
license isgranted, the Patent Office may, upon the request of the ear
lier patentee,also grant a compulsory license to exploit the later in
vention or utilitymodel.Article 54.The entity or individual requestin
g, in accordance with the provisions ofthis Law, a compulsory license
for exploitation shall furnish proof thatit or he has not been abl
e to conclude with the patentee a licensecontract for exploitat
ion on reasonable terms.Article 55.The decision made by the Patent Off
ice granting a compulsory license forexploitation shall be registere
d and announced.Article 56.Any entity or individual that is grant
ed a compulsory license forexploitation shall not have an exclusiv
e right to exploit and shall nothave the right to authorize exploit
ation by any others.Article 57.The entity or individual that is g
ranted a compulsory license forexploitation shall pay to the paten
tee a reasonable exploitation fee, theamount of which shall be fixed
by both parties in consultations. Where theparties fail to reach an ag
reement, the Patent Office shall adjudicate.Article 58.Where the paten
tee is not satisfied with the decision of the Patent Officegranting a
compulsory license for exploitation or with the adjudicationregardi
ng the exploitation fee payable for exploitation, he or it may,wit
hin three months from the receipt of the notification, institute lega
lproceedings in the people's court.
Chapter VII PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTArticle 59.The extent of
protection of the patent right for invention or utilitymodel shal
l be determined by the terms of the claims. The description andthe ap
pended drawings may be used to interpret the claims.The extent of pr
otection of the patent right for design shall bedetermined by
the product incorporating the patented design as shown inthe drawin
gs or photographs.Article 60.For any exploitation of the patent, wit
hout the authorization of thepatentee, constituting an infringing
act, the patentee or any interestedparty may request the administra
tive authority for patent affairs tohandle the matter or may dir
ectly institute legal proceedings in thepeople's court. The admin
istrative authority for patent affairs handlingthe matter shall have
the power to order the infringer to stop theinfringing act an
d to compensate for the damage. Any party dissatisfiedmay, within t
hree months from the receipt of the notification, institutelegal pro
ceedings in the people's court. If such proceedings are notinsti
tuted within the time limit and if the order is not complied with,t
he administrative authority for patent affairs may approach the peopl
e'scourt for compulsory execution.When any infringement dispute arises
, if the patent for invention is aprocess for the manufacture of a
new product, any entity or individualmanufacturing the identical
product shall furnish proof of the processused in the manufacture
of its or his product. [*20]Article 61.Prescription for instituting le
gal proceedings concerning the infringementof patent right is two year
s counted from the date on which the patenteeor any interested party
obtains or should have obtained knowledge of theinfringing act.Arti
cle 62.None of the following shall be deemed an infringement of the pa
tent right:(1) Where, after the sale of a patented product that was
made by thepatentee or with the authorization of the patentee, any
other person usesor sells that product;(2) Where any person uses or
sells a patented product not knowing that itwas made and sold without
the authorization of the patentee;(3) Where, before the date of filin
g of the application for patent, anyperson who has already made the
identical product, used the identicalprocess, or made necessary
preparations for its making or using, continuesto make or use it withi
n the original scope only;(4) Where any foreign means of transport whi
ch temporarily passes throughthe territory, territorial waters or ter
ritorial airspace of China usesthe patent concerned, in accordance
with any agreement concluded betweenthe country to which the foreign
means of transport belongs and China, orin accordance with any inter
national treaty to which both countries areparty, or on the basis o
f the principle of reciprocity, for its own needs,in its devices and i
nstallations;(5) Where any person uses the patent concerned solely for
the purposes ofscientific research and experimentation.Article 63.Wh
ere any person passes off the patent of another person, such passing o
ffshall be treated in accordance with Article 60 of this Law. I
f thecircumstances are serious, any person directly responsible
shall beprosecuted, for his criminal liability, by applying mut
atis mutandisArticle 127 of the Criminal Law.Where any person passes
any unpatented product off as patented product orpasses any unpatente
d process off as patented process, such person shallbe ordered by th
e administrative authority for patent affairs to stop thepassing off,
correct it publicly, and pay a fine. [*21]Article 64.Where any person
, in violation of the provisions of Article 20 of thisLaw, unautho
rizedly files in a foreign country an application for a patentthat div
ulges an important secret of the State, he shall be subject todisc
iplinary sanction by the entity to which he belongs or by the
competent authority concerned at the higher level. If the circumsta
ncesare serious, he shall be prosecuted for his criminal liability a
ccordingto the law.Article 65.Where any person usurps the right of an
inventor or creator to apply for apatent for a non service invention-c
reation, or usurps any other right orinterest of an inventor or creat
or, prescribed by this Law, he shall besubject to disciplinary sanc
tion by the entity to which he belongs or bythe competent authority
at the higher level.Article 66.Where any staff member of the Patent Of
fice, or any staff member concernedof the State, acts wrongfully out o
f personal considerations or commitsfraudulent acts, he shall be s
ubject to disciplinary sanction by thePatent Office or the compet
ent authority concerned. If the circumstancesare serious, he shall
be prosecuted, for his criminal liability, byapplying mutatis mu
tandis Article 188 of the Criminal Law.
Chapter VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONSArticle 67.Any application
for a patent filed with, and any other proceedings before,the Patent
Office shall be subject to the payment of a fee as prescribed.Article
68.The implementing Regulations of this Law shall be drawn up by the
PatentOffice and shall enter into force after approval by the State C
ouncil.Article 69.This Law shall enter into force on April 1, 1985.Thi
s Decision [*22] shall enter into force on January 1, 1993. Th
eapplications for patent filed before the entry into force of this Dec
isionand the patent rights granted on the basis of the said applicatio
ns shallcontinue to be governed by the provisions of the Patent Law
before itsamendment. However, the procedures provided by the amende
d Articles 39 to44 and the amended Article 48 of the Patent Law conce
rning the approval ofapplications for patent, and the revocation and i
nvalidation of the patentright shall apply to the said application
s which are not announcedaccording to the provisions of Articles 3
9 and 40 of the Patent Law beforeits amendment. (Extract from the Deci
sion Regarding the Revision of thePatent Law of the People's Republ
ic of China, Adopted at the 27th Sessionof the Standing Committee of
the Seventh National People's Congress onSeptember 4, 1992)[*1] Th
is Table of Contents was established for the convenience of therea
der by the Patent Laws Research Institute of the Chinese Patent Office
.The text of the Patent Law adopted by the Standing Committee of
theNational People's Congress does not contain such a table and the
Articleshave no titles in the Law.[*2] The texts of those articles o
f the Law printed in boldface areamended texts. The relevant
old texts are, for the convenience ofreference, printed in the f
ootnotes on the same page.[*3] Old Article 11. After the grant of the
patent right for an inventionor utility model, except as provided for
in Article 14 of this Law, noentity or individual may, without
the authorization of the patentee,exploit the patent, that is, mak
e, use or sell the patented product, oruse the patented process, fo
r production or business purposes.After the grant of the patent right
for a design, no entity or individualmay, without the authorization o
f the patentee, exploit the patent, thatis, make or sell the produc
t, incorporating the patented design, forproduction or business p
urposes.[*4] Old Article 25. For any of the following, no patent righ
t shall begranted:(1) scientific discoveries;(2) rules and methods f
or mental activities;(3) methods for the diagnosis or for the treatmen
t of diseases;(4) food, beverages and flavorings;(5) pharmaceutical pr
oducts and substances obtained by means of a chemicalprocess;(6) anima
l and plant varieties;(7) substances obtained by means of nuclear tran
sformation.For processes used in producing products referred to in ite
ms (4) to (6)of the preceding paragraph, patent right may be granted i
n accordance withthe provisions of this Law.[*5] Old Article 29.Where
any foreign applicant files an application in China within twelvemo
nths from the date on which he or it first filed in a foreign country
anapplication for a patent for the identical invention or utility mode
l, orwithin six months from the date on which he or it first filed in
a foreigncountry an application for a patent for the identical desig
n, he or itmay, in accordance with any agreement concluded between
the country towhich he or it belongs and China, or in accordance w
ith any internationaltreaty to which both countries are party, or on
the basis of the principleof mutual recognition of the right of priori
ty, enjoy a right of priority,that is, the date on which the applicati
on was first filed in the foreigncountry shall be regarded as the dat
e of filing.Where the applicant claims a right of priority and where o
ne of the eventslisted in Article 24 of this Law occurred, the period
of the right ofpriority shall be counted from the date on which t
he event occurred.[*6] Old Article 30. Any applicant who claims the ri
ght of priority shallmake a written declaration when the application
is filed, indicating thedate of filing of the earlier application in
the foreign country and thecountry in which that application was f
iled, and submit, within threemonths, a copy of that application d
ocument, certified by the competentauthority of that country; if th
e applicant fails to make the writtendeclaration or to meet the t
ime limit for submitting the document, theclaim to the right of pr
iority shall be deemed not to have been made.[*7] Old Article 33. An a
pplicant may amend his or its application for apatent, but may not g
o beyond the scope of the disclosure contained in theinitial descripti
on.[*8] Old Article 34. Where, after receiving an application for a
patentfor invention, the Patent Office, upon preliminary examination,
finds theapplication to be in conformity with the requirements of
this Law, itshall publish the application within 18 months from the
date of filing.Upon the request of the applicant, the Patent Of
fice publishes theapplication earlier.[*9] Old Article 39. Where it
is found after examination as to substancethat there is no cause for
rejection of the application for a patent forinvention, the Patent
Office shall make a decision, announce it and notifythe applicant.[*10
] Old Article 40. Where, after receiving the application for a patent
for utility model or design, the Patent Office finds upon prelimi
naryexamination that the application is in conformity with the require
ments ofthis Law, it shall not proceed to examine it as to substance
but shallimmediately make an announcement and notify the applicant.
[*11] Old Article 41. Within three months from the date of
theannouncement of the application for a patent, any person
may, inaccordance with the provisions of this Law, file with the Pate
nt Office anopposition to that application. The Patent Office shall se
nd a copy of theopposition to the applicant, to which the applicant
shall respond inwriting within three months from the date of its r
eceipt; if, without anyjustified reason, the time limit for making th
e written response is notmet, the application shall be deemed to ha
ve been withdrawn.[*12] Old Article 42. Where, after examination, the
Patent Office findsthat the opposition is justified, it shall make
a decision to reject theapplication and notify the opponent and the
applicant.[*13] Old Article 43. The Patent Office shall set u
p a PatentReexamination Board. Where the applicant is not sa
tisfied with thedecision of the Patent Office rejecting the applicat
ion, he or it may,within three months from the date of receipt of
the notification, requestthe Patent Reexamination Board to make
a reexamination. The PatentReexamination Board shall, after reexami
nation, make a decision and notifythe applicant.Where the applicant fo
r a patent for invention is not satisfied with thedecision of the Pa
tent Reexamination Board rejecting the request forreexamination,
he or it may within three months from the date of receiptof the not
ification, institute legal proceedings in the people's court.The decis
ion of the Patent Reexamination Board in respect of any requestby th
e applicant for reexamination concerning a utility model or design isf
inal.[*14] Old Article 44. Where no opposition to the application for
a patentis filed or where, after its examination, the oppositi
on is foundunjustified, the Patent Office shall make a decision to g
rant the patentright, issue the patent certificate, and registe
r and announce therelevant matters.[*15] Old Article 45. The durati
on of patent right for inventions shall be15 years counted from the da
te of filing.The duration of patent right for utility models or design
s shall be fiveyears counted from the date of filing. Before the exp
iration of the saidterm, the patentee may apply for a renewal for th
ree years.Where the patentee enjoys a right of priority, the durati
on of patentright shall be counted from the date on which the applic
ation was filed inChina.[*16] Old Article 48. Where, after the grant
of the patent right, anyentity or individual considers that the gr
ant of the said patent right isnot in conformity with the provisions
of this Law, it or he may requestthe Patent Reexamination Board to
declare the patent right invalid.[*17] Old Article 50. Any patent righ
t which has been declared invalidshall be deemed to be nonexistent
from the beginning.[*18] Old Article 51. The patentee himself or itse
lf has the obligation tomake the patented product, or to use the paten
ted process, in China, orotherwise to authorize other persons to ma
ke the patented product, or touse the patented process, in China.[*1
9] Old Article 52. Where the patentee of an invention or utility mode
lfails, without any justified reason, by the expiration of three years
fromthe date of the grant of the patent right, to fulfil the obliga
tion setforth in Article 51, the Patent Office may, upon the request
of an entitywhich is qualified to exploit the invention or utility
model, grant acompulsory license to exploit the patent.[*20] The ol
d second paragraph of Article 60: When any infringementdispute
arises, if the patent for |
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