On April 8th, 2014, the Shanghai International Arbitration
Center officially issued the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone
Arbitration Rules (the "FTZ Rules"). The FTZ Rules, which
brings a lot of bold attempts and innovation based on the present
legal frame and arbitration practice, is of important innovative
significance. The FTZ Rules will enter into force on 1st May. This
article will focus on the influence that the FTZ Rules will impose
on IP disputes.
The innovative aspects of the FTZ Rules include: (1) the
provisions regarding the interim measures; (2) the provision about
the open panel of arbitrators; (3) the provision of combined trial
of certain cases; (4) the provision of third party's
participation in the arbitration (including other parties of the
arbitration agreement or even non-parties of the arbitration
agreement); (5) the provision of evidence rules; (6) the provision
that mediation may be conducted both by an arbitral tribunal or by
an
