In August 2025, China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) released its Monthly Statistical Report on Examination and Registration for July 2025 (“Report”), which aggregates examination and registration data for patents, trademarks, geographical indications (“GI”), and layout designs of integrated circuits (“LDIC”) for the month of July 2025 as well as the cumulative period from January to July 2025. According to the Report, the grant volume for invention and utility model patents in China decreased significantly this year, while the efficiency of trademark examination markedly improved.
Statistical data in the patent sector indicate a notable decline in the grant volume of invention and utility model patents this year, with a slight decrease in the foreign proportion of valid invention patents. From January to July 2025, 477,090 invention patents, 884,798 utility model patents, and 366,001 design patents were granted. Compared with the same period last year, invention patent grants decreased by 172,770, a reduction of 26.59%, with 85.1% of the decline attributable to domestic applications. Utility model patent grants decreased by 290,043, down 24.69%, with 99.83% of the reduction originating from domestic applications. Enterprises remain the core force in China’s patent activities. Enterprises accounted for 72.9%, 91.2%, and 75.6% of the grants in invention, utility model, and design patents, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the share for invention patent grants decreased by 1.2%, while the shares for utility model and design patent grants increased by 2.5% and 4.0%, respectively. The CNIPA received 42,056 PCT patent applications cumulatively, an increase of 3,022 from the same period last year.
As of July this year, China held 5,990,277 valid invention patents, 11,702,913 valid utility model patents, and 3,110,810 valid design patents. Compared with the same period last year, all of them showed increases, with valid invention patents growing notably by 10.6%. The proportion of valid foreign invention patents decreased from 17% last year to 15.5% this year.
Statistical data in the trademark sector indicate a notable decrease in trademark registrations this year. Additionally, there was a reduction in the volume of opposition and appeal cases filed, while the number of these cases adjudicated increased, reflecting further improvements in trademark examination efficiency. From January to July 2025, trademark registrations totaled 2,475,860, representing a decrease of 415,724 compared to the same period last year, with 96.52% of the decline attributable to domestic applications. The cumulative number of opposition applications reached 65,679, a decrease of 6,965 year-on-year. In contrast, the cumulative number of opposition adjudications reached 66,448, an increase of 6,662. A total of 220,204 review cases were filed, reflecting a decrease of 27,675 year-on-year. Among these, rejection review applications decreased by 23,393. The cumulative number of review cases adjudicated was 241,396, an increase of 35,036. This included an increase of 21,948 in rejection review adjudications and 13,520 in invalidation adjudications.
In July 2025, the number of opposition applications filed reached 10,099, reflecting a decrease of 756 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of opposition adjudications reached 11,714, representing an increase of 2,516. A total of 32,607 review cases were filed during the month, marking a decrease of 258 compared to July 2024. The number of review cases adjudicated in July 2025 totaled 40,463, an increase of 10,518 year-on-year. This included a rise of 6,649 in rejection review adjudications and 3,808 in invalidation adjudications.
Statistical data on GI indicate a substantial increase in the number of GIs approved and market entities authorized to use GI symbols. From January to July 2025, the CNIPA published announcements preliminarily approving 30 GI products and granting recognition to 1,574 GI products. The number of GI products officially recognized increased by 1,559 compared to the same period last year. A total of 13,599 market entities were authorized to use GI symbols, reflecting an increase of 8,241 year-on-year. Additionally, 38 GIs were registered as collective or certification trademarks, representing a decrease of 69 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Statistical data on LDICs indicate a slight decrease in both application and registration volumes compared to the same period last year. From January to July 2025, the CNIPA received 6,363 LDIC applications, reflecting a decrease of 8. The office issued 5,550 LDIC registration certificates, representing a reduction of 542. It is projected that the total number of LDIC applications and registrations in China for the full year 2025 will still exceed 10,000 cases. Although this figure may not reach the peak level observed in 2021, it maintains the high-growth trend sustained since 2020.
In conclusion, according to the Report, China witnessed a notable decline in the grant volume of invention and utility model patents in 2025. Trademark registrations decreased significantly, though trademark examination efficiency continued to improve. The number of GIs approved and the quantity of enterprises authorized to use GI symbols maintained steady growth. Applications and registrations for LDICs remained on a stable upward trajectory.
Statistical data in the patent sector indicate a notable decline in the grant volume of invention and utility model patents this year, with a slight decrease in the foreign proportion of valid invention patents. From January to July 2025, 477,090 invention patents, 884,798 utility model patents, and 366,001 design patents were granted. Compared with the same period last year, invention patent grants decreased by 172,770, a reduction of 26.59%, with 85.1% of the decline attributable to domestic applications. Utility model patent grants decreased by 290,043, down 24.69%, with 99.83% of the reduction originating from domestic applications. Enterprises remain the core force in China’s patent activities. Enterprises accounted for 72.9%, 91.2%, and 75.6% of the grants in invention, utility model, and design patents, respectively. Compared to the same period last year, the share for invention patent grants decreased by 1.2%, while the shares for utility model and design patent grants increased by 2.5% and 4.0%, respectively. The CNIPA received 42,056 PCT patent applications cumulatively, an increase of 3,022 from the same period last year.
As of July this year, China held 5,990,277 valid invention patents, 11,702,913 valid utility model patents, and 3,110,810 valid design patents. Compared with the same period last year, all of them showed increases, with valid invention patents growing notably by 10.6%. The proportion of valid foreign invention patents decreased from 17% last year to 15.5% this year.
Statistical data in the trademark sector indicate a notable decrease in trademark registrations this year. Additionally, there was a reduction in the volume of opposition and appeal cases filed, while the number of these cases adjudicated increased, reflecting further improvements in trademark examination efficiency. From January to July 2025, trademark registrations totaled 2,475,860, representing a decrease of 415,724 compared to the same period last year, with 96.52% of the decline attributable to domestic applications. The cumulative number of opposition applications reached 65,679, a decrease of 6,965 year-on-year. In contrast, the cumulative number of opposition adjudications reached 66,448, an increase of 6,662. A total of 220,204 review cases were filed, reflecting a decrease of 27,675 year-on-year. Among these, rejection review applications decreased by 23,393. The cumulative number of review cases adjudicated was 241,396, an increase of 35,036. This included an increase of 21,948 in rejection review adjudications and 13,520 in invalidation adjudications.
In July 2025, the number of opposition applications filed reached 10,099, reflecting a decrease of 756 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of opposition adjudications reached 11,714, representing an increase of 2,516. A total of 32,607 review cases were filed during the month, marking a decrease of 258 compared to July 2024. The number of review cases adjudicated in July 2025 totaled 40,463, an increase of 10,518 year-on-year. This included a rise of 6,649 in rejection review adjudications and 3,808 in invalidation adjudications.
Statistical data on GI indicate a substantial increase in the number of GIs approved and market entities authorized to use GI symbols. From January to July 2025, the CNIPA published announcements preliminarily approving 30 GI products and granting recognition to 1,574 GI products. The number of GI products officially recognized increased by 1,559 compared to the same period last year. A total of 13,599 market entities were authorized to use GI symbols, reflecting an increase of 8,241 year-on-year. Additionally, 38 GIs were registered as collective or certification trademarks, representing a decrease of 69 compared to the same period in the previous year.
Statistical data on LDICs indicate a slight decrease in both application and registration volumes compared to the same period last year. From January to July 2025, the CNIPA received 6,363 LDIC applications, reflecting a decrease of 8. The office issued 5,550 LDIC registration certificates, representing a reduction of 542. It is projected that the total number of LDIC applications and registrations in China for the full year 2025 will still exceed 10,000 cases. Although this figure may not reach the peak level observed in 2021, it maintains the high-growth trend sustained since 2020.
In conclusion, according to the Report, China witnessed a notable decline in the grant volume of invention and utility model patents in 2025. Trademark registrations decreased significantly, though trademark examination efficiency continued to improve. The number of GIs approved and the quantity of enterprises authorized to use GI symbols maintained steady growth. Applications and registrations for LDICs remained on a stable upward trajectory.