Why this meeting matters
Many companies focus only on “how to file” and miss “where policy is heading”. On 14 September 2026, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) held a party-group meeting to study guiding instructions on IP work and to plan IP development for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. For innovators, this is the most authoritative signal of where China’s IP policy will concentrate over the next five years.
Three pillars of China’s 15th FYP for IP
Five major relationships. Work must be measured against the “five major relationships” of IP — balancing protection and innovation, quantity and quality, domestic and international, efficiency and fairness, present and future.
Two transformations. The shift is from “accumulation of volume” to “leap in quality”, and from “passive protection” to “active exploitation”. High-value portfolios, not sheer filing counts, become the main line.
Six tasks. Coordinated implementation aims to secure decisive progress in building China into a strong IP nation by the end of the plan.
What it means for businesses
Expect stricter source protection, higher examination quality and greater emphasis on exploitation. Enterprises should move from broad filing to high-value portfolios, keep trademarks honest and distinctive, and never drop compliance nodes such as annuity deadlines.
Related Services
For patent annuity tracking, try our free patent fee monitor. Before filing a trademark, check the trademark classification table. For tailored advice, contact Hefei Zhihai Yida Patent Agency (CNIPA code 34408).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the priorities for China’s IP work in the 15th FYP?
Grasp the “five major relationships”, “two transformations” and “six tasks” to secure decisive progress in building a strong IP nation with high-quality development.
Q: What does this mean for corporate IP strategy?
It stresses source protection, exploitation and high-quality examination; companies should value patent quality and trademark compliance over mere volume.
Q: How can Zhihai Yida help?
We provide patent drafting and portfolio planning, trademark filing, and a free patent fee monitor to turn the direction into action.
Source
Based on the official release by CNIPA: 国家知识产权局党组传达学习习近平总书记近期重要讲话和重要指示批示精神 [CNIPA Party Leadership Group Conveyance Meeting on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Recent Important Speeches and Instructions] (published: 2026-09-15). This is a policy summary for reference only and does not constitute official interpretation or legal advice.
This article introduces the intellectual property system of the People’s Republic of China (China). Please refer to the latest official regulations for specifics.