Weekly China Brand Protection News

April 29, 2025

Supreme People’s Court: Status of Intellectual Property Judicial Protection in Chinese Courts (2024)

Recently, the Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”) released the “Status of Intellectual Property Judicial Protection in Chinese Courts (2024)” with the following data.

In 2024, courts nationwide received 529,370 new intellectual property cases of various types, including first instance, second instance, and retrial petitions, and concluded 543,911 cases (including pending cases). Compared to 2023, these figures represent a decrease of 2.67% for new cases and an increase of 0.001% for concluded cases.

Courts nationwide received 449,923 new first instance civil intellectual property cases and concluded 457,315 cases, a decrease of 2.65% and 0.65% respectively compared to 2023. Among these:

• 44,255 new patent cases, down 1.02% year-on-year
• 124,918 trademark cases, down 4.95% year-on-year
• 247,149 copyright cases, down 1.8% year-on-year
• 8,320 technology contract cases, up 28.16% year-on-year
• 10,567 competition-related cases, up 3.29% year-on-year
• 14,714 other intellectual property civil dispute cases, down 16.53% year-on-year

Courts nationwide received 30,486 new second instance civil intellectual property cases and concluded 32,055 cases, representing decreases of 18.08% and 17.2% year-on-year respectively.

Courts nationwide received 20,849 new first instance administrative intellectual property cases and concluded 27,745 cases, representing increases of 1.29% and 24.19% respectively compared to 2023. Among these:

• 1,679 patent cases, down 15.63% year-on-year
• 19,130 trademark cases, up 3.08% year-on-year
• 9 copyright cases, 2 fewer than in 2023
• 31 other cases, up 29.17% year-on-year

Courts nationwide received 11,666 new second instance administrative intellectual property cases and concluded 10,874 cases, representing increases of 16.04% and 17.44% respectively compared to 2023. Among the concluded cases:

• 9,420 original judgments upheld
• 1,091 judgments modified
• 2 cases sent back for retrial
• 207 cases withdrawn
• 4 cases mediated
• 150 other cases

Courts nationwide received 9,120 new first instance criminal intellectual property infringement cases and concluded 9,003 cases, representing increases of 24.34% and 29.22% respectively compared to 2023. Among these:

• 1 new criminal case involving patent counterfeiting, with 2 cases concluded
• 8,079 new criminal cases involving registered trademark infringement, with 8,017 cases concluded, up 21.78% and 26.11% year-on-year respectively
• 938 new criminal cases involving copyright infringement, with 913 cases concluded, up 49.6% and 68.14% year-on-year respectively
• 102 new other criminal cases, with 71 cases concluded, up 39.73% and 7.58% year-on-year respectively

Courts nationwide received 1,112 new second instance intellectual property criminal cases and concluded 1,068 cases, representing increases of 16.32% and 10.67% year-on-year respectively.

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