On April 11, 2025, China's National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published a Business Reminder aimed at enhancing the standardization of patent application documents. The document emphasizes that the background section of the specification must refrain from incorporating any political content unrelated to the technological aspects and mandates the exclusive use of official maps sourced from China's Ministry of Natural Resources to guarantee their accuracy, legality, and authority. This requirement poses challenges for foreign applicants since access to the Ministry's mapping website is reportedly restricted for non-national users. The Reminder articulates several key points to streamline the drafting of patent application documents in line with the “Patent Examination Guidelines.” Firstly, it highlights that the primary focus of any patent application should be the technical solution documented within, advising against the inclusion of extraneous information, particularly in the background technology and illustrations. Secondly, it stipulates that the background technology segment should only present information and documents pertinent to understanding, searching, and assessing the invention or utility model. When discussing the shortcomings of existing technologies, applicants are encouraged to concentrate strictly on the technical dimensions, avoiding any mention of political, economic, or cultural contexts that do not directly pertain to the technology. Lastly, the guidelines suggest that maps should only be included when they are directly relevant to the protection scope, and if necessary, applicants must utilize standardized maps obtained from the Ministry's “Standard Map Service System.” In doing so, they are urged to comply with all relevant laws and regulations governing the creation of such drawings. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of the patent application and authorization processes while ensuring compliance with established standards.
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