patent law of the people's republic of china
Article 68 The limitation of action for patent infringement is two years, counting from the date when the patentee or interested party knows or should know about the infringement. If the patentee fails to pay the appropriate royalty before the patent right is granted after the publication of the application for a patent for invention, the limitation period for requesting the royalty is two years, counting from the date when the patentee knows or should know that others are using his invention. However, if the patentee knows or should know before the patent right is granted, it shall be counted from the date when the patent right is granted.
Article 40 If the application for a patent for utility model or design is not found to be rejected after preliminary examination, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall make a decision to grant the patent right for utility model or design, issue the corresponding patent certificate, and register and announce it at the same time. The patent right for utility model and the patent right for design shall take effect as of the date of announcement.
Article 47 An invalid patent right shall be regarded as nonexistent from the beginning.