Monday, December 17, 2007

Chinesepod - Regulations on Patent Commissioning

BIZCHINA / Intellectual property

Regulations on Patent Commissioning

Updated: 2006-04-17 14:33

(Promulgated on March 4, 1991)

Chapter 1  General Principles

Article 1   With a view to guaranteeing the legitimate rights of patent
agencies and consignors and ensuring the normal working of patent
commissioning services, these Regulations her eof are formulated.

Article 2   Patent commissioning stated here denotes patent application
or the handling of other patent- related affairs by patent agencies on
behalf of their consignors and within their authorized powers.

Chapter 2    Patent Agencies

Article 3   Patent agencies stated here denote service organs that apply
for patents or handle  other  patent-related affairs on behalf of their
consignors and within their authorized powers.
Patent agencies include:
(1) those that handle foreign patent-related affairs;
(2) those that handle domestic patent-related affairs; and
(3) law firms that handle domestic patent-related affairs.

Article 4   Establishment of a patent agency shall require the following
conditions:
(1) having a name, articles of association and fixed work place of its
own;
(2) having necessary capital and work installations;
(3) being financially independent and able to meet civil  liabilities
independently; and
(4) employing three or more special staff members qualified as patent
agents and a proportionate number of likewise qualified spare-time
working staff as stipulated by the China Administration of Patents (CAP).
Law firms engaged in patent commissioning must have special staff for the
business stated in item (4) of the previous paragraph.

Article 5   To apply for the establishment of a patent agency at a patent
administration, the following documents must be presented:
(1) a letter of application with the name, office space and responsible
person's name stated;
(2) the articles of association of the patent agency;
(3) the names of  patent  agents and their certificates of qualification;
and
(4) written proof of the amount of capital and installations of  the
patent of the agency.

Article 6   Patent agencies applying for the handling of domestic
patent-related affairs or law firms applying for the same must have the
consent of their governing authorities and their applications must be
examined by  patent administrations  of  provinces,  autonomous  regions
or  municipalities directly under the Central Government;  in  the
absence  of  governing authorities, they may be directly examined by the
later. Upon agreement, the examining authorities shall report the
applications  to  CAP  for approval.
Patent agencies applying to handle foreign-related patent affairs must go
through procedures as stipulated  in  the  Patent  Law  of  the People's
Republic of China. Such agencies, upon approval by CAP, can handle
domestic patent affairs.

Article 7   Patent agencies, as of the  date  of  approval,  can  start
handling patent-commissioning business in accordance with law, enjoy
civil  rights and meet civil liabilities.

Article 8   Patent agencies shall deal with the following businesses:
(1) providing patent-related consulting agencies;
(2) writing on commission patent application documents  and  handling
re-examination and other related affairs;
(3) raising disagreement, asking for the  announcement  of  a  patent
right cancellation and other related affairs;
(4)  handling the right of patent application, the transfer of patent
right and patent permission and other related affairs;
(5) appointing  patent  agents  to  serve  as  patent  advisors  upon
invitation; and
(6) other related matters.

Article 9   When patent agencies accept consignments and  handle
business,  they shall have a consignor's letter of commitment clearly
stating commissioned items and powers.
If needed, a patent agency  may  designate  a  certain  patent  agent
appointed by the consignor to handle the business.
Patent agencies may charge commissions in  accordance  with  relevant
regulations of t he State.

Article 10   After accepting a commission, a patent agency shall  not
accept  the commission of rival consignors concerning patents with the
same  content.

Article 11   Patent agencies shall employ as patent agents  persons  with
Patent Agent Qualification Certificate". The latter shall  go  through
necessary procedures, be given  "Patent  Agent  Work  Permit"  by  the
former,  and register at CAP.
Beginners shall not be issued "Patent Agent Work Permit" until  after a
full year of apprenticeship.
When patent  agencies  discharge  their  patent  agents,  they  shall
recover in time the latter's "Patent Agent Working Permit" and report
such discharge to CAP.

Article 12   When patent agencies change their names, addresses  and
responsible persons, they shall report to CAP of such changes, which
become effective only after approval by the latter.
When  a  patent  agency  goes  out  of  business,  it  shall,  after
appropriately handling a unsettled affairs, report to  the  authorities
that endorsed its opening and the latter shall be  responsible  for
going through all necessary procedures as CAP.

Article 13   If an approved patent agency no longer meets the conditions
stated in Article 4 of these Regulations hereof due to a change of
circumstances and will not be able to meet such conditions within 1 year,
the  authorities that endorsed its opening should propose to CAP that it
be canceled  as  a patent agency.

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