1. Where a foreigner, foreign enterprise or other foreign organization without a habitual residence or business office in China applies for a patent in China, it shall be handled in accordance with the agreement signed between his country and China or the international treaty to which * * * is a party, or in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
2. Foreigners, foreign enterprises or other foreign organizations that have no habitual residence or business office in China who apply for patents and handle other patent affairs in China shall entrust a patent agency designated by the patent administration department in the State Council to handle them. China units or individuals may entrust patent agencies to apply for patents and handle other patent affairs in China. Patent agencies shall abide by laws and administrative regulations, accept the entrustment of clients, and handle patent applications or other patent affairs; The contents of the client's invention and creation shall be kept confidential, except that the patent application has been published or announced. Specific measures for the administration of patent agencies shall be formulated by the State Council.
3. Where a China entity or individual applies for a patent for its invention-creation completed in China to a foreign country, it shall first apply to the patent administration department of the State Council, entrust its designated patent agency to handle it, and abide by the provisions of Article 4 of this Law. Units or individuals in China may file an international patent application in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party. The applicant who files an international application for a patent shall abide by the provisions of the preceding paragraph. The patent administration department of the State Council shall handle international patent applications in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party, this Law and the relevant provisions of the State Council.