On November 17, the China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") issued the Measures for the Registration of Pledge of Patent Rights (2021 Version) (the "Measures") for implementation from the date of issuance.

The Measures propose material revisions to Articles 6, 7 and 10, which are of great significance. The texts of the remaining provisions are also revised for the purpose of adjusting orders, streamlining contents, and standardizing expressions. The revisions to the main provisions involve: (1) promoting the pledge registration procedures by means of commitment; (2) reducing the circumstances for non-approvable registration; (3) shortening the time limit required for registration review; (4) optimizing relevant registration services. Among others, the Measures specify that the party concerned may choose to register the pledge of a patent right by means of commitment, and when a commitment letter is submitted, identity certificate, certificate for change, certificate for deregistration, and other evidential materials are no longer required. The CNIPA will strengthen in-process and ex-post regulation and will lawfully impose disciplinary measures for dishonesty to those who make false commitment.

(Source: China National Intellectual Property Administration)