Laws of the People's Republic of China

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS CHAPTER II APPLICATION FOR PATENT CHAPTER III EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT CHAPTER IV INVALIDATION OF PATENT RIGHT CHAPTER V COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF PATENT CHAPTER VI REWARDS TO INVENTOR OR CREATOR OF SERVICE INVENTION-CREATION CHAPTER VII ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES FOR PATENT AFFAIRS CHAPTER VIII PATENT REGISTER AND PATENT GAZETTE CHAPTER IX FEES CHAPTER X SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

   Article 1 These Rules are formulated in accordance with the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "Patent Law").

   Article 2 "Invention" in the Patent Law means any new technical solution relating to a product, a process or an improvement thereof.

"Utility model" in the Patent Law means any new technical solution relating to the shape, the structure, or their combination, of a product, which is fit for practical use.

"Design" in the Patent Law means any new design of the shape, pattern, colour, or their combination, of a product, which creates an aesthetic feeling and is fit for industrial application.

   Article 3 Any proceeding provided for by the Patent Law and these Rules shall be conducted in a written form.

   Article 4 Any document submitted under the Patent Law and these Rules shall be in Chinese. The standard scientific and technical terms shall be used if there is a prescribed one set forth by the State. Where no generally accepted translation in Chinese can be found for a foreign name or locality or scientific or technical term, the one in the original language shall be also indicated.

Where any certificate or certified document submitted in accordance with the Patent Law and these Rules is in foreign language, and where the Patent Office deems it necessary, it may request a Chinese translation of the certificate or the certifying document to be submitted within a specified time limit; where the translation is not submitted within the specified time limit, the certificate or certifying document shall be deemed not to have been submitted.

   Article 5 For any document sent by mail to the Patent Office, the date of mailing indicated by the postmark on the envelope shall be presumed to be the date of filing. If the date of mailing indicated by the postmark on the envelope is illegible, the date on which the Patent Office receives the document shall be the date of filing, except where the date of mailing is proved by the addresser.

Any document of the Patent Office may be served by mail, by personal delivery or by public announcement. Where any party concerned appoints a patent agency, the document shall be sent to the patent agency; where no patent agency is appointed, the document shall be sent to the person first named in the request or to the representative. If such person refuses to accept document, it shall be presumed to have been served.

For any document sent by mail by the Patent Office, the 16th day from the date of mailing shall be presumed to be the date on which the addressee receives the document.

For any document which shall be delivered personally in accordance with the prescription of the Patent Office, the date of delivery is the date on which the addressee receives the document.

Where the address of a document is not clear and it cannot be sent by mail, the document may be served by making an announcement in the Patent Gazette.

At the expiration of one month from the date of the announcement, the document shall be presumed to have been served.

   Article 6 The first day of any time limit prescribed in the Patent Law and these Rules shall not be counted. Where a time limit is counted by year or by month, it shall expire on the corresponding day of the last month, if there is no corresponding day in that month, the time limit shall expire on the last day of that month.

If a time limit expires on an official holiday, the time limit shall expire on the first working day after that official holiday.

   Article 7 Where a time limit prescribed in the Patent Law or these Rules or specified by the Patent Office is not observed because of force majeure, resulting the loss of rights on the part of a party concerned, he or it shall, within two months from the date on which the impediment is removed, at the latest within two years immediately following the expiration of that time limit, state the reasons, together with relevant supporting documents and request the Patent Office to restore his or its rights.

Where a time limit prescribed in the Patent Law or these Rules or specified by the Patent Office is not observed because of any justified reason, resulting the loss of rights on the part of a party concerned, he or it shall, within two months from the date of receipt of a notification from the Patent Office, state the reasons and request the Patent Office to restore his or its rights.

Where the party concerned makes a request for an extension of a time limit specified by the Patent Office, he or it shall, before the time limit expires, state the reasons to the Patent Office and complete the relevant procedures.

The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not be applicable to the time limit referred to in Articles 24, 29, 41, 45 and 61 of the Patent Law.

The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not be applicable to the time limit referred to in Article 88 of these Rules.

   Article 8 Where the invention for which a patent is applied for by a unit of the national defence system relates to the secrets of the State concerning national defence and is required to be kept secret, the application for patent shall be filed with the patent organization set up by the competent department of science and technology of national defence under the State Council. Where any application for patent for invention relating to the secrets of the State concerning national defence and requiring to be kept secret is received by the Patent Office, the Patent Office shall transfer the application to the afore- mentioned patent organization for examination. The Patent Office shall make a decision on the basis of the opinions of the said patent organization after examination. In addition to the preceding paragraph, the Patent Office, after receiving a patent application for an invention which is required to be examined for its confidential nature shall send it to the department concerned of the State Council for examination.

The said department shall, within four months from receipt of the application, send a report on the results of the examination to the Patent Office. Where the invention is required to be kept secret, the Patent Office shall handle the application as one for secret patent and notify the applicant accordingly.

   Article 9 The date of filing referred to in the Patent Law, except that mentioned in Articles 28 and 45, means the priority date where a right of priority is claimed.

The date of filing referred to in these Rules means the date on which the application for patent is filed with the Patent Office.

   Article 10 "Service invention-creation made by a person in execution of the tasks of the unit to which he belongs" mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law refers to any invention-creation made:

(1) in the course of performing his own duty;

(2) in execution of any task, other than his own duty, which was entrusted to him by the unit to which he belongs;

(3) within one year from his resignation, retirement or change of work, where the invention-creation relates to his own duty or the other task entrusted to him by the unit to which he previously belonged.

"Material means of the unit" mentioned in Article 6 of the Patent Law refers to unit's money, equipment, spare parts, raw materials, or technical data which are not to be disclosed to the public.

   Article 11 "Inventor" or "creator" mentioned in the Patent Law refers to any person who has made creative contributions to the substantive features of the invention-creation. Any person who, during the course of accomplishing the invention-creation, is responsible only for organization work, or who offers facilities for making use of materials means, or who takes part in other auxiliary functions, shall not be considered as inventor or creator.

   Article 12 For any identical invention-creation, only one patent right shall be granted.

Two or more applicants who file, on the same day, applications for patent for the identical invention-creation, as provided for in Article 9 of the Patent Law, shall, after receipt of a notification from the Patent Office, hold consultation among themselves to decide the person or persons who shall be entitled to file the application.

   Article 13 Any license contract for exploitation of the patent which has been concluded by the patentee with a unit or individual shall, within three months from the date of entry into force of the contract, be submitted to the Patent Office for record.

   Article 14 "The patent agency" as stipulated in Article 19 paragraph 1 and Article 20 of the Patent Law shall, on the authorization of the State Council, be designated by the Patent Office.

   Article 15 Where any dispute arises concerning the right to apply for a patent for an invention-creation or the right to own a patent right which has been granted, any of the parties concerned may request an administrative authority for patent affairs to handle the matter or may institute legal proceedings in a people's court.

Any party to a dispute concerning the right to apply for a patent or the right to own a patent right which has been brought to an administrative authority for patent affairs or to a people's court for a settlement, may request the Patent Office to suspend the relevant procedures.

Any party requesting the suspension of the relevant procedures by the Patent Office in accordance with the preceding paragraph, shall submit a written request to the Patent Office, together with the relevant document certifying the acceptance of the case by an administrative authority for patent affairs or by a people's court.

CHAPTER II APPLICATION FOR PATENT

   Article 16 Anyone who applies for a patent shall submit application documents in duplicate.

Any applicant who appoints a patent agency for filing an application for a patent with, or for dealing with other patent matters before, the Patent Office, shall submit a power of attorney indicating the scope of the power entrusted.

   Article 17 Other related matters mentioned in Article 26, paragraph 2 of the Patent Law refer to:

(1) the nationality of the applicant;

(2) where the applicant is an enterprise or other organization, the name of the country in which the applicant has the principal business office;

(3) where the applicant has appointed a patent agency, the relevant matters to be indicated;

(4) where the priority of an earlier application is claimed, the relevant matters to be indicated;

(5) the signature or seal of the applicant or the patent agency;

(6) a list of the documents constituting the application;

(7) a list of the documents appending the application;

(8) any other related matter which needs to be indicated.

Where there are two or more applicants and where they have not appointed a patent agency, they shall designate a representative.

   Article 18 The description of an application for a patent for invention or utility model shall be presented in the following manner and order:

(1) state the title of the invention or utility model as appearing in the request;

(2) specify the technical field to which the invention or utility model relates;

(3) indicate the background art which, as far as known to the applicant, can be regarded as useful for the understanding, searching and examination of the invention or utility model, and cite the documents reflecting such art;

(4) specify the purpose which the invention or utility model is designed to fulfil;

(5) disclose the technical solution of the invention or utility model, as claimed, in such a manner that a person having ordinary skill in the field can understand it and fulfil the purpose of the invention or utility model;

(6) state the advantageous effects of the invention or utility model, with reference to the background art;

(7) briefly describe the figures in the drawings, if any;

(8) describe in detail the best mode contemplated by the applicant for carrying out the invention or utility model; this shall be done in terms of examples, where appropriate, and with reference to the drawings, if any.

The manner and order mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be observed by the applicant of a patent for invention of a patent for utility model, unless, because of the nature of the invention or utility model, a different manner or order would afford a better understanding and a more economical presentation.

The description of the invention or utility model shall not contain such references to the claims as: "as described in part ... of the claim," nor shall it contain commercial advertising.

   Article 19 The same sheet of drawings may contain several figures of the invention or utility model, and the drawings shall be numbered and arranged in numerical order consecutively as "Figure 1, Figure 2..."

The scale and the distinctness of the drawings shall be such that a reproduction with a linear reduction in size to two-thirds would still enable all details to be clearly distinguished.

Drawing reference signs not appearing in the text of the description of the invention or utility model shall not appear in the drawings. Drawing reference signs not appearing in the drawings shall not appear in the text of the description. Drawing reference signs for the same composite part used in an application document shall be consistent throughout. The drawings shall not contain any other explanatory notes, except words which are indispensable.

   Article 20 The claims shall define clearly and concisely the matter for which protection is sought in terms of the technical features of the invention or utility model.

If there are several claims, they shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals.

The technical terminology used in the claims shall be consistent with that used in the description.

The claims may contain chemical or mathematical formulae but no drawings.

They shall not, except where absolutely necessary, contain such references to the description or drawings as: "as described in part ... of the description", or "as illustrated in figure ... of the drawings."

The technical features mentioned in the claims may, in order to facilitate quicker understanding of the claim, make reference to the corresponding reference signs in the drawings of the description. Such reference signs shall follow the corresponding technical features and be placed between parentheses, and they shall not be construed as limiting the claims.

   Article 21 The claims shall have an independent claim, and may also contain dependent claims.

An independent claim shall outline the technical solution of an invention or utility model and describe the indispensable technical features necessary for fulfilling the purpose of the invention or utility model.

A dependent claim shall further define the claim which it refers to by additional features that are claimed for protection.

   Article 22 An independent claim of an invention or utility model shall contain a preamble portion and a characterizing portion, and be presented in the following forms:

(1) a preamble portion, indicating the title of the claimed subject matter of the invention or utility model, and those essential technical features that are common to the invention or utility model and the prior art;

(2) a characterizing portion, stating, in such wording as "characterized in that ..." or in similar expressions, the technical features of the invention or utility model, which distinguish it from the prior art. These features, in combination with the features stated in the preamble portion, serve to define the scope of protection of the invention or utility model.

Independent claims may be presented in any other form, where it is not appropriate, according to the nature of the invention or utility model, to present them in the form prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Each invention or utility model shall have only one independent claim, which shall precede all the dependent claims relating to the same invention or utility model.

   Article 23 A dependent claim of an invention or utility model shall contain a reference portion and a characterizing portion, and be presented in the following form:

(1) a reference portion, indicating the serial number(s) of the claim(s) referred to, and the title of the subject matter;

(2) a characterizing portion, stating the additional technical features of the invention or utility model. A dependent claim referring to one or more other claims shall refer only to the preceding claim or claims. A multiple dependent claim which refers to more than one other claim shall not serve as a basis for any other multiple dependent claim.

   Article 24 The abstract shall indicate the technical field to which the invention or utility model pertains, the technical problems to be solved, the essential technical features and the use(s) of the invention or utility model. The abstract may contain the chemical formula which best characterizes the invention. In an application for a patent which contains drawings, the applicant shall indicate and provide a drawing which best characterizes the invention or utility model. The scale and the distinctness of the drawing shall be such that a reproduction with a linear reduction in size to 4 cm * 6 cm would still enable all details to be clearly distinguished. The whole text of the abstract shall contain not more than 200 Chinese characters. There shall be no commercial advertising in the abstract.

   Article 25 Where an application for a patent for invention concerns a new micro-organism, a micro-biological process or a product thereof and involves the use of a micro-organism which is not available to the public, the applicant shall, in addition to the other requirements provided for in the Patent Law and these Rules, complete the following procedures:

(1) deposit a sample of the micro-organism with a depository institution designated by the Patent Office before the date of filing, or, at the latest, on the date of filing, and submit, at the time of filing, or, at the latest, within three months from the filing date, a receipt of deposit and the viability proof from the depository institution; where they are not submitted within the specified time limit, the sample of the micro-organism shall be deemed not to have been deposited;

(2) give in the application document relevant information of the characteristics of the micro-organism;

(3) indicate, where the application relates to the deposit of the micro- organism, in the request and the description the scientific name (with its Latin name), the name and address of the depository institution, the date on which the sample of the micro-organism was deposited and the accession number of the deposit; where, at the time of filing, they are not indicated, they shall be supplied within three months from the date of filing; where after the expiration of the time limit they are not supplied, the sample of the micro-organism shall be deemed not to have been deposited.

   Article 26 After the publication of an application for a patent for invention relating to a micro-organism, any unit or individual that intends to make use of the micro-organism mentioned in the application for the purpose of experiment shall make a request to the Patent Office containing the following:

(1) the name and address of the unit or individual making the request;

(2) an undertaking not to make the micro-organism available to any other person;

(3) an undertaking to use the micro-organism for experimental purpose only before the grant of the patent right.

   Article 27 The size of drawings or photographs of a design submitted in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 of the Patent Law shall not be smaller than 3 cm * 8 cm, nor larger than 15cm * 22 cm.

Where an application for a patent for design seeking concurrent protection of colours is filed, a drawing or photograph in colour, and a drawing or photograph in white and black, shall be submitted.

The applicant shall submit, in respect of the subject matter of the product incorporating the design which is in need of protection, the relevant views and stereoscopic drawings or photographs, so as to clearly show the subject matter for which protection is sought.

   Article 28 Where an application for a patent for design is filed, a brief explanation of the design shall, when necessary, be indicated.

The brief explanation of the design shall include the main creative portion of the design, the colours for which protection is sought and the omission of the view of the product incorporating the design. The brief explanation shall not contain any commercial advertising and shall not be used to indicate the function and the uses of the product.

   Article 29 Where the Patent Office finds it necessary, it may require the applicant for a patent for design to submit a sample or model of the product incorporating the design. The volume of the sample or model submitted shall not exceed 30 cm * 30 cm * 30 cm, and its weight shall not surpass 15 kilos. Articles easy to get rotten or broken, or articles that are dangerous, may not be submitted as sample or model.

   Article 30 The existing technology mentioned in Article 22, paragraph 3 of the Patent Law means any technology which has been publicly disclosed in publications in the country or abroad, or has been publicly used or made known to the public by any other means in the country, before the date of filing, that is prior art.

   Article 31 The academic or technological meeting mentioned in Item 2 of Article 24 of the Patent Law means any academic or technological meeting organized by a department concerned of the State Council or by a national academic association.

Where any application for a patent falls under the provisions of Item 1 or Item 2 of Article 24 of the Patent Law, the applicant shall, when filing the application, make a declaration and, within a time limit of two months from the date of filing, submit a certificate issued by the unit which organized the international exhibition or academic or technological meeting, stating that the invention-creation was in fact exhibited or published and also the date of its exhibited or publication. Where any application for a patent falls under the provisions of Item 3 of Article 24 of the Patent Law, the Patent Office may, when necessary, require the applicant to submit a certifying document.

   Article 32 Where an applicant is to comply with the requirements for claiming the right of priority in accordance with Article 30 of the Patent Law, he or it shall, in his or its written declaration, indicate the date of filing and the filing number of the application which was first filed (hereinafter referred to as the earlier application) and the country in which that application was filed. If the written declaration does not contain the date of filing of the earlier application and the name of that country, the declaration shall be deemed not to have been made. Where the foreign priority is claimed, the copy of the earlier application document submitted by the applicant shall be certified by the competent authority of the foreign country concerned; where the domestic priority is claimed, the copy of the earlier application document shall be prepared by the Patent Office.

   Article 33 Any applicant may claim one or more priorities for an application for a patent; where the priorities of several earlier applications are claimed, the priority period for the application shall be calculated from the earliest priority date.

Where any applicant claims the right of domestic priority, if the earlier application is one for a patent for invention, he or it may file an application for a patent for invention or utility model for the same subject matter; if the earlier application is one for a patent for utility model, he or it may file an application for a patent for utility model or invention for the same subject matter. But when the later application is filed, if the earlier application is one for a patent for utility model, it may not be the basis of domestic priority:

(1) where foreign or domestic priority has already been claimed;

(2) where a patent right has been granted;

(3) where it belongs to divisional application filed as prescribed.

Where the domestic priority is claimed, the earlier application shall be deemed to be withdrawn from the date on which the later application is filed.

   Article 34 Where an application for a patent is filed or the right of foreign priority is claimed by any applicant having no habitual residence or business office in China, the Patent Office may, when necessary, require the applicant to submit the following documents:

(1) a certificate concerning the nationality of the applicant;

(2) a certificate concerning the seat of the business office or the headquarters, if the applicant is an enterprise or other organization;

(3) a testimonial showing that the country, to which the foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization belongs, recognizes that Chinese citizens and entities are, under the same conditions applied to its nationals, entitled to patent right, right of priority and other related rights in that country.

   Article 35 Two or more inventions or utility models belonging to a single general inventive concept which may be filed as one application in accordance with the provisions of Article 31, paragraph 1 of the Patent Law shall be technically interrelated and contain one or more same or corresponding special technical features.

The expression "special technical features" shall mean those technical features that define a contribution which each of those inventions, considered as a whole, makes over the prior art.

The claims in one application for a patent for two or more inventions which are in conformity with the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be any of the following:

(1) independent claims of the same category for two or more products or processes which cannot be included in one claim;

(2) an independent claim for a product and an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product;

(3) an independent claim for a product and an independent claim for a use of the product;

(4) an independent claim for a product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product, and an independent claim for a use of the product;

(5) an independent claim for a product, an independent claim for a process specially adapted for the manufacture of the product, an independent claim for an apparatus specially designed for carrying out the process;

(6) an independent claim for a process and an independent claim for an apparatus specially designed for carrying out the process.

The claim in one application for a patent for two or more utility models which are in conformity with the provisions of the first paragraph of this Article may be independent claims for two or more products which cannot be included in one claim.

   Article 36 The expression "the same class" mentioned in Article 31, paragraph 2 of the Patent Law means that the products incorporating the designs belong to the same subclass in the classification of products for designs, The expression "be sold or used in sets" means that the products incorporating the designs have the same designing concept and are customarily sold or used at the same time.

Where two or more designs are filed as one application in accordance with the provisions of Article 31, paragraph 2 of the Patent Law, they shall be numbered consecutively and the numbers shall be placed in front of the titles of the view of the product incorporating the design.

   Article 37 When withdrawing an application for a patent, the applicant shall submit to the Patent Office a declaration stating the title of the invention-creation, the filing number and the date of filing.

Where a declaration to withdraw an application for a patent is submitted after the printing preparation has been done by the Patent Office for publishing of the application documents, the application shall be published as scheduled.

CHAPTER III EXAMINATION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR PATENT

   Article 38 Any person who is to examine or hear a case in the procedures of preliminary examination, substantial examination, reexamination, revocation or invalidation shall, on his own initiative or upon the request of the party concerned or any other interested person, avoid being present in any of the following situations:

(1) where he is a close relative of the party concerned or the latter's agent;

(2) where he has an interest in the application for patent or the patent right;

(3) where he has such other kinds of relations with the party concerned or the latter's agent that might influence impartial examination and hearing.

Where a member of the Patent Reexamination Board has taken part in the examination of the application, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply.

The avoidance of a person in examining and hearing a case shall be decided by the Patent Office.

   Article 39 Upon the receipt of an application for a patent for invention or utility model consisting of a request, a description (a drawing being indispensable for utility model) and one or more claims, or an application for a patent for design consisting of a request and one or more drawings or photographs showing the design, the Patent Office shall accord the date of filing and a filing number and notify the applicant.

   Article 40 In any of the following situations, the Patent Office shall not accept and shall notify the applicant accordingly:

(1) where the application for a patent for invention or utility model does not contain a request, a description (or a description of utility model without drawings) or claims, or the application for a patent for design does not contain a request, drawings or photographs;

(2) where the application is not written in Chinese;

(3) where the application is not in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 94 of these Rules;

(4) where the request does not contain the name and address of the applicant;

(5) where the application is obviously not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18, or paragraph 1 of Article 19 of the Patent Law;

(6) where the classification (patent for invention, utility model or design) of the application for a patent is not clear or cannot be discerned.

   Article 41 Where the description contains explanatory notes to the drawings but the drawings or part of them are missing, the applicant shall, within the time limit specified by the Patent Office, either furnish the drawings or make a declaration for the deletion of the explanatory notes to the drawings. If the drawings are submitted later, the date of their delivering at, or mailing to, the Patent Office, shall be the date of filing of the application; if the explanatory notes to the drawings are deleted, the initial date of filing shall be the date of filing of the application.

   Article 42 Where an application for a patent contains two or more inventions, utility models or designs, the applicant may, at any time before the Patent Office sends out the notification to grant the patent right, submit to the Patent Office a request for divisional applications.

If the Patent Office finds that the application for one patent is not in conformity with the provisions of Article 31 of the Patent Law and Article 35 of these Rules, it shall require the applicant to amend the application within the specified time limit; if the applicant does not give any response within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

The divisional applications may not change the classification of the initial application.

   Article 43 Where a divisional application filed in accordance with Article 42 of these Rules, the original date of filing may be retained and, if priority is validly claimed, the priority date may also be retained, provided that the divisional application do not go beyond the scope of the initial application already made public.

The divisional applications shall be subject to the procedures in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Law and these Rules.

The filing number and the date of filing of the initial application shall be indicated in the request of divisional applications. When submitting the divisional application, the applicant shall submit a copy of the initial application document; if priority is claimed for the initial application, the applicant shall submit a copy of the priority document of the initial application as well.

   Article 44 "Preliminary examination" mentioned in Articles 34 and 40 of the Patent Law means examining an application for a patent to see whether or not it contains the documents as provided for in Article 26 or Article 27 of the Patent Law and other necessary documents, and whether or not these documents are in the prescribed form, including also an examination of the following;

(1) whether or not an application for a patent for invention obviously falls under Article 5 or Article 25 of the Patent Law, or is not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18 or paragraph 1 of Article 19 of the Patent Law, or is obviously not in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 31 or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or paragraph 1 of Article 2 of these Rules.

(2) whether or not an application for a patent for utility model obviously falls under Article 5 or Article 25 of the Patent Law, or is not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18 or paragraph 1 of Article 19 of the Patent Law, or is obviously not in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 31 or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or paragraph 2 of Article 2 or paragraph 1 of Article 12, or Articles 18 to 23 of these Rules, or is not entitled to a patent right according to the provisions of Article 9 of the Patent Law.

(3) whether or not an application for a patent for design obviously falls under Article 5 of the Patent Law, or is not in conformity with the provisions of Article 18 or paragraph 1 of Article 19 of the Patent Law, or is obviously not in conformity with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 31 or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or paragraph 3 of Article 2 or paragraph 1 of Article 12 of these Rules, or is not entitled to a patent right according to the provisions of Article 9 of the Patent Law.

The Patent Office shall communicate its observations after examination of the application to the applicant and require him or it to state his or its opinions or to rectify his or its application within a time limit. If the applicant gives no response within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. Where, after the applicant has stated opinions or made rectifications, the Patent Office still finds the application not in conformity with the provisions respectively cited in the preceding paragraphs, the applications shall be rejected.

   Article 45 In any of the following situations, any document relating to a patent application, not including the patent application itself, which is submitted to the Patent Office, shall be deemed not to have been submitted:

(1) where the document is not presented in the prescribed form or the indications therein are not in conformity with the prescriptions;

(2) where no supporting document is submitted as prescribed;

The Patent Office shall notify the applicant of its observations where a document is deemed not to have been submitted.

   Article 46 Where the applicant requests an earlier publication of its or his application for a patent for invention, a declaration shall be made to the Patent Office. The Patent Office shall, after preliminary examination of the application, publish it immediately unless it is to be rejected.

   Article 47 The applicant shall, when indicating in accordance with Article 27 of the Patent Law the product incorporating the design and the class to which that product belongs, refer to the classification of products for designs published by the Patent Office. Where no indication, or an incorrect indication, of the class to which the product incorporating the design belongs is made, the Patent Office shall supply the indication or correct it.

   Article 48 Any person may, from the date of publication of an application for a patent for invention till the date of announcing the grant of the patent right, submit to the Patent Office observations, with the reasons therefor, on the application which is not in conformity with the provisions of the Patent Law.

   Article 49 Where the applicant for a patent for invention cannot furnish, for justified reasons, the documents concerning any search or the results of any examination under Article 36 of the Patent Law, it or he shall make a statement to that effect and submit them when the said documents are available.

   Article 50 The Patent Office shall, when proceeding on its own initiative to examine an application for a patent in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 35 of the Patent Law, notify the applicant accordingly.

   Article 51 When a request for substantial examination is made, or when a response is made in regard to the first communication of the observations of the Patent Office after substantial examination, the applicant may amend the application for a patent for invention on its or his own initiative.

Within three months from the date of filing, the applicant for a patent for utility model or design may amend the application for a patent for utility model or design on its or his own initiative.

   Article 52 When an amendment to the description or the claims in an application for a patent for invention or utility model is made, a replacement sheet in prescribed form shall be submitted, unless the amendment concerns only the alteration, insertion or deletion of a few words. Where an amendment to the drawings or photographs of an application for a patent for design is made, a replacement sheet in prescribed form shall be submitted.

   Article 53 According to the provisions of the Patent Law and these Rules, the situation where, an application for a patent for invention shall after substantial examination, be rejected by the Patent Office shall be as follows:

(1) the application does not comply with the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 2 of these Rules;

(2) the application falls under the provisions of Article 5 or Article 25 of the Patent Law; or it does not comply with the provisions of Article 22 of the Patent Law and paragraph 1 of Article 12 of these Rules or the applicant is not entitled to a patent right according to the provisions of Article 9 of the Patent Law;

(3) the application does not comply with the provisions of paragraph 3 or 4 of Article 26 or paragraph 1 of Article 31 of the Patent Law;

(4) the amendment to the application or the divisional applications go beyond the scope of disclosure contained in the initial description and the claims.

   Article 54 After the Patent Office issues the notification to grant the patent right, the applicant shall go through the formalities of registration within two months from the date of receipt of the notification. If the applicant goes through the formalities of registration within the said time limit, the Patent Office shall grant the patent right, issue the patent certificate, and announce it. The patent right shall come into force upon the date of issue of the patent certificate.

If the formalities of registration are not complete on the expiry of the time limit, the applicant shall be deemed to have abandoned its or his right to obtain the patent right.

   Article 55 The reasons for which a revocation may be requested under Article 41 of the Patent Law of a patent right, which is announced and granted by the Patent Office, shall be as follows:

(1) the invention or utility model for which the patent right is granted does not comply with the provisions of Article 22 of the Patent Law;

(2) the design for which the patent right is granted does not comply with the provisions of Article 23 of the Patent Law.

   Article 56 Anyone requesting revocation of a patent right in accordance with provisions of Article 41 of the Patent Law shall submit to the Patent Office a request and the relevant documents in duplicate, stating the facts and reasons on which the request is based.

The person requesting revocation may withdraw his request before the Patent Office makes a decision on it.

   Article 57 After the receipt of the request for revocation of a patent right, the Patent Office shall make an examination. Where the request does not conform to the prescribed requirements, the Patent Office shall notify the person making the request to rectify it within a specified time limit. If the time limit for making rectification is not met, the request for revocation shall be deemed not to have been filed.

Where, in the request for revocation of the patent right, no facts and reasons have been given to support the request or the reasons given do not conform to the provisions of Article 55 of these Rules, the request shall not be accepted.

The Patent Office shall send a copy of the request for revocation of the patent right and copies of the relevant documents to the patentee and require it or him to present its or his observations within a specified time limit. The patentee may amend its or his patent documents but may not broaden the scope of patent protection. If no response is made within the time limit, the examination of the Patent Office shall not be affected.

   Article 58 The Patent Reexamination Board shall consist of experienced technical and legal experts designated by the Patent Office. The Director General of the Patent Office shall be the chairman of the Board.

   Article 59 Where the applicant requests the Patent Reexamination Board to make a reexamination in accordance with the provisions of Article 43, paragraph 1 of the Patent Law, it or he shall file a request for reexamination and state the reasons therefor, together with the relevant supporting documents. The request and the supporting documents shall be in duplicate.

The applicant or the patentee may amend its or his application, which has been rejected, or its or his patent specification, which has been revoked, at the time when it or he requests for reexamination, but the amendments shall be limited only to the part to which the decision of rejection of the application or the decision of revocation of the patent right relates.

   Article 60 Where the request for reexamination does not comply with the prescribed form, the person making the request shall rectify it within the time limit fixed by the Patent Reexamination Board. If the time limit for making rectification is not met, the request for reexamination shall be deemed not to have been filed.

   Article 61 The Patent Reexamination Board shall send the request for reexamination which the Board has accepted to the original examination department of the Patent Office for examination. Where the original examination department agrees to cancel its former decision upon the request of the applicant requesting reexamination, the Patent Reexamination Board shall make a decision accordingly and notify the applicant.

   Article 62 Where the Patent Reexamination Board finds after reexamination that the request does not comply with the provisions of the Patent Law, it shall require the person requesting reexamination to submit his observations within a specified time limit. If the time limit for making response is not met, the request for reexamination shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

   Article 63 Before the Patent Reexamination Board makes a decision on the request for re-examination, the person making the request may withdraw his request for re-examination.

   Article 64 The Patent Office may amend the obvious mistakes which it finds in the title of the invention-creation, the abstract or the request of the application, and notify the applicant.

The Patent Office shall correct promptly the mistakes in the Patent Gazettes and documents issued by it once they are discovered.

CHAPTER IV INVALIDATION OF PATENT RIGHT

   Article 65 Anyone requesting invalidation or partial invalidation of a patent right according to the provisions of Article 48 of the Patent Law shall submit a written request and relevant documents in duplicate stating the facts and reasons on which the request is based, to the Patent Reexamination Board.

The person requesting invalidation may withdraw his request before the Patent Reexamination Board makes a decision on it.

   Article 66 Where a request for invalidation of a patent right does not comply with the prescribed form, the person making the request shall rectify it within the time limit fixed by the Patent Reexamination Board. If the rectification fails to be made within the time limit, the request for invalidation shall be deemed not to have been filed.

The reasons for a request for invalidation may be as follows:

The invention-creation for which the patent right is granted does not comply with the provisions of Article 22, Article 23, paragraph 3 or 4 of Article 26 or Article 33 of the Patent Law, or Article 2, or paragraph 1 of Article 12 of these Rules; or it falls under the provisions of Article 5 or Article 25 of the Patent Law, or the patent right is not entitled to be granted according to the provisions of Article 9 of the Patent Law.

The Patent Reexamination Board shall not accept an invalidation request, where, in the written request for invalidation, no facts and reasons are given to support the request or the reasons given do not conform to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, or where the invalidation is requested when no decision has yet been made on a request for the revocation of the same patent right, or where, after decision has already been made on a request for revocation or invalidation of a patent right, an invalidation request based on the same facts and reasons is submitted.

   Article 67 The Patent Reexamination Board shall send a copy of the request for invalidation of the patent right and copies of the relevant documents to the patentee and require it or him to present its or his observations within a specified time limit. The patentee may amend its or his patent specification, but may not broaden the scope of patent protection. Where no response is made within the time limit, the hearing procedure of the Patent Reexamination Board shall not be affected.

CHAPTER V COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR EXPLOITATION OF PATENT

   Article 68 After the expiration of three years from the grant of a patent right, any unit may, in accordance with the provisions of Article 51 of the Patent Law, request the Patent Office to grant a compulsory license.

Any unit or individual requesting a compulsory license shall submit to the Patent Office a request for compulsory license and state the reasons therefor, together with relevant supporting documents. The request and the supporting documents shall all be prepared in duplicate respectively.

The Patent Office shall send a copy of the request for compulsory license to the patentee. He or it shall make his or its observations within the time limit specified by the Patent Office. Where no response is made within the time limit, the Patent Office shall not be affected in making a decision to grant a compulsory license.

In the event of a national emergency or any extraordinary state of affairs for the purpose of any public use of a non-commercial mature, the Patent Office may grant a compulsory license.

The decision of the Patent Office granting a compulsory license for exploitation shall limit the scope and duration of the exploitation on the basis of the reasons justifying the grant, and confine the exploitation predominately to the supply of the domestic market.

The decision of the Patent Office granting a compulsory license shall be notified to the patentee as soon as practicable, and shall be registered and announced by the Patent Office. If and when the reasons leading to such compulsory license cease to exit and are unlikely to recur, the Patent Office may, upon the request of the patentee, review the circumstances, and terminate the compulsory license.

   Article 69 Any party requesting, in accordance with the provisions of Article 57 of the Patent Office to adjudicate the fees for exploitation, shall submit a request for adjudication and furnish documents showing that the parties have not been able to conclude an agreement in respect of the amount of the fees. The Patent Office shall make an adjudication within three months from the date of receipt of the request and notify the parties accordingly.

CHAPTER VI REWARDS TO INVENTOR OR CREATOR OF SERVICE INVENTION-CREATION

   Article 70 "Rewards" mentioned in Article 16 of the Patent Law includes money prizes and remunerations which are to be awarded to inventors and creators.

   Article 71 Any unit holding a patent right shall, after the grant of the patent right, award to inventors or creators of a service invention- creation a sum of money as prize. The sum of money prize for a patent for invention shall not be less than 200 yuan (RMB); the sum of money prize for a patent for utility model or design shall not be less than 50 yuan (RMB).

Where an invention-creation was made on the basis of an inventor's or designer's proposal adopted by the unit to which he belongs, after the grant of the patent right, the unit holding it shall award to him a money higher prize liberally.

Any enterprise holding the patent right may include the said money prize paid to such inventors or creators into its production cost; any institution holding the patent right may disburse the said money prize out of its operating expenses.

   Article 72 Any unit holding a patent right shall, after exploiting the patent for invention-creation within the duration of the patent right, draw each year from any increase in profits after taxation a percentage of 0.5%-2% due to the exploitation of the invention or the utility model, or a percentage of 0.05%-0.2% due to the exploitation of the design, and award it to the inventor or creator as remuneration. The unit shall, otherwise, by making reference to the said percentage, award a lump sum of money to the inventor or creator as remuneration.

   Article 73 Where any unit holding a patent right for invention-creation authorizes other units or individuals to exploit the patent, it shall, after taxation, draw a percentage of 5%-10% from the fees for exploitation it received and award it to the inventor or creator as remuneration.

   Article 74 The remuneration provided for in these Rules shall be disbursed out of the profits derived from the making of patented products or the use of patented process and out of the fees obtained for the exploitation of the patents. The remuneration shall not be included in the amount of the normal bonuses of the unit, nor subject to the bonus tax. But the inventor or creator shall pay tax for his income.

   Article 75 The units under collective ownership and other enterprises may award money prizes and remunerations by making reference to the provisions in this Chapter.

CHAPTER VII ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES FOR PATENT AFFAIRS

   Article 76 "The administrative authorities for patent affairs" mentioned in the Patent Law and these Rules refers to the administrative authorities for patent affairs set up by the competent departments concerned of the State Council and the local people's governments.

   Article 77 Where, after the publication of an application for a patent for invention and before the grant of the patent right, any unit or individual has exploited the invention without paying appropriate fees, the patentee may, after the grant of the patent right, request an administrative authority for patent affairs to handle the matter, or may directly institute legal proceedings in a people's court. The administrative authority handling the matter have the power to decide that the unit or individual shall pay appropriate fees within a specified time limit. Where any of the parties concerned is not satisfied with the decision of the said authority, it or he may institute legal proceedings in a people's court.

Where any dispute arises between any inventor or creator, and the unit to which he belongs, as to whether an invention-creation is a service invention-creation, or whether an application for a patent is to be filed in respect of a service invention-creation, or where the unit owning or holding the patent right has not awarded a reward or paid remuneration according to law to the inventor or creator of service invention-creation, the inventor or creator may request the competent department at the higher level or the administrative authority for patent affairs of the region in which the unit is located to handle the matter.

The prescribed time limit for requesting the administrative authority for patent affairs to handle patent disputes is two years counted from the date on which the patentee or any interested party is or should be aware of the matter.

   Article 78 Pursuant to the provisions of Article 63, paragraph 2 of the Patent Law, where any person passes any unpatented product off as patented product or passes any unpatented process off as patented process, the administrative authority for patent affairs may, according to the circumstances, order the offender to stop such act to eliminate its ill effects and, in addition, to pay a fine of 1,000 to 50,000 yuan (RMB) or a fine of one to three times the amount of his illegal income.

   Article 79 Where parties to any transdepartmental or transregional infringement dispute request the administrative authority for patent affairs to handle the matter, the said dispute shall be handled by the administrative authority for patent affairs of the region in which the infringement has taken place, or by the administrative authority for patent affairs of the higher competent department of the infringing unit.

CHAPTER VIII PATENT REGISTER AND PATENT GAZETTE

   Article 80 The Patent Office shall maintain a Patent Register in which shall record the following matters relating to a patent right:

(1) grant of the patent right;

(2) assignment and succession of the patent right;

(3) revocation and invalidation of the patent right;

(4) cessation of the patent right;

(5) restoration of the patent right;

(6) compulsory license for exploitation of the patent;

(7) changes in the name, the nationality and the address of the patentee.

   Article 81 The Patent Office shall publish the Patent Gazette at regular intervals, publishing or announcing the following:

(1) the bibliographic data contained in patent applications;

(2) the abstract of the description of an invention or utility model, the drawings or photographs of a design and its brief explanation;

(3) request for substantial examination of an application for a patent for invention and any decision made by the Patent Office to proceed on its own initiative to examine as to substance an application for a patent for invention;

(4) declassification of secret patents;

(5) rejection and withdrawal of an application or an application deemed to be withdrawn for a patent for invention after its publication;

(6) assignment and succession of an application for a patent for invention after its publication;

(7) grant of the patent right;

(8) revocation and invalidation of the patent right;

(9) cessation of the patent right;

(10) assignment and succession of the patent right;

(11) grant of compulsory license for exploitation of the patent;

(12) restoration of a patent application or patent right;

(13) change in the name or address of the patentee;

(14) notification to the applicant whose address is not known;

(15) other related matters.

The description, its drawings and the claims of an application for a patent for invention or utility model shall be separately published in full.

   Article 82 For filing an application for a patent with, or fulfilling other related formalities in, the Patent Office, the following fees shall be charged:

(1) application fee and application maintenance fee;

(2) examination fee and reexamination fee;

(3) annual fee;

(4) fee for a change in the bibliographic data, fee for claiming priority, fee for a request for restoration of rights, fee for a request for revocation, fee for a request for invalidation, fee for a request for compulsory license, fee for a request for adjudication on exploitation fee of a compulsory licence, fee for patent registration, and additional fees as prescribed.

The amount of the fees mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed separately by the competent departments concerned of the State Council in conjunction with the Patent Office.

   Article 83 The fees provide for in the Patent Law and in these Rules may be paid directly to the Patent Office or remitted by bank or post but not by telegraphic remittance.

Where a fee is remitted by bank or post, the applicant or the patentee shall indicate on the money order the filing number or the patent number, the name of the applicant or the patentee, the kind of the fee paid and the title of the invention-creation.

Where a fee is remitted by bank or post, the date on which the transfer of such fee is ordered shall be date of payment. Where the time between such a date and the date of receipt of the order at the Patent Office lasts more than fifteen days, unless the date of remittance is proved by the bank or the post office, the date of receipt at the Patent Office shall be the date of payment.

Any payment not made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of this Article shall be deemed not to have been made.

Where any patent fee is over-paid, re-paid or wrongly paid, the party concerned may claim a refund, but the request for such refund shall be made within one year from the date of payment.

   Article 84 The applicant shall, after receipt of the notification of acceptance of the application from the Patent Office, pay the application fee at the latest within two months from the filing date. If the fee is not paid or not paid in full within the time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn. The applicant that claims the right of priority shall pay the fee for claiming priority at the same time with the payment of the application fee. If the fee is not paid or not paid in full within the time limit, the claim to the right of priority shall be deemed not to have been made.

   Article 85 Where a party concerned requests substantial examination, restoration of right, reexamination or revocation of patent right, the relevant fee shall be paid within the time as prescribed respectively for such requests by the Patent Law and these Rules. If the fee is not paid or not paid in full within the time limit, the request is deemed not to have been made.

   Article 86 Where the applicant for a patent for invention has not been granted a patent right within two years from the date of filing, it or he shall pay a fee for the maintenance of the application from the third year. The first maintenance fee shall be paid within the first month of the third year. The subsequent maintenance fees shall be paid in advance within the month before the expiration of the preceding year.

   Article 87 When the applicant goes through the formalities of patent registration, it or he shall pay a fee for patent registration, and the annual fee of the year in which the patent right was granted. Where the maintenance fee of the application of the year in which the patent right was granted has been paid, the annual fee of that year shall not be paid. If such fees are not paid in the prescribed time limit, the patent registration shall be deemed not to have been made. The subsequent annual fees shall be paid in advance within the month before the expiration of the preceding year.

   Article 88 Where the maintenance fee of the application or the annual fee of the years after the year in which the patent was granted is not paid in due time by the