1.Director of CNIPA Shen Changyu Present 2025 Work Report

The general idea of the intellectual property work in 2025 is to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, deeply implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decision-making and deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and, in accordance with the requirements of the Central Economic Work Conference, adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining a steady growth, and further promote the reforms in the field of intellectual property. It has completed the objectives and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan with high quality, planned the development of the 15th Five-Year Plan with high standard, endeavored to build a world-class intellectual property governance system, institutional rules, cultural environment, and human resources, and pushed forward the creation of high-quality intellectual property with greater efforts, It will strive to build a world-class intellectual property governance system, institutional rules, cultural environment and human resources, make greater efforts to promote high-quality creation, high-efficiency application, high-standard protection, high-quality services and high-level international cooperation in intellectual property rights, so as to better support and safeguard high-level innovation and high-quality development, and vigorously serve the Chinese modernization.

Source: https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2025/1/8/art_53_197077.html

2.USPTO Announces New Artificial Intelligence Strategy

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy to guide the agency’s efforts toward fulfilling the potential of AI within USPTO operations and across the intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. The strategy aims to achieve the USPTO’s AI vision and mission through five focus areas which include: 1.Advance the development of IP policies that promote inclusive AI innovation and creativity. 2.Build best-in-class AI capabilities by investing in computational infrastructure, data resources, and business-driven product development. 3.Promote the responsible use of AI within the USPTO and across the broader innovation ecosystem. 4.Develop AI expertise within the USPTO’s workforce. 5.Collaborate with other U.S. government agencies, international partners, and the public on shared AI priorities.

Source: https://www.uspto.gov/subscription-center/2025/uspto-announces-new-artificial-intelligence-strategy-empower-responsible

3.Korea Accelerates Patent Examination in Cutting-Edge Industries

In order to support Korean enterprises to right size cutting-edge technologies, the Korean Patent Office announced the Patent Examination Processing Plan 2025 on Jan 16th. The Plan shows that, starting from Feb 19th, the Korean Patent Office will increase the investment of examiners and will newly support the rapid examination of patents in the fields of biology, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge robotics after semiconductors, displays, and secondary batteries. The Korea Patent Office said that it has previously added new examiners in the field of cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors and secondary batteries in cooperation with relevant authorities, and this year it plans to employ private experts as examiners in the fields of biology, AI, and cutting-edge robotics. The examination processing time, which averages more than 18 months, will be shortened to within two months at most.

Source: https://www.kipo.go.kr/ko/kpoBultnDetail.do?menuCd=SCD0200618&ntatcSeq=20378&aprchId=BUT0000029&sysCd=SCD02

4.Comparative Study on Trial and Appeal Practices among JPO, CNIPA and KIPO

The first Joint Experts Group of Trial and Appeal (JEGTA) was held in 2013 in order to promote cooperation, advance the exchange of information and analyses relating to the systems/practice, deepen their mutual understanding, etc. among the JPO, the CNIPA and the KIPO (the Three Offices) in the field of trials and appeals. The Three Offices have ever since conducted comparative studies on the trial and appeal systems/practice in each of the three countries so that users are able to have a deep understanding of their trial and appeal systems. The JPO, the CNIPA and the KIPO have published a new report titled "Comparative Study on Requirements for Post Patent Grant Corrections and Purpose of the Requirements." The report will bring a better understanding of different views concerning the trial and appeal practice at the Three Offices.

Source: https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/news/kokusai/nityukan/090502.html

5.Gilead Settles with US Government in Patent Dust-up over PrEP Meds

After a run of court victories in a five-year patent dispute with the U.S. government, Gilead Sciences has agreed to settle with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to resolve the feds’ last-ditch appeal. Terms of the deal were not disclosed in the case, which involved the government’s patents on Gilead’s HIV drugs Truvada and Descovy for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The case surrounds a research collaboration between Gilead and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) two decades ago to discover whether Truvada - which was approved in 2004 to treat HIV - could also prevent the infection.

Source: https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/gilead-settles-us-government-long-running-patent-dust-over-truvada-and-descovy

6. ZTE Files Patent Infringement Suits against Samsung

After ZTE and Samsung did not extend an existing license agreement beyond 2024, Samsung filed suit at the UK High Court shortly before Christmas. ZTE reacted swiftly. ZTE has filed patent infringement suits against Samsung in China, Germany and at the UPC. The company filed two lawsuits at the UPC local division Mannheim. ZTE has also filed at least one lawsuit at the Munich Regional Court. The lawsuits in Germany concern the 4G and 5G standards. All lawsuits are currently still being served therefore detailed information is not available.

Source: https://www.juve-patent.com/cases/zte-sues-samsung-with-taliens-and-vossius/

7.Puma Sues Tiger Woods for Trademark Infringement

Sportswear powerhouse PUMA is challenging the leaping tiger logo of Tiger Woods‘s nascent label Sun Day Red. The Germany company claims that due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the identical, legally identical, or closely related nature of the goods and services of the parties, consumer confusion is likely between the Challenged Marks and the Leaping Cat logo. The case would go trial in September 2026 unless the two sides are able to reach a settlement. Upon reveal last February fans drew comparison with the skeletal Arc’Teryx mark and British sports equipment brand Slazenger’s leaping panther.

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/07/puma-challenges-tiger-woods-sun-day-red-logo.html