Regulation on the Issuance of the Action Plan for the "Year of Rectification and Standardization" in the Intellectual Property Agency Industry

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Guo Zhi Fa Yun Zi [2026] No. 13

To the Intellectual Property Offices, Departments (Bureaus) of Public Security, and Administrations for Market Regulation (Departments, Commissions) of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps; and all relevant units:

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) have jointly formulated the Action Plan for the "Year of Rectification and Standardization" in the Intellectual Property Agency Industry. This plan is hereby issued to you. Please ensure its earnest implementation in light of your local practical conditions.

China National Intellectual Property Administration

Ministry of Public Security

State Administration for Market Regulation

April 16, 2026

Action Plan for the "Year of Rectification and Standardization" in the Intellectual Property Agency Industry

Since November 2025, the CNIPA, MPS, and SAMR have jointly conducted special rectification actions in the intellectual property (IP) agency industry, achieving phased results. To thoroughly implement the decision-making and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, further consolidate rectification achievements, promote the standardized and healthy development of the IP agency industry, and foster a favorable ecosystem for innovation and service, it has been decided to organize the "Year of Rectification and Standardization" action nationwide throughout 2026.

I. Work Objectives

Strict Governance and Thorough Rectification. Adhere to the principle of "strictness first," maintain a high-pressure regulatory posture, and resolutely crack down on typical illegal and irregular agency behaviors. Exercise comprehensive rigor in agency approval, routine supervision, and industry self-discipline to achieve a fundamental turnaround in industry order.

Promotion of Governance through Rectification and Standardized Development. Clean up illegal agencies and personnel through "rectification," and solidify the foundation for industry growth through "standardization" to accelerate high-quality development.

Synergistic Efforts and Comprehensive Measures. Strengthen the linkage between the policy, application, agency, and examination ends. Standardize the entire chain of IP application, agency, transaction, and utilization to build a robust IP innovation ecosystem.

Key Targets by Year-End 2026:

• Illegal and irregular behaviors are comprehensively curbed.
• "Black and gray" industrial chains involving fraudulent patents and improper transactions are effectively eradicated.
• Industry entry quality is significantly enhanced, achieving "lean and healthy" growth.
• Long-term mechanisms for collaborative, credit-based, and smart regulation are further improved.
• The professional responsibility and honor of practitioners are strengthened, fully leveraging the role of IP agencies in supporting technological innovation and protection.

II. Key Tasks

(1) Strict Crackdown: Concentrated Rectification of Illegal Agency Behaviors

1. Extensive Investigation of Leads. Focus on the "black and gray" chain of patent fraud. Improve channels for whistleblowing, strengthen monitoring of online behavior, and analyze agency data. Target leads involving forged applicant information, fabricated patents, the leasing of agency qualifications (e.g., "franchising" or "hanging certificates"), and the publication of irregular business solicitations.
2. Severe Punishment of Violations. Lawfully penalize applicants, agencies, or practitioners involved in bad-faith applications, unauthorized patent agencies, or the forgery of legal documents and seals. Regulate platform enterprises to improve internal audit rules and restrict irregular business solicitation language.
3. Increased Criminal Enforcement. Strengthen the connection between administrative and criminal justice. Transfer cases involving suspected crimes—such as infringement of personal information, forgery of state seals, or fraud—to public security organs promptly.

(2) Strict Approval: Firm Guarding of Industry Entry

1. Rigorous Agency Approval and Record-filing. Establish information-sharing mechanisms to verify the qualifications of shareholders and partners. Prevent "rebranding" to evade supervision. Strictly regulate personnel with "hanging certificate" histories.
2. Strengthened Oversight of Branches and Practitioners. Verify application materials against corporate registration and social security data to prevent "shell" branches and fraudulent internships. Promote "one-stop" online filing where conditions permit.

(3) Strict Supervision: Enhancing Industry Professionalism

1. Conducting "Retrospective Reviews" of Self-Rectification. From April to June 2026, verify the rectification progress of agencies. Clean up those no longer meeting licensing conditions and punish those who refuse to rectify.
2. Strict Implementation of the Patent Attorney Signature Responsibility System. Ensure the authenticity of signatures. Monitor agency volume and fields of practice. Implement "dual punishment" for both agencies and individuals in cases of massive bad-faith applications.
3. Advancing Smart and Credit Regulation. Complete the IP Agency Smart Supervision System for dynamic monitoring and risk early warning. Implement joint restrictions on dishonest entities regarding patent pre-examination and prioritized examination.
4. Strengthening Self-Discipline and Professional Conduct. Industry associations shall refine disciplinary rules and enhance professional ethics education.
5. Improving Talent Professionalism. Establish a lifelong education system for patent attorneys and explore annual training assessment mechanisms.

(4) Strict Standardization: Strengthening Whole-Chain Management

1. Establishment of Notification Mechanisms for Patent Fraud. Transfer leads regarding staff from universities, research institutes, and enterprises involved in patent fabrication to their respective governing authorities.
2. Guidance for Internal Controls in Institutions. Encourage universities and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to improve employee invention disclosure systems and pre-application assessment protocols to prevent fraud at the source.
3. Enhanced Control in Examination and Adjudication. Verify the identity of applicants and inventors. Improve patent electronic account management and monitor abnormal payment behaviors to curb improper patent trading.
4. Optimization of Patent-Related Evaluation Policies. Prevent "quantity-only" policies. Communicate with relevant departments to adjust internal evaluation systems that may inadvertently encourage irregular patent applications.

III. Schedule

1. Deployment (April 2026): Refine specific measures and assign responsibilities; conduct thorough reviews of existing leads and pending cases.
2. Concentrated Rectification (May – September 2026): Focus on cracking down on the "black and gray" chain; implement "dual punishment" and "dual notification" mechanisms; handle high-profile landmark cases.
3. Consolidation and Improvement (October – November 2026): Summarize experiences, optimize regulatory systems, and improve management platforms.
4. Summary and Evaluation (December 2026): Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the action's effectiveness and solidify long-term mechanisms.

IV. Organizational Safeguards

All regions must elevate their political stance, fulfill local regulatory responsibilities, and ensure strict and standardized law enforcement. Efforts should be made to strengthen departmental synergy, especially in guiding research institutions to fulfill their "gatekeeper" duties. Industry organizations must play a self-regulatory role. Publicity should be intensified to expose typical cases, thereby creating a strong deterrent of "not daring to violate" and a conscious culture of "not wishing to violate." Steady progress in the "Year of Rectification and Standardization" will enhance the quality and value of intellectual property across the nation.