China to Launch Multiple Special Campaigns to Strengthen Intellectual Property Protection

The Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference Office for the National Intellectual Property Powerhouse Development released the 2026 Action Plan for Advancing the Construction of an Intellectual Property Powerhouse on April 16, outlining key tasks in seven areas, including improving the IP legal framework, strengthening IP protection, enhancing IP market mechanisms, and deepening participation in global IP governance. The plan explicitly calls for launching multiple special campaigns to intensify IP protection.

According to the plan, China will carry out campaigns such as the "Sword Net 2026" anti-online piracy operation, the "Sword Shadow 2026" cinema copyright protection operation, and the Juvenile Copyright Protection Season, while improving mechanisms for early warning on key works and copyright protection for cultural and creative products. Special enforcement actions under the "Guardian of IP" initiative will target emerging sectors and e-commerce. The customs-led "Soaring Dragon" IP protection operation will be organized, with accelerated development of a "Smart IP" customs scenario.

The plan also emphasizes stricter measures against patent applications and malicious trademark registrations that violate the principle of good faith, improved precision services for patent pre-examination, enhanced guidance on the registration of regional brand trademarks, and timely handling of trademarks with significant adverse effects.

Furthermore, the plan calls for establishing a long-term mechanism for the transformation and application of IP rights, improving the ecosystem for IP utilization, continuing efforts to identify and activate dormant patents held by universities and research institutions, strengthening pre-filing patent evaluations and duty exemption mechanisms for technology transfer, and exploring the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate patent conversion and application.