On 3 March 2026, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the 2026 Legislative Work Plan, setting out the intellectual property legislation and regulatory initiatives to be advanced during the year.
The year 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The plan outlines CNIPA’s legislative priorities and identifies a number of laws and regulations to be amended, revised, or studied for future rule-making.
Amendment of the PRC Trademark Law
CNIPA will cooperate with legislative authorities to advance the amendment of the Trademark Law. China’s current Trademark Law was first enacted in 1982 and has undergone several major revisions in 1993, 2001, 2013, and 2019. The most recent amendment strengthened protections against bad-faith filings, increased statutory damages for infringement, and enhanced administrative enforcement.
The upcoming amendment is expected to further improve trademark administration and protection mechanisms, address practical issues encountered in trademark examination and enforcement, and better leverage trademarks as a driver of economic and social development.
Amendment of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits
The legislative plan also includes cooperation with the legislature to revise the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits.
The Regulations were promulgated by the State Council in 2001 to establish a dedicated protection regime for semiconductor layout designs in China. The system provides exclusive rights for registered layout designs and creates a specialized administrative framework for their protection.
In recent years, the rapid development of China’s semiconductor industry has raised new practical issues regarding the protection, registration, and enforcement of layout-design rights. The planned revision aims to strengthen legal safeguards for the integrated circuit industry and adapt the regulatory framework to evolving technological and industrial conditions. Revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination
CNIPA also plans to revise the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination.
These measures, issued by CNIPA in 2017, establish procedures for accelerated examination of patent applications in certain circumstances, including strategic emerging industries, key national projects, and applications requiring rapid protection.
The planned revision is intended to further optimize the priority examination mechanism and improve efficiency in patent examination for innovation-driven industries.
Revision of the Implementing Rules of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits
In coordination with the revision of the above-mentioned regulations, CNIPA will revise the Implementing Rules of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits.
The Implementing Rules provide detailed procedures for registration, examination, and administrative management of layout-design rights. Updating these rules will ensure consistency with the revised higher-level regulations and improve the operational framework of the protection system.
Amendment of the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law
The plan also calls for research and studies on the amendment of the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law in parallel with the revision of the Trademark Law itself.
The Implementing Regulations were first issued in 2002 and most recently revised in 2014. They provide detailed procedures governing trademark application, examination, opposition, and administrative management. Any future revision will likely align the procedural framework with the anticipated amendments to the Trademark Law.
Drafting of the Geographical Indications Regulation
CNIPA will also promote the research and drafting of a new Regulation on Geographical Indications.
China currently protects geographical indications through multiple legal mechanisms, including certification trademarks, collective trademarks, and specialized GI product protection systems. The proposed regulation aims to further improve the GI legal framework and consolidate relevant protection mechanisms, strengthening protection and promoting the development of regional specialty industries.
Possible Revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Agency
The legislative plan lists a preparatory revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Agency.
These measures regulate the qualification, operation, and supervision of patent agencies and patent attorneys in China. They were most recently revised in 2019 following the promulgation of the Patent Agency Regulations. A future revision may further refine regulatory oversight and professional standards within the patent agency industry.
Possible Formulation of Administrative Adjudication Measures for Integrated Circuit Layout Designs
CNIPA also plans to prepare rules for Administrative Adjudication of Integrated Circuit Layout-Design Disputes. The proposed measures would establish procedures for handling disputes related to layout-design rights through administrative adjudication, providing an additional enforcement mechanism alongside judicial proceedings.
Comment
The 2026 Legislative Work Plan indicates that CNIPA will continue updating several key areas of China’s intellectual property regulatory framework. In particular, the planned amendments to the Trademark Law and the regulations on integrated circuit layout-design protection suggest further adjustments to existing rules governing trademark administration and semiconductor-related IP rights. For businesses and rights holders, these developments may affect trademark practice, semiconductor IP protection, and certain patent examination procedures. The proposed Geographical Indications Regulation and potential revisions to rules governing patent agencies also suggest that additional regulatory changes may follow in these areas.
The year 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The plan outlines CNIPA’s legislative priorities and identifies a number of laws and regulations to be amended, revised, or studied for future rule-making.
Amendment of the PRC Trademark Law
CNIPA will cooperate with legislative authorities to advance the amendment of the Trademark Law. China’s current Trademark Law was first enacted in 1982 and has undergone several major revisions in 1993, 2001, 2013, and 2019. The most recent amendment strengthened protections against bad-faith filings, increased statutory damages for infringement, and enhanced administrative enforcement.
The upcoming amendment is expected to further improve trademark administration and protection mechanisms, address practical issues encountered in trademark examination and enforcement, and better leverage trademarks as a driver of economic and social development.
Amendment of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits
The legislative plan also includes cooperation with the legislature to revise the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits.
The Regulations were promulgated by the State Council in 2001 to establish a dedicated protection regime for semiconductor layout designs in China. The system provides exclusive rights for registered layout designs and creates a specialized administrative framework for their protection.
In recent years, the rapid development of China’s semiconductor industry has raised new practical issues regarding the protection, registration, and enforcement of layout-design rights. The planned revision aims to strengthen legal safeguards for the integrated circuit industry and adapt the regulatory framework to evolving technological and industrial conditions. Revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination
CNIPA also plans to revise the Measures for the Administration of Patent Priority Examination.
These measures, issued by CNIPA in 2017, establish procedures for accelerated examination of patent applications in certain circumstances, including strategic emerging industries, key national projects, and applications requiring rapid protection.
The planned revision is intended to further optimize the priority examination mechanism and improve efficiency in patent examination for innovation-driven industries.
Revision of the Implementing Rules of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits
In coordination with the revision of the above-mentioned regulations, CNIPA will revise the Implementing Rules of the Regulations on the Protection of Layout-Designs of Integrated Circuits.
The Implementing Rules provide detailed procedures for registration, examination, and administrative management of layout-design rights. Updating these rules will ensure consistency with the revised higher-level regulations and improve the operational framework of the protection system.
Amendment of the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law
The plan also calls for research and studies on the amendment of the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law in parallel with the revision of the Trademark Law itself.
The Implementing Regulations were first issued in 2002 and most recently revised in 2014. They provide detailed procedures governing trademark application, examination, opposition, and administrative management. Any future revision will likely align the procedural framework with the anticipated amendments to the Trademark Law.
Drafting of the Geographical Indications Regulation
CNIPA will also promote the research and drafting of a new Regulation on Geographical Indications.
China currently protects geographical indications through multiple legal mechanisms, including certification trademarks, collective trademarks, and specialized GI product protection systems. The proposed regulation aims to further improve the GI legal framework and consolidate relevant protection mechanisms, strengthening protection and promoting the development of regional specialty industries.
Possible Revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Agency
The legislative plan lists a preparatory revision of the Measures for the Administration of Patent Agency.
These measures regulate the qualification, operation, and supervision of patent agencies and patent attorneys in China. They were most recently revised in 2019 following the promulgation of the Patent Agency Regulations. A future revision may further refine regulatory oversight and professional standards within the patent agency industry.
Possible Formulation of Administrative Adjudication Measures for Integrated Circuit Layout Designs
CNIPA also plans to prepare rules for Administrative Adjudication of Integrated Circuit Layout-Design Disputes. The proposed measures would establish procedures for handling disputes related to layout-design rights through administrative adjudication, providing an additional enforcement mechanism alongside judicial proceedings.
Comment
The 2026 Legislative Work Plan indicates that CNIPA will continue updating several key areas of China’s intellectual property regulatory framework. In particular, the planned amendments to the Trademark Law and the regulations on integrated circuit layout-design protection suggest further adjustments to existing rules governing trademark administration and semiconductor-related IP rights. For businesses and rights holders, these developments may affect trademark practice, semiconductor IP protection, and certain patent examination procedures. The proposed Geographical Indications Regulation and potential revisions to rules governing patent agencies also suggest that additional regulatory changes may follow in these areas.