（1984年3月12日第六届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议通过 根据1992年9月4日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十七次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第一次修正 根据2000年8月25日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十七次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第二次修正 根据2008年12月27日第十一届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第三次修正 根据2020年10月17日第十三届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十二次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国专利法〉的决定》第四次修正）
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 专利实施的特别许可
第七章 专利权的保护
第八章 附 则
第一章 总 则
第一条 为了保护专利权人的合法权益，鼓励发明创造，推动发明创造的应用，提高创新能力，促进科学技术进步和经济社会发展，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。
发明，是指对产品、方法或者其改进所提出的新的技术方案。
实用新型，是指对产品的形状、构造或者其结合所提出的适于实用的新的技术方案。
外观设计，是指对产品的整体或者局部的形状、图案或者其结合以及色彩与形状、图案的结合所作出的富有美感并适于工业应用的新设计。
第三条 国务院专利行政部门负责管理全国的专利工作；统一受理和审查专利申请，依法授予专利权。
省、自治区、直辖市人民政府管理专利工作的部门负责本行政区域内的专利管理工作。
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。
对违反法律、行政法规的规定获取或者利用遗传资源，并依赖该遗传资源完成的发明创造，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技术条件所完成的发明创造为职务发明创造。职务发明创造申请专利的权利属于该单位，申请被批准后，该单位为专利权人。该单位可以依法处置其职务发明创造申请专利的权利和专利权，促进相关发明创造的实施和运用。
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，该发明人或者设计人为专利权人。
利用本单位的物质技术条件所完成的发明创造，单位与发明人或者设计人订有合同，对申请专利的权利和专利权的归属作出约定的，从其约定。
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 两个以上单位或者个人合作完成的发明创造、一个单位或者个人接受其他单位或者个人委托所完成的发明创造，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或者个人；申请被批准后，申请的单位或者个人为专利权人。
第九条 同样的发明创造只能授予一项专利权。但是，同一申请人同日对同样的发明创造既申请实用新型专利又申请发明专利，先获得的实用新型专利权尚未终止，且申请人声明放弃该实用新型专利权的，可以授予发明专利权。
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。
中国单位或者个人向外国人、外国企业或者外国其他组织转让专利申请权或者专利权的，应当依照有关法律、行政法规的规定办理手续。
转让专利申请权或者专利权的，当事人应当订立书面合同，并向国务院专利行政部门登记，由国务院专利行政部门予以公告。专利申请权或者专利权的转让自登记之日起生效。
第十一条 发明和实用新型专利权被授予后，除本法另有规定的以外，任何单位或者个人未经专利权人许可，都不得实施其专利，即不得为生产经营目的制造、使用、许诺销售、销售、进口其专利产品，或者使用其专利方法以及使用、许诺销售、销售、进口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，都不得实施其专利，即不得为生产经营目的制造、许诺销售、销售、进口其外观设计专利产品。
第十二条 任何单位或者个人实施他人专利的，应当与专利权人订立实施许可合同，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 专利申请权或者专利权的共有人对权利的行使有约定的，从其约定。没有约定的，共有人可以单独实施或者以普通许可方式许可他人实施该专利；许可他人实施该专利的，收取的使用费应当在共有人之间分配。
除前款规定的情形外，行使共有的专利申请权或者专利权应当取得全体共有人的同意。
第十五条 被授予专利权的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合理的报酬。
国家鼓励被授予专利权的单位实行产权激励，采取股权、期权、分红等方式，使发明人或者设计人合理分享创新收益。
第十六条 发明人或者设计人有权在专利文件中写明自己是发明人或者设计人。
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识。
第十七条 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和办理其他专利事务的，应当委托依法设立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，可以委托依法设立的专利代理机构办理。
专利代理机构应当遵守法律、行政法规，按照被代理人的委托办理专利申请或者其他专利事务；对被代理人发明创造的内容，除专利申请已经公布或者公告的以外，负有保密责任。专利代理机构的具体管理办法由国务院规定。
第十九条 任何单位或者个人将在中国完成的发明或者实用新型向外国申请专利的，应当事先报经国务院专利行政部门进行保密审查。保密审查的程序、期限等按照国务院的规定执行。
中国单位或者个人可以根据中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约提出专利国际申请。申请人提出专利国际申请的，应当遵守前款规定。
国务院专利行政部门依照中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约、本法和国务院有关规定处理专利国际申请。
对违反本条第一款规定向外国申请专利的发明或者实用新型，在中国申请专利的，不授予专利权。
第二十条 申请专利和行使专利权应当遵循诚实信用原则。不得滥用专利权损害公共利益或者他人合法权益。
滥用专利权，排除或者限制竞争，构成垄断行为的，依照《中华人民共和国反垄断法》处理。
第二十一条 国务院专利行政部门应当按照客观、公正、准确、及时的要求，依法处理有关专利的申请和请求。
国务院专利行政部门应当加强专利信息公共服务体系建设，完整、准确、及时发布专利信息，提供专利基础数据，定期出版专利公报，促进专利信息传播与利用。
在专利申请公布或者公告前，国务院专利行政部门的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，是指该发明或者实用新型不属于现有技术；也没有任何单位或者个人就同样的发明或者实用新型在申请日以前向国务院专利行政部门提出过申请，并记载在申请日以后公布的专利申请文件或者公告的专利文件中。
创造性，是指与现有技术相比，该发明具有突出的实质性特点和显著的进步，该实用新型具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。
本法所称现有技术，是指申请日以前在国内外为公众所知的技术。
第二十三条 授予专利权的外观设计，应当不属于现有设计；也没有任何单位或者个人就同样的外观设计在申请日以前向国务院专利行政部门提出过申请，并记载在申请日以后公告的专利文件中。
授予专利权的外观设计与现有设计或者现有设计特征的组合相比，应当具有明显区别。
授予专利权的外观设计不得与他人在申请日以前已经取得的合法权利相冲突。
本法所称现有设计，是指申请日以前在国内外为公众所知的设计。
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）在国家出现紧急状态或者非常情况时，为公共利益目的首次公开的；
（二）在中国政府主办或者承认的国际展览会上首次展出的；
（三）在规定的学术会议或者技术会议上首次发表的；
（四）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）原子核变换方法以及用原子核变换方法获得的物质；
（六）对平面印刷品的图案、色彩或者二者的结合作出的主要起标识作用的设计。
对前款第（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，清楚、简要地限定要求专利保护的范围。
依赖遗传资源完成的发明创造，申请人应当在专利申请文件中说明该遗传资源的直接来源和原始来源；申请人无法说明原始来源的，应当陈述理由。
第二十七条 申请外观设计专利的，应当提交请求书、该外观设计的图片或者照片以及对该外观设计的简要说明等文件。
申请人提交的有关图片或者照片应当清楚地显示要求专利保护的产品的外观设计。
第二十八条 国务院专利行政部门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，或者自外观设计在中国第一次提出专利申请之日起六个月内，又向国务院专利行政部门就相同主题提出专利申请的，可以享有优先权。
第三十条 申请人要求发明、实用新型专利优先权的，应当在申请的时候提出书面声明，并且在第一次提出申请之日起十六个月内，提交第一次提出的专利申请文件的副本。
申请人要求外观设计专利优先权的，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。
申请人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项外观设计。同一产品两项以上的相似外观设计，或者用于同一类别并且成套出售或者使用的产品的两项以上外观设计，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 国务院专利行政部门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。国务院专利行政部门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，国务院专利行政部门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。
国务院专利行政部门认为必要的时候，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，国务院专利行政部门可以要求申请人在指定期限内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；无正当理由逾期不提交的，该申请即被视为撤回。
第三十七条 国务院专利行政部门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，国务院专利行政部门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，由国务院专利行政部门作出授予发明专利权的决定，发给发明专利证书，同时予以登记和公告。发明专利权自公告之日起生效。
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，由国务院专利行政部门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，同时予以登记和公告。实用新型专利权和外观设计专利权自公告之日起生效。
第四十一条 专利申请人对国务院专利行政部门驳回申请的决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向国务院专利行政部门请求复审。国务院专利行政部门复审后，作出决定，并通知专利申请人。
专利申请人对国务院专利行政部门的复审决定不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
第五章 专利权的期限、终止和无效
第四十二条 发明专利权的期限为二十年，实用新型专利权的期限为十年，外观设计专利权的期限为十五年，均自申请日起计算。
自发明专利申请日起满四年，且自实质审查请求之日起满三年后授予发明专利权的，国务院专利行政部门应专利权人的请求，就发明专利在授权过程中的不合理延迟给予专利权期限补偿，但由申请人引起的不合理延迟除外。
为补偿新药上市审评审批占用的时间，对在中国获得上市许可的新药相关发明专利，国务院专利行政部门应专利权人的请求给予专利权期限补偿。补偿期限不超过五年，新药批准上市后总有效专利权期限不超过十四年。
第四十三条 专利权人应当自被授予专利权的当年开始缴纳年费。
第四十四条 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。
专利权在期限届满前终止的，由国务院专利行政部门登记和公告。
第四十五条 自国务院专利行政部门公告授予专利权之日起，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，可以请求国务院专利行政部门宣告该专利权无效。
第四十六条 国务院专利行政部门对宣告专利权无效的请求应当及时审查和作出决定，并通知请求人和专利权人。宣告专利权无效的决定，由国务院专利行政部门登记和公告。
对国务院专利行政部门宣告专利权无效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人民法院起诉。人民法院应当通知无效宣告请求程序的对方当事人作为第三人参加诉讼。
第四十七条 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、调解书，已经履行或者强制执行的专利侵权纠纷处理决定，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。
依照前款规定不返还专利侵权赔偿金、专利使用费、专利权转让费，明显违反公平原则的，应当全部或者部分返还。
第六章 专利实施的特别许可
第四十八条 国务院专利行政部门、地方人民政府管理专利工作的部门应当会同同级相关部门采取措施，加强专利公共服务，促进专利实施和运用。
第四十九条 国有企业事业单位的发明专利，对国家利益或者公共利益具有重大意义的，国务院有关主管部门和省、自治区、直辖市人民政府报经国务院批准，可以决定在批准的范围内推广应用，允许指定的单位实施，由实施单位按照国家规定向专利权人支付使用费。
第五十条 专利权人自愿以书面方式向国务院专利行政部门声明愿意许可任何单位或者个人实施其专利，并明确许可使用费支付方式、标准的，由国务院专利行政部门予以公告，实行开放许可。就实用新型、外观设计专利提出开放许可声明的，应当提供专利权评价报告。
专利权人撤回开放许可声明的，应当以书面方式提出，并由国务院专利行政部门予以公告。开放许可声明被公告撤回的，不影响在先给予的开放许可的效力。
第五十一条 任何单位或者个人有意愿实施开放许可的专利的，以书面方式通知专利权人，并依照公告的许可使用费支付方式、标准支付许可使用费后，即获得专利实施许可。
开放许可实施期间，对专利权人缴纳专利年费相应给予减免。
实行开放许可的专利权人可以与被许可人就许可使用费进行协商后给予普通许可，但不得就该专利给予独占或者排他许可。
第五十二条 当事人就实施开放许可发生纠纷的，由当事人协商解决；不愿协商或者协商不成的，可以请求国务院专利行政部门进行调解，也可以向人民法院起诉。
第五十三条 有下列情形之一的，国务院专利行政部门根据具备实施条件的单位或者个人的申请，可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可：
（一）专利权人自专利权被授予之日起满三年，且自提出专利申请之日起满四年，无正当理由未实施或者未充分实施其专利的；
（二）专利权人行使专利权的行为被依法认定为垄断行为，为消除或者减少该行为对竞争产生的不利影响的。
第五十四条 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，国务院专利行政部门可以给予实施发明专利或者实用新型专利的强制许可。
第五十五条 为了公共健康目的，对取得专利权的药品，国务院专利行政部门可以给予制造并将其出口到符合中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约规定的国家或者地区的强制许可。
第五十六条 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具有显著经济意义的重大技术进步，其实施又有赖于前一发明或者实用新型的实施的，国务院专利行政部门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。
在依照前款规定给予实施强制许可的情形下，国务院专利行政部门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。
第五十七条 强制许可涉及的发明创造为半导体技术的，其实施限于公共利益的目的和本法第五十三条第（二）项规定的情形。
第五十八条 除依照本法第五十三条第（二）项、第五十五条规定给予的强制许可外，强制许可的实施应当主要为了供应国内市场。
第五十九条 依照本法第五十三条第（一）项、第五十六条规定申请强制许可的单位或者个人应当提供证据，证明其以合理的条件请求专利权人许可其实施专利，但未能在合理的时间内获得许可。
第六十条 国务院专利行政部门作出的给予实施强制许可的决定，应当及时通知专利权人，并予以登记和公告。
给予实施强制许可的决定，应当根据强制许可的理由规定实施的范围和时间。强制许可的理由消除并不再发生时，国务院专利行政部门应当根据专利权人的请求，经审查后作出终止实施强制许可的决定。
第六十一条 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。
第六十二条 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，或者依照中华人民共和国参加的有关国际条约的规定处理使用费问题。付给使用费的，其数额由双方协商；双方不能达成协议的，由国务院专利行政部门裁决。
第六十三条 专利权人对国务院专利行政部门关于实施强制许可的决定不服的，专利权人和取得实施强制许可的单位或者个人对国务院专利行政部门关于实施强制许可的使用费的裁决不服的，可以自收到通知之日起三个月内向人民法院起诉。
第七章 专利权的保护
第六十四条 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的内容。
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产品的外观设计为准，简要说明可以用于解释图片或者照片所表示的该产品的外观设计。
第六十五条 未经专利权人许可，实施其专利，即侵犯其专利权，引起纠纷的，由当事人协商解决；不愿协商或者协商不成的，专利权人或者利害关系人可以向人民法院起诉，也可以请求管理专利工作的部门处理。管理专利工作的部门处理时，认定侵权行为成立的，可以责令侵权人立即停止侵权行为，当事人不服的，可以自收到处理通知之日起十五日内依照《中华人民共和国行政诉讼法》向人民法院起诉；侵权人期满不起诉又不停止侵权行为的，管理专利工作的部门可以申请人民法院强制执行。进行处理的管理专利工作的部门应当事人的请求，可以就侵犯专利权的赔偿数额进行调解；调解不成的，当事人可以依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》向人民法院起诉。
第六十六条 专利侵权纠纷涉及新产品制造方法的发明专利的，制造同样产品的单位或者个人应当提供其产品制造方法不同于专利方法的证明。
专利侵权纠纷涉及实用新型专利或者外观设计专利的，人民法院或者管理专利工作的部门可以要求专利权人或者利害关系人出具由国务院专利行政部门对相关实用新型或者外观设计进行检索、分析和评价后作出的专利权评价报告，作为审理、处理专利侵权纠纷的证据；专利权人、利害关系人或者被控侵权人也可以主动出具专利权评价报告。
第六十七条 在专利侵权纠纷中，被控侵权人有证据证明其实施的技术或者设计属于现有技术或者现有设计的，不构成侵犯专利权。
第六十八条 假冒专利的，除依法承担民事责任外，由负责专利执法的部门责令改正并予公告，没收违法所得，可以处违法所得五倍以下的罚款；没有违法所得或者违法所得在五万元以下的，可以处二十五万元以下的罚款；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
第六十九条 负责专利执法的部门根据已经取得的证据，对涉嫌假冒专利行为进行查处时，有权采取下列措施：
（一）询问有关当事人，调查与涉嫌违法行为有关的情况；
（二）对当事人涉嫌违法行为的场所实施现场检查；
（三）查阅、复制与涉嫌违法行为有关的合同、发票、账簿以及其他有关资料；
（四）检查与涉嫌违法行为有关的产品；
（五）对有证据证明是假冒专利的产品，可以查封或者扣押。
管理专利工作的部门应专利权人或者利害关系人的请求处理专利侵权纠纷时，可以采取前款第（一）项、第（二）项、第（四）项所列措施。
负责专利执法的部门、管理专利工作的部门依法行使前两款规定的职权时，当事人应当予以协助、配合，不得拒绝、阻挠。
第七十条 国务院专利行政部门可以应专利权人或者利害关系人的请求处理在全国有重大影响的专利侵权纠纷。
地方人民政府管理专利工作的部门应专利权人或者利害关系人请求处理专利侵权纠纷，对在本行政区域内侵犯其同一专利权的案件可以合并处理；对跨区域侵犯其同一专利权的案件可以请求上级地方人民政府管理专利工作的部门处理。
第七十一条 侵犯专利权的赔偿数额按照权利人因被侵权所受到的实际损失或者侵权人因侵权所获得的利益确定；权利人的损失或者侵权人获得的利益难以确定的，参照该专利许可使用费的倍数合理确定。对故意侵犯专利权，情节严重的，可以在按照上述方法确定数额的一倍以上五倍以下确定赔偿数额。
权利人的损失、侵权人获得的利益和专利许可使用费均难以确定的，人民法院可以根据专利权的类型、侵权行为的性质和情节等因素，确定给予三万元以上五百万元以下的赔偿。
赔偿数额还应当包括权利人为制止侵权行为所支付的合理开支。
人民法院为确定赔偿数额，在权利人已经尽力举证，而与侵权行为相关的账簿、资料主要由侵权人掌握的情况下，可以责令侵权人提供与侵权行为相关的账簿、资料；侵权人不提供或者提供虚假的账簿、资料的，人民法院可以参考权利人的主张和提供的证据判定赔偿数额。
第七十二条 专利权人或者利害关系人有证据证明他人正在实施或者即将实施侵犯专利权、妨碍其实现权利的行为，如不及时制止将会使其合法权益受到难以弥补的损害的，可以在起诉前依法向人民法院申请采取财产保全、责令作出一定行为或者禁止作出一定行为的措施。
第七十三条 为了制止专利侵权行为，在证据可能灭失或者以后难以取得的情况下，专利权人或者利害关系人可以在起诉前依法向人民法院申请保全证据。
第七十四条 侵犯专利权的诉讼时效为三年，自专利权人或者利害关系人知道或者应当知道侵权行为以及侵权人之日起计算。
发明专利申请公布后至专利权授予前使用该发明未支付适当使用费的，专利权人要求支付使用费的诉讼时效为三年，自专利权人知道或者应当知道他人使用其发明之日起计算，但是，专利权人于专利权授予之日前即已知道或者应当知道的，自专利权授予之日起计算。
第七十五条 有下列情形之一的，不视为侵犯专利权：
（一）专利产品或者依照专利方法直接获得的产品，由专利权人或者经其许可的单位、个人售出后，使用、许诺销售、销售、进口该产品的；
（二）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；
（三）临时通过中国领陆、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；
（四）专为科学研究和实验而使用有关专利的；
（五）为提供行政审批所需要的信息，制造、使用、进口专利药品或者专利医疗器械的，以及专门为其制造、进口专利药品或者专利医疗器械的。
第七十六条 药品上市审评审批过程中，药品上市许可申请人与有关专利权人或者利害关系人，因申请注册的药品相关的专利权产生纠纷的，相关当事人可以向人民法院起诉，请求就申请注册的药品相关技术方案是否落入他人药品专利权保护范围作出判决。国务院药品监督管理部门在规定的期限内，可以根据人民法院生效裁判作出是否暂停批准相关药品上市的决定。
药品上市许可申请人与有关专利权人或者利害关系人也可以就申请注册的药品相关的专利权纠纷，向国务院专利行政部门请求行政裁决。
国务院药品监督管理部门会同国务院专利行政部门制定药品上市许可审批与药品上市许可申请阶段专利权纠纷解决的具体衔接办法，报国务院同意后实施。
第七十七条 为生产经营目的使用、许诺销售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侵权产品，能证明该产品合法来源的，不承担赔偿责任。
第七十八条 违反本法第十九条规定向外国申请专利，泄露国家秘密的，由所在单位或者上级主管机关给予行政处分；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任。
第七十九条 管理专利工作的部门不得参与向社会推荐专利产品等经营活动。
管理专利工作的部门违反前款规定的，由其上级机关或者监察机关责令改正，消除影响，有违法收入的予以没收；情节严重的，对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法给予处分。
第八十条 从事专利管理工作的国家机关工作人员以及其他有关国家机关工作人员玩忽职守、滥用职权、徇私舞弊，构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任；尚不构成犯罪的，依法给予处分。
第八章 附 则
第八十一条 向国务院专利行政部门申请专利和办理其他手续，应当按照规定缴纳费用。
第八十二条 本法自1985年4月1日起施行。
Area of Law： General Provisions on Patent
Level of Authority： Laws
Date Issued：10-17-2020
Effective Date：06-01-2021
Issuing Authority： Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Status： Effective
2008-2020 Annotation Version 2000-2008 Annotation Version 1992-2000 Annotation Version 1984-1992 Annotation Version
Patent Law of the People's Republic of China
(Adopted at the 4th Session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress on March 12, 1984; amended for the first time by the Decision on Amending the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on September 4, 1992; amended for the second time by the Decision on Amending the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China, adopted at the 17th Session of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress on August 25, 2000; amended for the third time by the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Amending the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 6th Session of Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on December 27, 2008; and amended for the fourth time in accordance with the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to Amend the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 22nd Session of the Standing Committee of the Thirteenth National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China on October 17, 2020)
Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Conditions for Granting Patents
Chapter III Application for Patents
Chapter IV Examination and Approval of Patent Applications
Chapter V Duration, Termination and Invalidation of Patents
Chapter VI Compulsory License for the Exploitation of Patents
Chapter VII Protection of Patents
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This law is enacted for the purpose of protecting the legitimate rights and interests of patentees, encouraging inventions, giving an impetus to the application of inventions, improving the innovative capabilities, and promoting scientific and technological progress as well as the economic and social development.
Article 2 The “inventions” as used in this Law means inventions, utility models and designs.
The term “invention” refers to any new technical solution relating to a product, a process or an improvement thereof.
The term “utility model” refers to any new technical solution relating to a product's shape, structure, or a combination thereof, which is fit for practical use.
“Design” means a new design of the shape, pattern, or a combination thereof, as well as a combination of the color, shape and pattern, of the entirety or a portion of a product, which creates an aesthetic feeling and is fit for industrial application.
Article 3 The patent administrative department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of the patent work throughout China, uniformly accept and examine applications for patents, and grant patents in accordance with the law.
The patent administrative department of the people's government of each province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall take charge of the administration of patents within its own jurisdiction.
Article 4 Where the invention for which a patent is applied for relates to the security or other vital interests of the State and is required to be kept confidential, the application shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.
Article 5 No patent shall be granted for an invention that contravenes any law or social moral or that is detrimental to public interests.
No patent will be granted for an invention based on genetic resources if the access or utilization of the said genetic resources is in violation of any law or administrative regulation.
Article 6 An invention-creation made by a person in the execution of tasks of the entity employing the person or mainly by taking advantage of the entity's material and technical conditions is a service invention-creation. The right to apply for a patent for a service invention-creation belongs to the entity; and after the application is granted, the entity is the patentee. The entity may, in accordance with the law, dispose of its right to apply for the patent for the service invention-creation and the patent right, and promote the exploitation and application of the invention-creation.
For any non-service invention, the right to apply for a patent shall remain with the inventor or designer. After the application is approved, the inventor or designer shall be the patentee.
For an invention made by a person by taking advantage of the material and technical means of the entity where he works, if there is a contract between the entity and the inventor or designer regarding the right to apply for patent and the ownership of the patent, the contractual stipulations shall prevail.
Article 7 No entity or individual shall prevent the inventor or designer from filing an application for patenting a non-service invention.
Article 8 For an invention made through the joint work of two or more entities or individuals, or made by an entity or individual upon the authorization of another entity or individual, the right to apply for a patent shall, unless it is otherwise agreed upon, remain with the entity or individual which made the invention or with the entities or individuals which jointly made the invention. After the application is approved, the entity (or entities) or individual(s) that filed the application shall be the patentee.
Article 9 One patent shall be granted to one invention. However, if a same applicant applied for both a patent for utility model and a patent for invention on a same day, if the patent for the utility model it has previously applied for has not terminated yet and if the applicant declares to waive the patent for utility model, the patent for invention can be granted.
Where two or more applicants file applications for a patent for an identical invention, the patent shall be granted to the applicant who is the first to file an application.
Article 10 The right to apply for a patent and the patent rights may be assigned.
Where a Chinese entity or individual is to assign the right to apply for a patent or a patent right to a foreigner or foreign enterprise or any foreign organization, it or he shall go through the formalities under relevant laws and administrative regulations.
Where the right to apply for a patent or a patent right is assigned, the parties concerned shall conclude a written contract, and have the contract registered in the patent administrative department of the State Council. The said contract shall be announced by the patent administrative department of the State Council. The assignment of the right to apply for the patent or the patent right shall come into force as of the date of registration.
Article 11 After the granting of patent for an invention or utility model, unless it is otherwise prescribed by this Law, no entity or individual is entitled to, without permission of the patentee, exploit the patent, that is, to make, use, promise the sale of, sell or import the patented product, or use the patented process and use, promise the sale of, sell or import the product directly obtained from the patented process, for production or business purposes.
After the granting of a patent for a design, no entity or individual shall, without permission of the patentee, exploit the patent, that is to say, they shall not make, promise to sell, sell, or import the product incorporating its or his patented design, for production and business purposes.
Article 12 Where an entity or individual exploits the patent of anyone else, it or he shall conclude a licensing contract with the patentee and pay a patent royalty to the patentee. The licensee has no right to license any entity or individual other than the entity or individual as stipulated in the licensing contract to exploit the said patent.
Article 13 After the publication of an application for a patent for invention, the applicant may require the entity or individual exploiting the invention to pay an appropriate fee.
Article 14 If there is any agreement between the joint owners of the right to apply for a patent or a patent right regarding the exercise of the relevant right, the agreement shall be followed. If there is no such agreement, any of the joint owners may exploit the patent independently or license others to exploit the patent by means of ordinary license. In the case of licensing others to exploit the patent, royalties charged shall be distributed among the joint owners.
Except for the circumstance as described in the preceding paragraph, the exercise of the right to apply for a patent or a patent right shall be based on the consensus of all joint owners.
Article 15 The entity to whom a patent is granted shall give to the inventor or designer of the service invention a reward and shall, after exploitation of the patented invention, pay the inventor or designer a reasonable remuneration on the basis of the scope of popularization and application as well as the economic benefits yielded.
The state encourages entities to which patent rights are granted to implement property right incentives, and enable inventors or designers to rationally share the benefits of innovation in forms such as equities, options, and dividends.
Article 16 An inventor or designer has the right to expressly indicate in the patent documents that he is the inventor or designer.
A patentee has the right to label the patent on its patented product or on the package of the said product.
Article 17 Where any foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization that has no habitual residence or business office in China files an application for a patent in China, the application shall be treated under this Law in accordance with the agreement, if any, concluded between the country to which the applicant belongs and China, or in accordance with any international treaty to which both countries are a party, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.
Article 18 Where a foreigner, foreign enterprise or any other foreign organization that has no habitual abode or business office in China intends to apply for a patent or handle other patent-related matters in China, he or it shall authorize a legitimately formed patent agency to act on his or its behalf.
To apply for a patent or handle other patent-related matters in China, a Chinese entity or individual may authorize a legitimately formed patent agency to act on its or his behalf.
A patent agency shall abide by the laws and administrative regulations when filing applications for patents or handling other patent affairs as entrusted by the principal. It shall also be obligated to keep confidential the contents of the principal's invention, unless the application for patent has been published or announced. The specific measures for the administration of patent agencies shall be formulated by the State Council.
Article 19 Where an entity or individual intends to file an application in a foreign country for patenting an invention or utility model accomplished in China, it or he shall report in advance to the patent administrative department of the State Council for confidentiality review. The provisions of the State Council shall be followed in regard to the procedures and time limit for the confidentiality review.
A Chinese entity or individual may, in accordance with the relevant international treaties acceded to by the People's Republic of China, file an international application for patent. An applicant who files an international application for patent shall abide by the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The patent administrative department of the State Council shall handle international applications for patent in accordance with the relevant international treaties acceded to by the People's Republic of China, this Law, and the relevant provisions of the State Council.
As to an invention or utility model for which a patent application is filed in a foreign country by violating the provision of paragraph 1 of this Article, no patent will be granted to it if a patent application has been filed in China.
Article 20 Patent applications and the exercise of patent rights shall adhere to the principle of good faith. Patent rights shall not be abused to damage the public interest or the lawful rights and interests of any other person.
Any abuse of patent rights to preclude or restrict competition, which constitutes a monopolistic act, shall be handled in accordance with the Anti-monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 21 The patent administrative department of the State Council shall, pursuant to the requirements of objectivity, impartiality, accuracy and timeliness, handle the relevant patent applications and appeals.
The patent administrative department of the State Council shall strengthen the construction of the patent information public service system, release patent information in a complete, accurate, and timely manner, provide basic patent data, publish patent gazettes on a periodical basis, and promote the dissemination and utilization of patent information.
Before an application for patent is published or announced, the functionaries and other relevant persons of the patent administrative department of the State Council shall keep confidential the contents therein.
Chapter II Conditions for Granting Patents
Article 22 An invention or utility model for which a patent is to be granted shall be novel, inventive and practically applicable.
Novelty means that the invention or utility model is not an existing technology, and prior to the date of application, no entity or individual has filed an application heretofore with the patent administrative department of the State Council for the identical invention or utility model and recorded it in the patent application documents or patent documents released after the said date of application.
Inventiveness means that, as compared with the technology existing before the date of application the invention has prominent substantive features and represents a notable progress and that the utility model has substantive features and represents progress.
Practical applicability means that the invention or utility model can be made or used and can produce effective results.
The term “existing technology” as mentioned in this Law refers to the technologies known to the general public both at home and abroad prior to the date of application.
Article 23 Any design for which a patent is granted shall not be attributed to the existing design, and no entity or individual has, before the date of application, filed an application with the patent administrative department of the State Council on the identical design and recorded it in the patent documents published after the date of application.
As compared with the existing design or combination of the existing design features, the design for which a patent is granted shall have distinctive features.
The patented design may not conflict with the lawful rights that have been obtained by any other person prior to the date of application.
The term “existing design” as used in this Law refers to a design known to the general public both at home and abroad prior to the date of application.
Article 24 An invention for which a patent is applied for does not lose its novelty where, within six months before the date of application, one of the following events occurred:
(1) it is disclosed to the public for the first time in the public interest, when a state of emergency or any extraordinary circumstance occurs in the country;
(2) where it was first exhibited at an international exhibition sponsored or recognized by the Chinese Government;
(3) where it was first made public at a prescribed academic or technological meeting;
(4) where it was disclosed by any person without the consent of the applicant.
Article 25 For any of the following, no patent right shall be granted:
(1) scientific discoveries;
(2) rules and methods for mental activities;
(3) methods for the diagnosis or for the treatment of diseases;
(4) animal and plant varieties;
(5) nuclear transformation methods and substances obtained in the method of nuclear transformation; and
(6) the design, which is used primarily for the identification of pattern, color or the combination of the two on printed flat works.
For processes used in producing products referred to in items (4) of the preceding paragraph, a patent may be granted in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Chapter III Application for Patents
Article 26 Where an application for a patent for invention or utility model is filed, a request, a description and its abstract, and claims shall be submitted.
An application shall expressly specify the name of the invention or utility model, name of the inventor, name and address of the applicant, and other matters.
The description shall clearly and completely describe the invention or utility model so as to enable a person skilled in the relevant field of technology to carry it out; where necessary, drawings are required. The abstract shall state briefly the main technical points of the invention or utility model.
The claims shall clearly and concisely state the requested patent protection scope in accordance with the specifications.
For an invention based on genetic resources, the applicant shall state the direct source and the original source of the genetic resources in the application documents. If the applicant is not able to state the original source, it or he shall state the reasons.
Article 27 To apply for patenting a design, the applicant shall submit an application, pictures or photos of the design, a brief introduction to the design, and other documents.
The relevant pictures or photos submitted by the applicant shall clearly show the product's design for which the patent protection is requested.
Article 28 The date on which the patent administrative department of the State Council receives the application shall be the date of application. If the application is sent by mail, the date of mailing indicated by the postmark shall be the date of application.
Article 29 Where, within twelve months from the date on which any applicant first filed in a foreign country an application for patenting an invention or utility model, or within six months from the date on which any applicant first filed in a foreign country an application for patenting a design, he or it files in China an application for patenting the same, he or it may, in accordance with any agreement concluded between the said foreign country and China, or in accordance with any international treaty to which both countries are a party, or on the basis of the principle of mutual recognition of the right to priority, enjoy the right to priority.
Where, within 12 months from the date of filing of the first application for a patent for an invention or utility model in China, or within six months from the date of filing of the first application for a patent for a design in China, the applicant files again an application for a patent for the same subject matter with the patent administrative department of the State Council, the applicant may enjoy a right of priority.
Article 30 An applicant which claims a right of priority for an invention or utility model patent shall file a written declaration at the time of application, and within 16 months from the date of filing of the first application, submit a duplicate of the first patent application documents.
An applicant which claims a right of priority for a design patent shall file a written declaration at the time of application, and submit a duplicate of the first patent application documents within three months.
An applicant which fails to file the written declaration or submit the duplicate of the patent application documents within the prescribed time limit shall be deemed to have not claimed a right of priority.
Article 31 An application for a patent for invention or utility model shall be limited to one invention or utility model. Two or more inventions or utility models attributed to a single general inventive concept may be filed as one application.
An application for a design patent shall be limited to one design. As to two or more similar designs for the same product or for products which fall into the same class and are sold or used in sets, an application for one design may be filed.
Article 32 An applicant may withdraw his or its application for a patent at any time before the patent right is granted.
Article 33 An applicant may make modifications to his or its application for a patent, but the modifications to the application for a patent for invention or utility model may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure contained in the initial description and claims, and the modifications to the application for a patent for design may not go beyond the scope of the disclosure as shown in the initial drawings or photographs.
Chapter IV Examination and Approval of Patent Applications
Article 34 Where, after having received an application for patenting an invention, the patent administrative department of the State Council finds, upon preliminary examination, that the application is in conformity with the requirements of this Law, it shall publish the application promptly after the lapse of eighteen full months from the date of application. Upon the request of the applicant, the patent administrative department of the State Council may publish the application earlier.
Article 35 Upon the request of the invention patent applicant made at any time within three years from the date of application, the patent administrative department of the State Council will make a substantive examination on the application. If, without any justifiable reason, the applicant fails to request a substantive examination within the limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
The patent administrative department of the State Council may, on its own initiative, make a substantive examination on the application for a patent for invention when it deems it necessary.
Article 36 When the invention patent applicant requests a substantive examination, he or it shall furnish the reference materials of the invention that existed prior to the date of application.
Where an invention patent applicant has filed in a foreign country an application for a patent for the same invention, the patent administrative department of the State Council may require the applicant to submit within the specified time limit references retrieved for the purpose of examining that application, or the references of the examination result, in that country. If, without any justifiable reason, the said materials are not submitted within the specified time limit, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Article 37 Where the patent administrative department of the State Council, after it has made the substantive examination on an invention patent application, finds that the application conforms to the provisions of this Law, it shall notify the applicant, requiring him or it to make a statement or revise the application within a specified time limit. If he or it fails to make a response without any justifiable reason, the application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
Article 38 Where, after the applicant has made a statement or revisions, the patent administrative department of the State Council finds that the invention patent application still does not conform to the provisions of this Law, the application shall be rejected.
Article 39 Where it is found after a substantive examination that there is no reason to reject the patent invention application, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall make a decision to grant a patent for the invention, issue an invention patent certificate, and register and announce it. The patent right for invention shall become effective as of the date of announcement.
Article 40 Where it is found after the preliminary examination that there is no reason to reject the application for patenting a utility model or design, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall make a decision to grant a patent for the utility model or design, issue the relevant patent certificate, and register and announce it. The patent right for utility model or design shall become effective as of the date of announcement.
Article 41 A patent applicant may file a request with the patent administrative department of the State Council for a review of the decision of the patent administrative department of the State Council to reject its application, within three months of receipt of a notice of the decision. After review, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall make a decision, and notify the patent applicant.
The patent applicant may file a lawsuit against the review decision made by the patent administrative department of the State Council within three months of receipt of a notice of the decision.
Chapter V Duration, Termination and Invalidation of Patents
Article 42 The term of a patent for an invention shall be 20 years, the term of a patent for a utility model shall be ten years, and the term of a patent for a design shall be 15 years, all commencing from the date of filing of application.
Where a patent for an invention is granted four years from the date of filing of application and three years from the date of filing of request for substantial examination, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall, at the request of the patentee, provide patent term extension for unreasonable delay in the patenting process for the invention, except for unreasonable delay caused by the applicant.
For the purpose of making up the time required for the assessment and approval of the marketing of a new drug, the patent administrative department of the State Council may, at the request of the patentee, provide patent term extension for an invention patent relating to the new drug approved for marketing in China. The extension may not exceed five years, and the total effective term of the patent after the new drug is approved for marketing shall not exceed 14 years.
Article 43 A patentee shall pay an annual fee beginning with the year in which the patent is granted.
Article 44 In any of the following cases, the patent shall be terminated before the expiration of its duration:
(1) an annual fee is not paid under relevant provisions;
(2) the patentee waives his or its patent by a written declaration.
Any patent which is terminated prior to the expiration of its duration shall be registered and announced by the patent administrative department of the State Council.
Article 45 Where, as of the announcement of the granting of the patent by the patent administrative department of the State Council, any entity or individual considers that the granting of the said patent does not conform to the relevant provisions of this Law, it or he may request the patent administrative department of the State Council to invalidate the patent right.
Article 46 The patent administrative department of the State Council shall timely examine the request for invalidating a patent, make a decision and notify the petitioner and the patentee. The decision on invalidating the patent shall be registered and announced by the patent administrative department of the State Council.
Where any party is dissatisfied with the decision of the patent administrative department of the State Council on declaring a patent invalid or maintaining a patent, such party may, within three months as of receipt of the notification, bring a lawsuit to the people's court. The people's court shall notify the opposite party in the procedures for requesting invalidation that it or he should participate in the litigation as a third party.
Article 47 Any patent right that has been invalidated shall be deemed to be non-existent from the very beginning.
The decision on invalidating a patent shall, prior to the invalidation of the patent, have no retroactive effect on any judgment or mediation document on patent infringement which has been made and enforced by the people's court, on any implemented or compulsorily enforced decision concerning the settlement of a dispute over patent infringement, or on any performed contract for licensing a patent exploitation or for assignment of patent right. However, the patentee shall compensate for the damages it or he has maliciously caused to others.
Where, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the fact that no patent infringement compensation, no royalty for the exploitation of the patent or no patent assignment fee is refunded is obviously contrary to the principle of fairness, it shall be totally or partially refunded.
Chapter VI Special Licensing for the Exploitation of Patents
Article 48 The patent administrative department of the State Council and the departments charged with the administration of patents of the local people's governments shall, in conjunction with the relevant departments at the same level, take measures to enhance public services for patents and promote the exploitation and application of patents.
Article 49 Where any patent for invention owned by a state-owned enterprise or public institution is of great significance to the interests of the state or to the public interests, the relevant competent department of the State Council and the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may, upon approval of the State Council, decide to popularize and apply the patent within the approved scope, and allow designated entities to exploit the patent; and the exploiting entity shall, in accordance with the legal provisions of the state, pay royalties to the patentee.
Article 50 Where a patentee voluntarily files a written declaration with the patent administrative department of the State Council, indicating its willingness to permit any entity or individual to exploit its patent and specifying the royalty payment methods and rates, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall make an announcement and implement an open license. If an open license declaration is filed for a utility model or design patent, a patent evaluation report shall be provided.
A patentee withdrawing an open license declaration shall make the withdrawal in writing, and the patent administrative department of the State Council shall make an announcement. The announced withdrawal of an open license declaration shall not affect the validity of the open license granted earlier.
Article 51 Any entity or individual intending to exploit a patent under an open license shall obtain the patent exploitation license immediately after notifying the patentee in writing and paying the royalty according to the announced royalty payment methods and rates.
During the period of implementation of the open license, the patent annuity paid by the patentee shall be reduced or waived accordingly.
The patentee implementing an open license may grant an ordinary license after negotiating with the licensee over royalties, but shall not grant a sole license or exclusive license for the patent.
Article 52 Where any dispute arises over the implementation of an open license, the parties shall resolve the dispute through consultations; and if the parties are unwilling to consult or consultation fails, they may request the patent administrative department of the State Council to conduct mediation, or file a lawsuit with the people's court.
Article 53 Under any of the following circumstances, the patent administrative department of the State Council may, upon the application of an eligible entity or individual, grant it or him a compulsory license to exploit the patent for an invention or utility model:
(1) The patentee, after the lapse of 3 full years from the date when patent is granted and after the lapse of 4 full years from the date when a patent application is filed, fails to exploit or to fully exploit its or his patent without any justifiable reason; or
(2) The patentee's act of exercising the patent rights is determined as a monopolizing act and it is to eliminate or reduce the adverse consequences of the said act on competition.
Article 54 Where a national emergency or any extraordinary state of affairs occurs, or where the public interest so requires, the patent administrative department of the State Council may grant a compulsory license to exploit the patent for an invention or utility model.
Article 55 For the purpose of public health, the patent administrative department of the State Council may grant a compulsory license for a patented medicine so as to produce and export it to the country or region which conforms to the provisions of the relevant international treaty to which the People's Republic of China has acceded.
Article 56 Where an invention or utility model for which the patent was granted has seen any major technical progress of prominent economic significance when compared with another invention or utility model for which the patent has been granted earlier, and the exploitation of the later invention or utility model depends on the exploitation of the earlier one, the patent administrative department of the State Council may, upon the request of the later patentee, grant a compulsory license to exploit the earlier invention or utility model.
Where, according to the preceding paragraph, a compulsory license is granted, the patent administrative department of the State Council may, upon the request of the earlier patentee, also grant a compulsory license to exploit the later invention or utility model.
Article 57 Where the invention involved in the compulsory license is a semi-conductor technology, the exploitation of the compulsory license shall be limited only to public interests and the circumstance as described in Article 53 (2) of this Law.
Article 58 Besides the circumstances as described in Article 53 (2) and Article 55 of this Law in which a compulsory license is granted, the exploitation of a compulsory license shall be implemented primarily for supplying the domestic market.
Article 59 The entity or individual requesting, in accordance with the provisions of Article 53 (1) and Article 56 of this Law, a compulsory license for exploitation shall prove that it or he has not been able to conclude with the patentee a license contract for exploitation on reasonable terms within a reasonable timeframe.
Article 60 Where the patent administrative department of the State Council decides to grant a compulsory license for exploitation, it shall notify the patentee in time, and register it and make an announcement.
A decision on granting a compulsory license for exploitation shall, on the basis of the reasons for compulsory license, specify the scope and time of exploitation. When the reasons for compulsory license have been eliminated and will no longer occur, the patent administrative department of the State Council shall, upon request of the patentee, make a decision after examination on terminating the compulsory license.
Article 61 Any entity or individual who is granted a compulsory license for exploitation shall not have exclusive right to exploit the patent and shall not have the right to authorize anyone else to exploit the patent.
Article 62 The entity or individual that is granted a compulsory license for exploitation shall pay to the patentee a reasonable royalty or deal with the royalty issue under the relevant international treaties to which the People's Republic of China has acceded. If a royalty is to be paid, the amount of the royalty shall be decided by both parties upon negotiation. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the issue shall be settled by the patent administrative department of the State Council.
Article 63 Where a patentee is dissatisfied with the decision of the patent administrative department of the State Council on granting a compulsory license for exploitation, or where a patentee, or an entity or individual to whom the compulsory license for exploitation is granted is dissatisfied with the ruling of the patent administrative department of the State Council on the royalties payable for compulsorily licensed exploitation, he or it may, within three months as of receipt of the notification, bring a lawsuit to the people's court.
Chapter VII Protection of Patent Rights
Article 64 The scope of protection of the patent right for an invention or utility model shall be determined by the terms of the claims. The description and the appended drawings may be used to interpret the claims.
The scope of protection of the patent right for design shall be determined by the product incorporating the patented design as shown in the drawings or photographs.
Article 65 In the event that a dispute arises out of any exploitation of a patent without permission of the patentee, that is, the infringement upon a patent right, the parties shall settle the dispute through negotiations. If they are not willing to negotiate or fail to reach an agreement through negotiations, the patentee or any interested party may either bring a lawsuit with the people's court, or request the patent administrative department, for settlement. If the patent administrative department ascertains at the time of settlement that infringement exists, it may order the infringer to immediately stop the infringement act. The party dissatisfied may, within 15 days as of receipt of the notification, bring a lawsuit with the people's court in accordance with the Administrative Procedural Law of the People's Republic of China . If the infringer neither brings a lawsuit within the time limit nor stops the infringement act, the patent administrative department may apply to the people's court for compulsory enforcement. The patent administrative department that settles the dispute may, upon request of the parties may hold a mediation regarding the compensation amount for infringement upon the patent right. If no agreement is reached through mediation, either party may bring a lawsuit with the people's court in accordance with the Civil Procedural Law of the People's Republic of China .
Article 66 Where any dispute over patent infringement involves a patent for invention for the manufacturing process of a new product, the entity or individual manufacturing the identical product shall provide proof on the difference of its own process used in the manufacture of its product from the patented process.
Where a dispute over patent infringement involves a utility model patent or a design patent, the people's court or the department charged with the administration of patents may require the patentee or interested party to present a patent evaluation report prepared by the patent administrative department of the State Council after retrieval, analysis, and evaluation of the relevant utility model or design, as evidence for adjudicating or handling the dispute over patent infringement. The patentee, the interested party, or the alleged infringer may also voluntarily present the patent evaluation report.
Article 67 In a dispute over patent infringement, if the accused infringer has evidence to prove that the technology or design it or he exploits is an existing technology or design, no patent infringement is constituted.
Article 68 Whoever counterfeits a patent shall, in addition to being held civilly liable in accordance with the law, be ordered by the department charged with patent law enforcement to take corrective action, which shall be announced, with the illegal income confiscated, and may be fined not more than five times the illegal income or if there is no illegal income or the illegal income is not more than 50,000 yuan, fined not more than 250,000 yuan; and if it is criminally punishable, the offender shall be held criminally liable in accordance with the law.
Article 69 In investigating and handling suspected patent counterfeiting acts based on evidence already obtained, the departments charged with patent law enforcement shall have the authority to take the following measures:
(1) Interviewing the relevant parties and investigating information related to the suspected violations of law.
(2) Conducting on-site inspection of places where the parties are suspected of violations of law.
(3) Consulting and duplicating the contracts, invoices, account books, and other relevant materials related to the suspected violations of law.
(4) Inspecting the products related to the suspected violations of law.
(5) Placing under seal or impounding the products with a counterfeited patent as proved by evidence.
The department charged with the administration of patents may take the measures set forth in subparagraphs (1), (2) and (4) of the preceding paragraph to handle patent infringement disputes at the request of the patentee or the interested party.
When the department charged with patent law enforcement or the department charged with the administration of patents performs the functions prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs in accordance with the law, the parties shall provide assistance and cooperation, and shall not reject or obstruct it.
Article 70 The patent administrative department of the State Council may handle patent infringement disputes that have significant influence nationwide at the request of the patentee or interested party.
In handling patent infringement disputes at the request of the patentee or interested party, the department charged with the administration of patents of a local people's government may concurrently handle cases in which the same patent is infringed upon within its administrative region; and may request the department charged with the administration of patents of the local people's government at a higher level to handle cases in which the same patent is infringed upon across different administrative regions.
Article 71 The damages for a patent infringement shall be determined according to the actual loss suffered by the right holder due to the infringement or the benefits obtained by the infringer from the infringement; or if it is difficult to determine the loss suffered by the right holder or the benefits obtained by the infringer, the damages shall be reasonably determined by reference to the multiple of the royalty for this patent. In the case of an intentional patent infringement with serious circumstances, the damages may be determined as not less than one nor more than five times the amount determined in the aforesaid method.
Where it is difficult to determine the loss suffered by the right holder, the benefits obtained by the infringer, and the patent royalty, the people's court may, by taking into account factors such as the type of the patent and the nature and circumstances of the infringement, determine the damages as not less than 30,000 yuan nor more than five million yuan.
The damages shall also include the reasonable disbursements of the right holder for preventing the infringement.
Where the right holder has made best efforts to adduce evidence but the account books and materials relating to the infringement are mainly in the possession of the infringer, in order to determine the damages, the people's court may order the infringer to provide such account books and materials; and if the infringer fails to provide them or provides any false ones, the people's court may award damages by reference to the claims of and the evidence provided by the right holder.
Article 72 Where a patentee or interested party has evidence to prove that another person is committing or will commit an infringement upon the patent or an act of interfering with the patentee's or interested party's realization of rights, and irreparable harm will be caused to the lawful rights and interests of the patentee or interested party if the infringement is not stopped in a timely manner, the patentee or interested party may, before instituting an action, apply to the people's court for attachment of property, ordering certain conduct, or prohibiting certain conduct, in accordance with the law.
Article 73 In order to stop a patent infringement, a patentee or interested party may, before instituting an action, apply to the people's court for the preservation of evidence if any evidence may be destroyed or lost or difficult to obtain at a later time.
Article 74 The prescriptive period for instituting an action against a patent infringement shall be three years, commencing from the date when the patentee or interested party knows or should have known the infringement and the infringer.
Where any other person uses an invention after an application for the invention patent is published and before the patent is granted without paying appropriate royalties, the prescriptive period for the patentee to claim the payment of such royalties shall be three years, commencing from the date when the patentee knows or should have known the use by the other person; however, if the patentee knows or should have known the use prior to the grant date of the patent, the prescriptive period shall commence from the grant date of the patent.
Article 75None of the following circumstances shall be deemed an infringement upon a patent right:
(1) using, promising to sell, selling or importing any patented product or product directly obtained under the patented process after the said product is sold by the patentee or by its (his) licensed entity or individual;
(2) having made identical product or having used the identical process or having made necessary preparations for making such a product or using such a process prior to the date of application, and continuing making such product or using such a process only within the original scope;
(3) for any foreign means of transport which temporarily passes through the territory, territorial waters or territorial airspace of China, its using the relevant patents in accordance with any agreement concluded between China and that country to which the foreign means of transport belongs, or in accordance with any international treaty to which both countries have acceded, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, for its own needs, in its devices and installations;
(4) using relevant patents solely for the purposes of scientific research and experiment; and
(5) producing, using or importing patented medicine or patented medicinal equipment for the purpose of providing the information as required for administrative examination and approval, and producing and importing the patented medicine or patented medicinal equipment exclusively for the said purpose.
Article 76 Where, in the process of assessment and approval for the marketing of a drug, any dispute arises between the applicant for the marketing of a drug and the relevant patentee or interested party over the patent right related to the drug of which an application for registration is filed, the relevant party may file a lawsuit with the people's court, requesting a judgment as to whether the relevant technical solution of the drug of which an application for registration is filed falls within the scope of protection of any other person's patent on a drug. The medical products administration of the State Council may, within the prescribed time limit, make a decision on whether to suspend the approval of marketing of the relevant drug according to the effective judgment of the people's court.
The applicant for the marketing of a drug and the relevant patentee or interested party may also apply to the patent administrative department of the State Council for an administrative adjudication on any patent dispute related to the drug of which an application for registration is filed.
The medical products administration of the State Council shall, in conjunction with the patent administrative department of the State Council, develop specific connecting measures for the resolution of patent disputes in the stages of approval of drug marketing and application for the marketing of a drug, report such measures to the State Council, and implement them upon consent of the State Council.
Article 77 Whoever uses or sells a patented product without knowing that the product was produced and sold without permission of the patentee or a product directly obtained from a patented process for the purpose of production and business operation is not required to bear the liabilities for compensation provided that it or he can prove that the product is obtained from a legal source.
Article 78 Whoever, in violation of the provisions of Article 19 of this Law, files in a foreign country an application for a patent, if it or he has divulged any state secret, he shall be subject to an administrative sanction by the entity where he works or by the competent authority at the higher level. If any crime is constituted, he shall be subject to the criminal liabilities.
Article 79 No patent administrative department shall participate in the business activities such as recommending patented products to the public.
Where a patent administrative department violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall be ordered by its superior organ or its oversight authority to make a correction and eradicate the ill effects. The illegal proceeds, if any, shall be confiscated. If the circumstance is serious, the directly liable person-in-charge and other directly liable persons shall be subject to a disciplinary action in accordance with the law.
Article 80 Where any staff member of a state organ for patent administration or of any other relevant state organ neglects his duties, abuses his powers, practices favoritism for himself or his relative, if any crime is constituted, he shall be subject to criminal liabilities according to law. If no crime is constituted, he shall be given a disciplinary action according to law.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 81 To apply for a patent or going through other formalities with the patent administrative department of the State Council, the applicant shall pay the prescribed fees.
Article 82 This Law shall enter into force on April 1, 1985.
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