The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced that starting September 1, 2025, all Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) hearings will be held in-person. All parties will be expected to appear in person for hearings absent a showing of good cause. Good cause will generally be limited to circumstances such as financial hardship, medical emergencies, or other comparable obstacles to in-person attendance. It’s important to note that the approval of one party to appear virtually does not establish good cause for other parties in the same matter to also appear virtually. Hearings will be held at one of the USPTO’s offices. Parties may request a specific office location for their hearing, and the PTAB will attempt to accommodate these requests. The public maintains the ability to remotely attend PTAB hearings. To access a hearing virtually—or in-person—submit a request to PTABHearings@uspto.gov at least three business days before the hearing. For more information, visit the PTAB hearings page of the USPTO website, contact PTABHearings@uspto.gov, or call 571-272-9797. Stay current with the USPTO by subscribing to receive email updates from our Subscription Center.

On July 17, the National Association of Patent Agents released the first batch of patent agency precision service guarantee list. Our firm, as one of the total of 986 patent agencies were selected among 6,000+ patent agencies nationwide. According to a previous report by China Intellectual Property News, the selection process requires a comprehensive evaluation of the agency's business capacity, agency workforce, credit evaluation and other factors. 

Trademark registration application of five circumstances, can request rapid review  Recently, CNIPA on the release of “trademark registration application rapid review methods” announcement, according to the second Article With one of the following circumstances of the trademark registration application, can request rapid review: (a) Involving commercial spaceflight, low-altitude economy, deep-sea science and technology and other national development of strategic emerging industries and bio-manufacturing, quantum science and technology, body intelligence, 6G and other future industries, and there is an urgent need to obtain the exclusive right to use the trademark; (ii) Involving national or provincial major projects, major projects, major scientific and technological infrastructure, major events, major exhibitions and important cultural heritage and other signs, and trademark protection is urgent; (C) Involving the provincial people's government to promote the construction of a modernized industrial system, the layout of the industrial chain around the development of new quality productivity, and the trademark has been used; (D) During the period of particularly significant natural disasters, particularly significant accidents and disasters, particularly significant public health incidents, particularly significant social security incidents and other public emergencies, and is directly related to the response to the public emergency; (E) in order to serve the high-quality economic and social development, to promote the implementation of the Outline of the Construction of a Strong Intellectual Property Rights, or other national interests, social and public interests or major regional development strategies of great practical significance. Upon receipt of a request for expedited review, CNIPA shall conduct a strict examination of the application materials. In line with the provisions of these Measures, granted rapid review. Does not comply with the provisions of these measures, not rapid review, and within fiv