SIPO ready to change the publication of the granted patent to electronic publication

China’s SIPO (State Intellectual Property Office) released Notice No. 257 on February 22, 2018: “Notice on the Composition of Patent Certificates and Patent Certificates.” Notice No. 257 states that in order to meet the relevant needs of the parties in economic and legal activities, SIPO will provide patentees and the general public with an instant, convenient and transparent information inquiry channel through the Internet platform. On this basis, SIPO will further optimize the structure of the patent certificate and the copy of the patent certificate and no longer attach the patent paper publication.

Relevant issues are announced as follows：

1. For the patents granted date from March 2, 2018 to April 23, 2018, the patent certificates issued by SIPO contain the first page of the certificate and the title page of the granted patent publication.

2. For the granted patent that the granted date after April 24, 2018, SIPO will issue a new version of the patent certificate and a copy of the patent certificate after the patent granted date. In the new version of the patent certificate and the copy thereof the granted patent paper publication will be cancelled. However, it will increase the patent number and the patentee’s address information.

3. The old version, new version of a patent certificate as well as the copy of the patent certificate, have the same legal effect. As for the old version of the patent certificate and patent certificate, there is no need to be replaced by a new version of the patent certificate and a copy of the patent certificate.

4. After the patent granted date, the patentee and the general public may inquire and obtain the corresponding information from China Patent Bulletin System on SIPO website.

The above-mentioned SIPO’s announcement means, from March 2, 2018 to April 23, 2018, is a transitional period. During this period, SIPO will issue a granted patent publication and a paper patent certificate at the same time. However, after this period, after April 24, 2018, SIPO will only issued a paper patent certificate, and further add the patent number and the patent owner’s address information. Since the corresponding granted patent publication contents are available from the website system, SIPO will not issue the granted patent’s paper publication any more.