Sanya speeds up IP patent application review process

The first batch of four invention patent applications that have been quickly pre-examined by the China (Sanya) Intellectual Property Protection Center was authorized by the China National Intellectual Property Administration recently.

Among them, the application for a ship console design patent from Hainan Smart Maritime Technology was approved in only two business days. The ship console design is the first patent to be approved after the center has opened, marking the operation of its green channel of the patent pre-examination service.

"When we applied for IP patents in other cities in the past, we had to go through a lot of formalities and the whole process was time-consuming and inefficient. So, we didn't expect to receive final approval so soon this time,” said Zhang Xiaojie, general manager of Hainan Smart Maritime Technology.

Sanya IP Protection Center is located in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, and it is the first IP protection center in the Hainan Free Trade Port set up by the China National Intellectual Property Administration.

The center provides "one-stop" services including preliminary review of patent applications for inventions, utility models and designs, trademarks and geographical indication registrations and alterations, determination and dispute mediation of patents, trademark and copyright infringement, and more.

According to Tao Zhisong, an official at the Sanya IP Protection Center, patent applications submitted to the center are entitled to a rapid final review at the China National Intellectual Property Administration after passing a preliminary review at the Center. In most cases, the time required for final review of invention patents is shortened from the usual 20 months to just three months, and that for utility model patents is shortened from an average of nine months to only 15 workdays, while the final review for design patents is shortened from eight months to seven workdays or less.