On January 28, the China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") issued the Provisions on Intellectual Property Credit Management (the "Provisions"), with effect on the date of issuance.

According to the Provisions, the CNIPA will lawfully identify seven acts as dishonest act, including "abnormal patent applications which are not for the purpose of protecting innovation". Entities with dishonest acts will be subject to seven administrative measures, such as "facing stricter examination in the application for public finance-related project". Meanwhile, the Provisions specify that if six months have passed since a market entity is identified to have committed a dishonest act and it has corrected the dishonest act, performed relevant obligations, and proactively eliminated relevant consequences, and no dishonest act is identified once again, it may apply for credit repair by submitting an application letter for credit repair and supporting materials to the authority identifying such dishonest act. The Provisions also note that market entities that have good credit for three consecutive years may enjoy incentives in five aspects as appropriate, including "enjoying simplified and fast-track procedures and other convenient services in administrative examination and approval, project application and other processes".

(Source: China National Intellectual Property Administration)