== Partial Design System to be Introduced in June of 2021
==
Among the IP5 Offices, China is the last one to
introduce partial design system next
year. The new system will take effect from June 1, 2021, as
announced according to the recently published new Chinese Patent
Law. Although it remains unclear as to whether the partial design
system will apply to ALL Chinese design applications which are
pending as of June 1 of 2021 or only apply to those filed after
June 1 of 2021; the news was cheerful enough for many technology
companies and IP practitioners.
Among these companies, internet companies and smart appliance
companies are probably the most excited ones, as they have created
a variety of interesting graphical user interface (GUI) elements
such as windows, icons, menus and pointing buttons. Partial design
will be a new way of patenting GUI in China.
