China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently issued an Announcement on Matters Related to Electronic Patent Certificates and Electronic Seals of Electronic Patent Application Notices (Decree No.349), in which it pointed out:
As of March 3, 2020, the CNIPA will issue electronic patent certificates for electronic patent applications through the patent electronic application system, instead of paper patent certificates. Right owners of electronic patent applications may request for a paper patent certificate through the electronic patent application website (http://cponline.cnipa.gov.cn).
From February 17, 2020, the CNIPA will no longer use the seal of “Patent Application Acceptance of the CNIPA" but the seal of “Patent Examination of the CNIPA", in notifications issued prior to preliminary examination.
The Announcement also pointed out that from February 17, 2020, the CNIPA and its branch offices, local intellectual property protection centers, and rapid rights protection centers will no longer provide paper copies of notifications and decisions for electronic patent applications. If the right owners received a notification/decision which does not have an electronic seal on it, they may request for an electronic copy of the notification/decision with the electronic seal through the electronic patent application website. Right owners may also verify their electronic copies of patent certificates, notifications and decisions with electronic seals through the electronic patent application website.
