Latest Development in China’s Criminal Regulation on Intellectual Property

In this article, authors Min Ding & Kaiting Xu (China Law Vision/Anjie Broad) take a dive into China’s efforts to strengthen intellectual property (IP) protection, spotlighted during the 25th World Intellectual Property Day and the concurrent National Intellectual Property Week (April 20–26, 2025). Against the backdrop of global uncertainty and economic transformation, China used this occasion to reaffirm its commitment to IP enforcement through a range of judicial and prosecutorial actions. National institutions—including the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), and high-level courts and procuratorates in Beijing and Shanghai—held press conferences to release landmark reports, white papers, and typical IP-related cases, signaling a coordinated approach to reinforcing legal protections in the IP space.

Key developments include the SPC’s 2024 Judicial Protection Report, the SPP’s announcement of nearly 34,000 IP-related prosecutions, and new bilingual white papers from Beijing and Shanghai. The creation of a dedicated “Intellectual Property Prosecution Office” within the SPP represents a structural milestone, aligning it with the IP Court established by the SPC in 2019 and institutionalizing IP crime prosecution at the national level. Data disclosed during the week show that the arrest rate for IP crimes (approx. 39.89%) is notably lower than the average across all criminal cases, reflecting a cautious approach that balances legal enforcement with the educational aspects of IP protection.

Lastly, the authors highlight the significance of publishing IP-related documents in both Chinese and English—a move that underscores China’s intent to promote a transparent, reliable business environment for foreign investors. This bilingual outreach demonstrates equal protection under the law for both domestic and international stakeholders, reinforcing China’s narrative that its IP system is evolving in sophistication and openness. By showcasing enforcement outcomes and systemic improvements, Chinese authorities aim to build international confidence in the country’s legal and commercial infrastructure for IP rights…

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