China IP, Beijing, Beijing (2026)

03/12/2025

Sued by for RMB 260 Million Over Patent Infringement

Meihua Group, China’s largest monosodium glutamate (MSG) producer, has been sued by Japan’s Ajinomoto Co. for alleged patent infringement concerning core amino acid production technologies. The case highlights the ongoing competitive tensions between two dominant players in the global glutamate industry.

Founded in the 1990s and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2010, Meihua entered the MSG market in 2000 and has grown into one of the world’s largest amino acid manufacturers. In 2020, Meihua’s production of MSG and lysine surpassed one million tonnes each. For the year 2024, the company reported RMB 25.07 billion in revenue and RMB 2.74 billion in net profit.

Ajinomoto, established in 1909 as the first commercial MSG producer, posted more than USD 10 billion in revenue in 2022. Although both companies’ MSG products rely on similar technical processes, Ajinomoto differentiates itself through high purity and global branding, while Meihua competes on scale and cost efficiency.

In a recent stock exchange filing, Meihua revealed that it had received civil complaints from the Guangdong High People’s Court, which has accepted two lawsuits filed by Ajinomoto. The Japanese company alleges that Meihua, along with three wholly-owned subsidiaries—Tongliao Meihua, Xinjiang Meihua, and Jilin Meihua—used patented technologies without authorization in their MSG manufacturing and sales.

Ajinomoto is asserting infringement of Chinese Invention Patent No. 200580045189.5, “Microorganism Producing L-Glutamic Acid and Method for Producing L-Glutamic Acid,” and Patent No. 201480005332.7, “Method for Producing L-Amino Acids.” The company is seeking a court order to halt the manufacture, sale, and use of the accused products, destroy relevant equipment and inventory, and pay RMB 130 million for each patent, totaling RMB 260 million.

Meihua stated that it has a longstanding partnership with Ajinomoto and has reached multiple intellectual property agreements with the company concerning MSG technologies. The company emphasized its respect for intellectual property rights and said it will continue operations as usual while actively addressing the litigation and taking legal steps to protect its interests and those of its shareholders. Meihua added that the cases have not yet gone to trial, and the financial impact is uncertain.

The lawsuit comes as Meihua expands its global footprint, including the 2025 acquisition of the amino acid and HMO businesses of Kyowa Hakko, Japan’s second-largest amino acid producer after Ajinomoto.

Photo: Meihua Group
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24/11/2025

Files RMB 200 Million Patent Lawsuit Against Zhejiang Electronic Technology

DKEM (WUXI DK Electronic Materials Co., Ltd.), the leading Chinese manufacturer of photovoltaic conductive silver paste, has initiated legal action through its subsidiary, Solamet Materials Science Co., Ltd., against its rival Zhejiang Gonda Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., for patent infringement. The lawsuit, filed in the Zhejiang High People's Court, seeks RMB 200 million in damages, as disclosed by DKEM on November 6.

The dispute centers on Patent No. 201180032359.1, an invention for "Thick Film Paste Containing Lead-Tellurium-Lithium-Titanium-Oxide and Its Use in Semiconductor Device Manufacturing," a key technology in photovoltaic cell efficiency and stability. The patent is owned by Solar Paste LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solamet Materials Science Co., Ltd., the latter of which holds both the usage rights and the legal authority to pursue litigation.

Solamet claims that Zhejiang Gonda Electronic Technology has been manufacturing, selling, and offering for sale photovoltaic conductive silver paste products that infringe upon the patented technology without authorization. According to Solamet, this unauthorized activity has caused significant harm to its business, prompting it to seek full legal recourse.

The legal action includes three core demands: an injunction requiring the defendant to immediately cease production, sale, and offering of the infringing products, and to destroy the relevant molds; compensation of RMB 200 million for economic losses and reasonable legal costs; and that the defendant bear the full cost of the litigation.
This is not the first time that DKEM has enforced its patent rights regarding Patent No. 201180032359.1. In August 2021, Solamet Materials Science Co., Ltd. filed lawsuits in the Suzhou Intermediate People's Court against Changzhou Fusion New Material Co., Ltd., based on the same patent (No. 201180032359.1) and another invention patent (No. 201180032701.8). The two cases sought damages of RMB 99 million each.

In 2022, Solamet Materials Science Co., Ltd. filed another patent infringement lawsuit against Changzhou Fusion New Material Co., Ltd., involving Patent No. CN104916348B, seeking RMB 100 million in damages.

Simultaneously, Solar Paste LLC initiated cross-border litigation in the U.S. District Court for Delaware. Defendants included Changzhou Fusion New Material Co., Ltd., Risen ENERGY Co., Ltd., and its U.S. subsidiary. The litigation involved five U.S. patents—US7767254, US8497420, US8889979, US8889980, and US8895843—many of which are related family patents to those involved in the current case. Ultimately, all of these lawsuits were settled out of court.

Photo Source :DKEM
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https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2261

20/11/2025

Sues Shanghai hashtag Subsidiaries for Patent Infringement, Seeks RMB 430 Million in Damages

French chemicals producer Arkema has filed a RMB 430 million patent infringement lawsuit against subsidiaries of Shanghai Huayi Holding Group Co., Ltd., according to a disclosure issued by the Chinese state-owned company on November 15.

Arkema alleges that Shanghai Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. and Guangxi Huayi New Materials Co., Ltd. used its patented methods for producing acrylic acid without authorization, triggering one of the largest patent disputes in China’s acrylic derivatives sector in recent years.

The litigation dates to March 29, 2024, when the two Huayi units received a civil complaint from the Shanghai High People’s Court. Arkema initially demanded joint damages of RMB 430 million from both defendants, but on November 14, 2025, refined its claim to seek full liability from Shanghai Huayi New Materials, with Guangxi Huayi New Materials jointly liable for RMB 110 million. The overall claim amount remains unchanged.

The case concerns two patents—No. 200780034079.8, originally filed in 2007 and transferred to Arkema in 2010, and No. 201210384253.4, filed by Arkema in 2012. Both patents cover methods for preparing acrylic acid, belong to the same patent family, and are due to expire in about three years.

Shanghai Huayi New Materials had challenged the validity of both patents at the China National Intellectual Property Administration, but CNIPA upheld them on July 30, 2024.

Arkema is the world’s second-largest supplier of acrylic acid and ranked 38th in the 2023 Global Top 50 Chemical Companies. Its acrylic derivatives business expanded significantly after the company acquired related assets from Dow, giving it a global patent portfolio covering core production and recycling technologies.

Shanghai Huayi Holding Group, one of China’s major state-owned chemical producers, operates across energy and chemicals, advanced materials, fine chemicals and related sectors. Its acrylic ester business ranks among the top three in China. Supported by growing output at its Guangxi production base, the group is now a key player in China’s acrylic acid value chain.

Analysts say the lawsuit is being closely watched due to the size of the claims, the strategic importance of acrylic acid as a base material, and the increasing frequency of cross-border IP disputes in China’s chemical industry. The case’s outcome may shape market expectations around patent enforcement standards and licensing practices in the sector.

Photo: Shanghai Huayi
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13/11/2025

2025 Outstanding International IP Service Teams Selection Starts

Talent is the foremost resource in the advancement of IP undertakings, serving as both the prerequisite for high-quality IP development and the strategic foundation for building an IP-strong nation. In particular, there is an increasing demand for high-level, interdisciplinary professionals capable of addressing IP challenges in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and new energy, as well as managing cross-border IP disputes—talents that remain in short supply.

As the “15th Five-Year Plan” period marks a crucial transition phase in China’s IP development, and to further implement the national IP talent strategy while continuing the achievements of the “Outstanding IP Practitioners (IP Eagle Talent Series)” Selection Program, China IP/ Intellectual Property Observers, the Beijing Sunshine Intellectual Property and Law Development Foundation, and other co-organizers have jointly launched the “2025 Outstanding IP Practitioners (IP Eagle Talent Series)” Selection and Training Program.

Applications are now open for the “2025 Outstanding International IP Service Teams (IP Eagle Talent Series)”, targeting both international IP service organizations with extensive experience serving Chinese clients and IP service teams and institutions based in China with exceptional international service capabilities. The application deadline is November 30, 2025.

Final selections will be determined through a combination of self-nomination, recommendation, and expert evaluation, with results to be announced at the “2026 Enterprise IP Strategy Forum and Annual Conference of In-house IP Managers” on January 24, 2026.

1. Applicants

(1) International IP service teams or institutions with extensive experience serving Chinese clients;
(2) IP service teams or institutions based in China with exceptional international service capabilities.

2. Requirements

(1) Team members demonstrate compliance with laws and regulations, uphold integrity, and maintain high standards of professional ethics;

(2) The team has been established and operational for at least three years;

(3) The team consists of a minimum of five members;

(4) Core leaders and key team members possess strong qualifications, substantial professional experience, and relevant educational backgrounds;

(5) The team has a record of handling influential cases and achieving industry-recognized accomplishments;

(6) Priority will be given to teams that have made significant contributions to the international exchange of intellectual property in the past three years.

3. How to apply

Download the application form here :https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2258

Complete the form and email it to [email protected]

4. Contact
Grace Lee
Mob/Wechat: 153 4411 5163
Email: [email protected]

23/10/2025

Evgeny Alexandrov, senior partner at IP Law Firm Gorodissky & Partners gives practical guidance on the Road to Market Success: IP Protection Best Practices for Chinese Businesses in Russia.

The expanding strategic partnership between Russia and China, reflected in growing bilateral trade, brings significant opportunities for Chinese businesses across sectors from high-tech to consumer goods. However, this promising landscape is accompanied by distinct intellectual property (IP) challenges that can undermine market entry and long-term growth. A proactive and strategic approach to IP is, therefore, essential for creating and defending business value in the Russian market.
Russia's 'first-to-file' system provides a predictable framework for IP protection, making early trademark registration the most critical step for market entry. A commercial launch of a branded product without secured trademark rights creates immediate vulnerabilities, potentially leading to third-party registrations, customs complications, and costly legal disputes. While the system offers robust enforcement mechanisms—from civil litigation and customs recordals to criminal prosecution—these tools are most effective for those who lay the groundwork in advance.

This article analyzes these challenges and strategies through the lens of recent case studies involving Chinese companies. Examination of real-world examples of both pre-emptive registration conflicts and post-registration enforcement outlines a practical roadmap for navigating the Russian IP landscape. The goal is to provide Chinese businesses with the insights needed to protect their assets, mitigate risks, and secure a durable competitive advantage.

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22/10/2025

Secures Swift Win in High-Profile Robot Dog Patent Case Amid IPO Push

Unitree Robotics has secured win in its high-profile patent dispute with Hangzhou Luweimei Daily Chemical Co., Ltd, according to news released earlier this month.

On September 26, the Zhejiang Hangzhou Intermediate People’s Court delivered a first-instance ruling in favor of Unitree, rejecting all claims made by Luweimei. The court determined that Unitree did not infringe on Luweimei’s patent, marking a significant victory for the company as it prepares for its initial public offering (IPO).

Luweimei has announced its intention to appeal the court’s decision.

The case began in July 2025, when Luweimei, a small-scale retailer with just two employees as of 2024, accused Unitree of infringing its invention patent (Patent No. CN106384471) related to an “electronic dog”. Luweimei claimed that despite issuing multiple infringement notices, Unitree continued to expand production, thus committing willful infringement. The plaintiff further argued that the accused product used subpar technology, resulting in a performance decrease of over 60%, which allegedly damaged Luweimei’s market reputation, reduced its market share, and caused direct losses exceeding 200 million yuan.

Luweimei's demands included:

An injunction requiring Unitree to stop manufacturing, selling, or offering for sale the “Unitree G02” robot dog, and the destruction of all infringing products, semi-finished goods, and production molds.

Compensation for Luweimei’s economic losses, initially set at 500 yuan, with the final amount to be determined through a court audit of the infringement and patent usage fees.

Punitive damages, with Luweimei seeking 3-5 times the profits Unitree allegedly gained from the infringement, to be determined by the court.

Reimbursement of reasonable legal costs, including attorney, notarization, and appraisal fees.

A public statement from Unitree on its official website and in China Intellectual Property News for 30 consecutive days to mitigate the negative effects of the alleged infringement.

Unitree denied all allegations, stating that Luweimei's claim of a 200 million yuan loss had no factual basis. The company further argued that the lawsuit was malicious, aiming to exploit Unitree’s reputation for improper gain. Unitree requested that the court dismiss all of Luweimei’s claims.

The court dismissed the infringement claims after analyzing two key technical differences.

Photo: Unitree
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22/10/2025

@ Davide L. Petraz and Petraz, Co-manganing partners of GLP Intellectual Property Office shared with China IP their insights on Patents in Biotech & Pharma: Practical law & strategy for Italy and Europe.

Summary

How the EPO's Enlarged Boards of Appeal are reshaping the European patent law framework

Why biotech/pharma patents matter (value & leverage)

SPCs, regulatory interplay and Italy-specific notes

Key procedural and formal features that are “biotech-specific”

Change in the inventorship/ownership patent law in Italy when universities/research institutions are involved

Patentability: exclusions, diagnostics and second medical uses

Evidence & enablement: when is experimental data “enough”?

Portfolio & prosecution tactics

UPC litigation — a changing landscape for pharma and biotech

Global considerations & public-health exceptions

AI, digital health and future directions

Practical checklist for a pharma or biotech applicant

Click to read the full article:
https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2255

17/10/2025

Russia-Eurasia IP Protection Seminar Successfully Held

To help Chinese companies effectively address IP risks in the Russia-Eurasia market, the internationally renowned IP Law Firm Gorodissky & Partners , in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Observers, held a seminar in Beijing on September 19, 2025, themed "Striking IP Gold in Russia-Eurasian Market: A Comprehensive Guide to IP Protection Strategies." The seminar focused on practical operations related to IP applications, portfolio management, enforcement, and compliance in the Russian-language jurisdictions, with a team of senior partners from Gorodissky & Partners' Moscow office leading the discussions. They shared the latest strategies in patent, trademark, design, and cross-border IP enforcement.

The seminar provided a comprehensive guide for Chinese enterprises, systematically analyzing the characteristics of the Russian and Eurasian IP system, the latest legal policies, and notable case studies. Participants included corporate IP managers, industry experts, and IP professionals, engaging in lively discussions throughout the session. The event offered attendees not only a thorough understanding of the IP legal environment in the Russian and Eurasian market but also practical and actionable advice to protect innovation and safeguard commercial value in this strategically important emerging market.

To view the full article:
https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2253

16/10/2025

Tiansheng Loses RMB 98.6 Million Patent Lawsuit Against Visight

Changzhou Tiansheng New Materials Group has lost its RMB 98.6 million patent infringement lawsuit against its rival Visight Advanced Material, according to an announcement made by Tiansheng on October 10.

The Supreme People’s Court ruled in favor of Visight, affirming the China National Intellectual Property Administration's (CNIPA) decision from September 2023 to invalidate the patent in question. The court dismissed Tiansheng’s administrative lawsuit, confirming the CNIPA’s finding that the patent lacked inventiveness.

The dispute dates back to February 2023 when Tiansheng sued Visight in the Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court, accusing the company’s VICELL-V series products of infringing its patent for “An Improved Crosslinked Polyvinyl Chloride Structural Foam and Its Preparation Method” (Patent No. ZL200910033041.X). Tiansheng sought to stop Visight’s alleged infringement, demand the destruction of the infringing products, and claim RMB 98 million in damages, as well as RMB 600,000 in legal costs.

Visight responded by challenging the patent’s validity before the CNIPA. In September 2023, the CNIPA ruled the patent invalid for lack of inventiveness, which led the the Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court to reject Tiansheng’s claims.

Tiansheng then appealed the first-instance judgment of the Qingdao Intermediate People’s Court to the Supreme People’s Court, while also filing an administrative lawsuit with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court challenging the patent invalidation decision, which it further appealed up to the Supreme People’s Court. Ultimately, the Supreme People’s Court upheld the CNIPA’s invalidation decision, confirming that the patent was invalid and dismissing Tiansheng’s claims.

The legal battle, however, has impacted Visight beyond the courtroom. The lawsuit was filed during a critical phase of Visight’s IPO process. The ongoing litigation, along with Tiansheng’s other patent invalidation requests filed against Visight in March 2023, caused significant setbacks. Four of these patents were invalidated, and the IPO application was ultimately withdrawn in April 2024.

In February 2025, nearly a year after abandoning its IPO attempt, Visight filed a countersuit against Tiansheng for RMB 80 million and a public apology, alleging that Tiansheng’s “malicious IP litigation” caused it to fail to meet the listing requirements and review thresholds, ultimately missing the IPO window and being forced to withdraw its listing application. The court rejected Visight’s counterclaim in July 2025, according to Tiansheng’s announcement.

Photo Source: Yicai Global

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https://lnkd.in/dW95cRXK

10/10/2025

Settlement Reached in Landmark “Jin Yong v. Jiang Nan Fanfiction Case”

On September 19, the long-running copyright infringement and unfair competition case between renowned author Jin Yong and novelist Jiang Nan reached a final settlement after multiple mediations by the Guangdong High People’s Court. The case, referred to as the "first fanfiction case" in China, has spanned nine years, affecting the publishing industry and the literary community.

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https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2252

27/09/2025

2025 World Congress Concludes Successfully

The 2025 AIPPI World Congress was held from September 13 to 16 in Yokohama, Japan, marking a milestone for the global intellectual property (IP) community. This is the third time the Congress has taken place in Japan, with the previous event hosted in 1992. With more than 2,000 attendees from across the globe, the Congress proved to be a pivotal moment for IP professionals to come together, share ideas, and engage in meaningful discussions on the future of intellectual property.

Photo Source: AIPPI
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https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2251

26/09/2025

CosMX Ordered to Pay ATL RMB 9.9 Million in Patent Infringement Ruling, Fujian High People’s Court Rules

CosMX has been ordered to pay RMB 9.9 million in damages to its rival Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) in a patent infringement case, as per a recent ruling by the Fujian High People’s Court.

The ruling, disclosed in an announcement by CosMX on September 15 regarding litigation progress, also requires CosMX to halt the manufacturing and selling of battery cells related to the disputed patent and to bear litigation costs of RMB 52,600.

In response, CosMX confirmed that it would continue to monitor the case’s progress and is preparing to appeal the decision.

The case began in 2022 when ATL accused CosMX of infringing its patent titled “An Electrolyte and Electrochemical Device” (Patent No. ZL201811108529.X). Initially, ATL sought RMB 11 million in damages. In July 2023, ATL amended its claims, raising the damages demand to RMB 1.1 billion, and the case was transferred to the Fujian High People’s Court for trial.

The court ultimately ruled that CosMX had infringed ATL’s patent and issued a ruling mandating the cessation of the production and sale of the relevant battery cells.

This ruling is part of a wider patent dispute between the two companies, spanning several years and jurisdictions. According to CosMX’s 2024 annual report, ATL had filed 21 patent infringement lawsuits against CosMX across China, the U.S., and Germany. Of these, 12 cases were voluntarily withdrawn by ATL, while 2 were dismissed by courts. In the remaining cases, five have been found to involve infringement by CosMX products in the first instance. Notably, one of ATL’s patents was later declared invalid by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).

In the U.S., CosMX has been challenging several of ATL’s patents through Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings. While the results have been mixed at the preliminary stage, legal analysts suggest that the current U.S. patent policy may favor ATL’s position due to stronger protection of intellectual property rights under the Trump administration.

Despite the ongoing litigation, CosMX has also been strengthening its position through strategic patent acquisitions. Recently, CosMX acquired several key lithium battery patents from Panasonic, adding to its intellectual property portfolio. The patents include:

Patent No. ZL201880018653.9, titled “Secondary Battery”;

Patent No. ZL200880001215.8, titled “Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery”;

Patent No. ZL200710008331.X, titled “Lithium Secondary Battery”.

The patent transfers were completed between June and July 2025, and these acquisitions are expected to impact future legal battles and market dynamics.

Photo Source: SSE Roadshow
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https://www.chinaiptoday.com/post.html?id=2250

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