Coming To Terms With China's Utility Model Patent Regime

Inventions, utility models and designs are the three major constituent parts of the China's patent regime. Among these, the number of filings for utility model patents has been increasing year on year, reaching 740,291 in 2012, accounting for about 90% of the total filings for the same type of patent around the world, occupying an absolute dominant position.

With the large increase in filings for utility models and their increasing role in market economic activities, China's utility model patent regime has drawn greater attention within China, as well as internationally. The author therefore wishes to give a brief introduction to these distinguishing features.

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