On January 9, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court (the “SPC”) promulgated the Official Reply and Approval for the Establishment of Special Tribunals in the Intermediate Courts of Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu for Cross-District Jurisdiction over IPR Cases (the “Official Reply”). In the Official Reply, the SPC approved in principle the establishment of special tribunals for hearing IPR cases in the intermediate courts of Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuhan and Chengdu and the exercise by such tribunals of cross-district jurisdiction over some IPR cases. More specifically, the SPC approved the exercise by the Wuhan Intermediate People’s Court of jurisdiction over first trial civil and administrative IPR cases arising in Hubei Province that involve patents, new plant varieties, layout designs of integrated circuits, know-how, computer software, recognition of well-known trademarks and anti-monopoly disputes. Likewise, the SPC approved the exercise of jurisdiction by the Chengdu Intermediate People’s Court over first trial civil and administrative IPR cases arising in Sichuan Province that involve patents, new plant varieties, layout designs for integrated circuits, trade secrets, computer software, recognition of well-known trademarks and anti-monopoly disputes.

Via www.court.gov.cn