Understanding The SPC's Stance On Patent Disputes

The Supreme People's Court's new judicial interpretations replace previous ones to bring provisions in line with the Patent Law. Updates include clarified court jurisdictions, simplified procedures and increased damages, but guidelines for standard essential patents are still needed

2015 marks the 30th year of the PRC Patent Law (Patent Law) and the year in which the Supreme People's Court (SPC) plans to overhaul the judicial interpretations of the law. These interpretations are essentially SPC-made rules and regulations directed to address both procedural and substantive patent law issues. An amendment of one of the two major judicial interpretations came into effect in February this year, and the other, which supplements the other existing major interpretation, is expected to be released in April.