SIPO Issues Amendments to Compulsory Patent Licensing Measures

By King & Wood's Intellectual Property Group

China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) is able to issue compulsory patent licenses where an entity or individual who is otherwise qualified to exploit a patent does not succeed in obtaining a license on reasonable terms and within a reasonable period from the patent holder. The new Patent Law of the PRC (the "Patent Law") and the Implementing Rules of the Patent Law of the PRC (the "Implementing Rules") both contain provisions regarding the compulsory licensing of patents. On October 12, 2011, the SIPO issued a circular to solicit public comments on the Amendments to the Measures on Compulsory Patent Licensing (Draft for Comments) (the "Draft Amendments"). The SIPO will be taking comments until November 13, 2011.