Regulations Concerning Patent Applications in Electronic Form

关于电子专利申请的规定

Regulations Concerning Patent Applications in Electronic Form (the Regulations)

Issued: February 12, 2004 

Effective: March 12, 2004

Issuing Authority: The State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO)

Main Contents: According to the Regulations, patent application in China for inventions, utility models and designs can be submitted in electronic form (Electronic Patent Application). Although such application method is not available to Chinese applicants filing international patent applications through SIPO, foreign applicants may, by entering into a System Users Registration Agreement with SIPO, utilize such means to go through the formalities for an international patent application entering the Chinese national phase.

Specific guidelines for the submission of Electronic Patent Applications are provided, and details of the application procedure, including materials required for submission (according to stipulated forms) as well as payment method and schedule, are also given.

All rules in the Patent Law of the People'sRepublic of China, its Implementing Regulations and SIPO's Examination Guide, which are related, to patent application and the materials required for such purpose (excluding those specifically targeting written applications) shall be applicable to Electronic Patent Applications.