SIPO recently issues the Punishment Measures of Discipline Violation of Qualification Examination for Patent Agent Issued (hereafter referred to as the Measures), which will come into effect on November 1 this year.

On the basis of the reform plan of the qualification examination for patent agent issued in 2005 and taking into consideration the reality situation of the test, the Measures improves and details the punishment on discipline-violating activities in the original Implementation Measures on the Qualification Examination for Patent Agent.

Consisting 15 articles, the Measures classifies in detail the discipline of violating activities of test participants into four levels of discipline-violating activity, relatively serious discipline-violating activity, serious discipline-violating activity and extra serious discipline-violating activity. In different situations, discipline-violators shall be warned, nullified the very examination score, nullified the examination scores of that year, and forbidden to participate in the examination within the coming three years. Meanwhile, it also stipulates punishment on working staff of the test who violates the test discipline, related procedures of dealing with discipline violators, and the remedy channels for those who refuse to accept the punishment decisions.

The implementation of the Measures will strengthen administration of the Qualification Examination for Patent Agent nationwide, enforce test discipline and ensure the smooth implementation of the test so as to create a more just, fair, scientific and standard test environment for test participants who are determined to be patent agents.