China E-ventions
Selected Software-Related Invention Patents
Vol. 1 , No. 2 - September 28, 2001
Welcome to China E-ventions. Keeping up with technology is difficult enough, but learning about new trends in patent examination methods and policies in different countries is a monumental task. One area of keen interest these days involves a particular classification of patent that goes by many names: business method patent, Internet patent, software patent, and so on - in China, "software-related invention patents". To be clear, many of these names have distinct definitions in certain jurisdictions; however, their similarity has caused great confusion for international practitioners.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide the foreign patent practitioner with China patent news as well as a regular snapshot of how China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) is approaching these kinds of inventions.
China Witnesses Remarkable Increase of Patent Applications in 2000
In the year 2000, the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China received 170, 682 patent filings, an increase of 36,443 over the previous year, the rate being 27.1%. Also in the year, the office's working plan of "Speed-up patent examination and eliminate backlog" was implemented and remarkable progress was made. 2378 cases were closed for request for reexamination and invalidation, an increase of 98.8% over the previous year. The total number of granted patents was 105,345, an increase of 5.2% over the previous year.
From 1985 to 2000, 1,166,427 patent applications were filed with SIPO. Among them, 326,811 were inventions, constituting 28 percent; 594,134 were utility models, constituting 50.9 percent; while 245,482 were industrial designs, constituting 21 percent.
Top Ten Foreign Patent Filers in China in 2000
Rank | Country | Name of Corporations | Number |
1 | Japan | Matsushita Electronic Co. LTD | 769 |
2 | United states | P & G | 516 |
3 | Netherlands | Koninklijke Phillips Electronics N.V. | 491 |
4 | Korea | Samsung Electronics | 482 |
5 | Japan | Sony Corporation | 399 |
6 | Sweden | Ericsson | 368 |
7 | United States | IBM | 324 |
8 | Germany | Siemens | 316 |
9 | Japan | NEC | 284 |
10 | Japan | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | 257 |
Revised Patent Law to Safeguard Inventor's Rights
Innovators have got extra protection from July 1 under the newly revised Patent Law which brings China more in line with international standards of protection.
It means patent holders will be able to block the sale of any of their products or technologies before they are officially put on the market, in accordance with the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
The move is aimed at curbing infringements of patents as early as possible. This has very much improved the Patent Law as previously there was no such stipulation.
Meeting the requirements of TRIPS - a principle followed by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - is important before a country can join the economic super-group. Compared with the previous Patent Law, the amended one will simplify the process for patent registration by cutting procedures for domestic and overseas institutions or individuals.
Regulations on the implementation of the law, which were approved by the State Council on June 15, became effective on July 1.
China, which introduced a patent protection system 20 years ago, still has a long way to go in comparison with industrialized countries that have longer traditions of patent systems.
Governments at all levels have been actively implementing laws on intellectual property rights and cracking down on any infringements.
A Selection of Software-related Invention Patents Published in China
Application Number: 00112247
Publication Number: 1269548
Application Date: 00.04.30
Publication Date: 00.10.11
Title: Internet anti-forgery
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 15/16; G06F 17/30; G06K 5/00
Applicant(s) Name: Zhu Qing
Inventor(s) Name: Zhu Qing
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: The internet antiforgery technology allows a user to utilize the Internet to enter an inquiry network page, input characteristics and information regarding commodities and utilize the Internet and data base technology to make an antiforgery inquiry and can obtain feedback information. Said invention possesses an extensive application range.
Application Number: 98108609
Publication Number: 1235314
Application Date: 98.05.07
Publication Date: 99.11.17
Title: Automatic searching method for Internet addresses
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/30
Applicant(s) Name: Zhang Zhongyang
Inventor(s) Name: Zhang Zhongyang
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: This automatic index method for Internet addresses feature a capability in which the network address and its index number are converted to bookmarks for the computer. When the index number is inputted, the computer automatically processes it and accesses the corresponding network address. The equipment consists of a bookmark, driver, hard disk, CPU (Intel 586), keyboard, browser and modem. The network address and its index number are used to make a bookmark stored on a magnetic or optical disk. The index numbers are stored on a hard disk of a computer. The said modem is used to link the browser to the Internet, and used to search and access the defined network address. The advantages are easy operation and high speed.
Application Number: 99102648
Publication Number: 1269558
Application Date: 99.04.06
Publication Date: 00.10.11
Title: Internet method of identifying the authenticity of a commodity
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/30
Applicant(s) Name: Cao Xiaojun
Inventor(s) Name: Cao Xiaojun
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: This authentic and false identification method of a commodity using an interconnected network includes the following steps: establishing a network station on an interconnected network and a commodity authentic and false identification service centre; making interconnected network identification marks with a printed network address and cipher code and making the said mark attach to the commodity to be protected, and registering the commodity information into the server of the service centre by means of the cipher code of the said commodity. The application of said method can quickly and reliably identify an authentic from false commodity by means of an interconnected network.
Application Number: 00103189
Publication Number: 1264881
Application Date: 00.03.23
Publication Date: 00.08.30
Title: Dynamic electric code method for preventing forgery
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06K 5/00; G06K 9/18; G06F 17/30
Applicants(s) Name: Ou Guangfei
Inventor(s) Name: Ou Guangfei
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: An antiforgery method with dynamic code for commodities, certificates, bills and identification, features a public identification code and a group of shielded antiforgery codes that are assigned to the object. If the antiforged code is unshielded, it is ineffective. The recognition code is composed of the identification code and invalid antiforgery code. On checking, the identification code is inputted first. If it is correct, the inquiry system can randomly select an effective antiforgery code and prompt to open and input it. If it is correct the inquiry system can upgrade the identification code and effective antiforgery code. Finally it gives out the information of the true object. Otherwise, it gives out the information of the false object.
Application Number: 97105209
Publication Number: 1202661
Application Date: 97.06.18
Publication Date: 98.12.23
Title: Method for enterprises and institutes to provide consulting services to the public and its system
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/30
Applicants(s) Name: Yang Ruo
Inventor(s) Name: Yang Ruo
Legal Status: Publication
Finishing result: Deemed withdrawn
Abstract: The enterprise and institute establishes an information data base with a corresponding hardware and software system to manage the data base and assigns special telephones and personnel to a consulting service, so the public can request service personnel to search and notify them regarding relevant information.
Application Number: 98111909
Publication Number: 1211770
Application Date: 98.03.27
Publication Date: 99.03.24
Title: Human body physiological characteristics verification method correlated with identification card mobile database
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/30
Applicants(s) Name: Yang Zhenning
Inventor(s) Name: Yang Zhenning
Legal Status: Substantial Examination
Abstract: An authentication method for certification cards that requires the owner's physiological characteristics, personal economic characteristics and personal archives to be acquired, digitalized, compressed and encrypted to create a mobile database of the certification card. When the certification card is scanned, the authenticity of the card can be judged based on whether the physiological characteristics of the present holder matched with those of the owner. The number of users is unlimited in network.
Lehman Lee & Xu
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