Quarterly China IP Update

On February 5, 2022, China acceded to the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the “Hague System”), and the Hague provisions became effective in China on May 5, 2022. The Hague System, administered by WIPO, provides a mechanism for registering an industrial design in multiple countries or regions simultaneously through one single application, filed in one language with one set of fees (in one currency). Thus, under the Hague System, a whole series of applications that would otherwise have to be filed with the respective national offices are replaced by one international application. The initial period of protection under the Hague System is five years. The right holder can then renew their design twice, which guarantees at least 15 years of protection.