During the last week, and to mark the World Intellectual Property Day (April 26, 2021), the People’s Court in several jurisdictions held press conferences to summarize the judicial IP protection progress made during 2020 and released lists of noteworthy cases. Some of the announcements made by the courts in key jurisdictions include the following:
- On April 13, 2021, the Shanghai IP Court held a press conference, issued a white paper regarding trials of unfair competition cases (2015-2020), and released 12 model cases (http://www.hshfy.sh.cn/shfy/web/xxnr.jsp?pa=aaWQ9MjAyMTYxNjImeGg9MSZsbWRtPWxtMTcxz&zd=xwxx);
- On April 15, 2021, the Jiangsu Higher People’s Court issued updated trial guidelines for trademark infringement civil disputes and trade secret infringement civil disputes (http://www.jsfy.gov.cn/art/2021/04/16/11_103830.html; http://www.jsfy.gov.cn/art/2021/04/16/11_103828.html);
- On April 20, 2021, the Beijing Internet Court held a press conference, summarized the features of internet related copyright infringement cases and released eight model cases (https://www.bjinternetcourt.gov.cn/cac/zw/1618910313271.html; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/MPxscGooPlGn–TYtfY2DA);
- On April 20, 2021, the Guangdong Higher People’s Court released 10 model cases relating to internet cases involving unfair competition and antitrust (http://www.gdcourts.gov.cn/index.php?v=show&cid=62&id=56118; http://www.gdcourts.gov.cn/index.php?v=show&cid=170&id=56119);
- On April 20, 2021, the Chongqing Higher People’s Court and Sichuan Higher People’s Court jointly held a press conference, issued a white paper regarding IP judicial protection in 2020, and released 20 model cases (http://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-297631.html; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/y1ctwl4KF9nVKZY3Zj9ZcA; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9liZfEyZIkQAQIeBA8e89Q);
- On April 21, 2021, the Zhejiang Higher People’s Court issued a white paper regarding IP judicial protection in 2020 and released 10 model cases (https://www.zjsfgkw.cn/art/2021/4/22/art_56_23588.html; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/MYnyCtL67XEd2hIj7uWUKw);
- On April 21, 2021, the Guangzhou IP Court issued a white paper on IP judicial protection in 2020 and released 10 model cases (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/yRTN07sS9E_IJo_7BD4kWQ; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/L6LLmrfSrQoKcj_UQUmG_A);
- On April 22, 2021, the Supreme People’s Court released the 10 most influential IP cases in 2020 and 50 model IP cases in 2020 (http://www.court.gov.cn/fabu-xiangqing-297991.html) and the People’s Court’s Plan on IP Judicial Protection (2021-2025) (http://www.court.gov.cn/fabu-xiangqing-297981.html);
- On April 22, 2021, the Beijing Higher People’s Court held a press conference, summarized the trial condition of IP cases in 2020, and issued 10 model cases and a guideline regarding evidence in IP civil cases (http://bjgy.chinacourt.gov.cn/article/detail/2021/04/id/5989576.shtml; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/dvmoNnHuNX3jwKO20ZiHMA; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GxfP5v7-_g1XeXF5q-OzEg);
- On April 22, 2021, the Guangdong Higher People’s Court held a press conference, summarized the IP judicial protection condition in 2020, and released 10 model cases (http://www.gdcourts.gov.cn/index.php?v=show&cid=62&id=56123; http://www.gdcourts.gov.cn/index.php?v=show&cid=170&id=56124);
- On April 22, 2021, the Shanghai Higher People’s Court held a press conference, summarized the IP judicial protection condition in 2020, and released 20 model cases (http://www.hshfy.sh.cn/shfy/web/xxnr.jsp?pa=aaWQ9MjAyMTc1OTUmeGg9MSZsbWRtPWxtMTcxz&zd=xwxx);
- On April 22, 2021, the Shanghai IP Court issued a white paper on the IP judicial protection condition in 2020 (http://www.hshfy.sh.cn/shfy/web/xxnr.jsp?pa=aaWQ9MjAyMTc1OTUmeGg9MSZsbWRtPWxtMTcxz&zd=xwxx);
- On April 22, 2021, the Jiangsu Higher People’s Court issued a white paper regarding IP judicial protection in 2020 and released five model cases on punitive damages and 10 model cases on IP protection. (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/jvuC7M7NjlrblqSGLlL7yA; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/bzOOsz3TtrwyAX5Tf2618A; https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Z4-v-mo3ei-y7GaiIrzv2g).