Patent application dispute settlement procedure

Different disputes have different procedures.

If the applicant for a patent refuses to accept the decision of the patent administrative department of the State Council to reject the application, he may, within three months from the date of receiving the notice, request a reexamination with the Patent Reexamination Board. After reexamination, the Patent Reexamination Board shall make a decision and notify the patent applicant. If the patent applicant refuses to accept the reexamination decision of the Patent Reexamination Board, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within three months from the date of receiving the notice.

Since the date when the patent administrative department of the State Council announced the grant of the patent right, any unit or individual may request the Patent Reexamination Board to declare the patent right invalid if it considers that the grant of the patent right is not in conformity with the provisions. The Patent Reexamination Board shall promptly examine the request for invalidation of the patent right and make a decision, and notify the claimant and the patentee. The decision to declare the patent right invalid shall be registered and announced by the patent administration department of the State Council. Anyone who refuses to accept the decision of the Patent Reexamination Board to declare the patent right invalid or maintain the patent right may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within three months from the date of receiving the notice. The people's court shall notify the other party to the procedure for requesting invalidation to participate in the proceedings as a third party.

When the reasons for compulsory license are eliminated and no longer exist, the administrative department for patent in the State Council shall, at the request of the patentee, make a decision to terminate the compulsory license after examination.

Units or individuals that have obtained the compulsory license for exploitation shall pay the patentee a reasonable royalty, or deal with it in accordance with the provisions of relevant international treaties to which People's Republic of China (PRC) is a party. If the user fee is paid, the amount shall be negotiated by both parties; If both parties fail to reach an agreement, it shall be decided by the patent administration department of the State Council.

If the patentee refuses to accept the decision of the patent administrative department in the State Council to implement compulsory license, and if the patentee and the unit or individual that has obtained compulsory license refuse to accept the decision of the patent administrative department in the State Council, they may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within three months from the date of receiving the notice.

If a patent is exploited without the permission of the patentee, that is, the patent right is infringed and a dispute arises, it shall be settled by the parties through consultation; Unwilling to negotiate or failing to do so, the patentee or interested party may bring a suit in a people's court or request the administrative department for patent affairs to handle it. When the administrative department for patent affairs finds that the infringement is established, it may order the infringer to stop the infringement immediately. If a party refuses to accept the decision, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China within 15 days from the date of receiving the notice of handling. If the infringer fails to prosecute and stop the infringement upon expiration of the time limit, the administrative department for patent affairs may apply to the people's court for compulsory execution. At the request of the parties concerned, the administrative department for patent affairs may mediate the amount of compensation for patent infringement; If mediation fails, the parties may bring a lawsuit to the people's court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC).