The Chinese Patent Office recently announced that China’s valid invention patents will enjoy patent protection in Cambodia. This new development applies only to invention patents issued in China and filed after January 22, 2003. The patentee must file in Cambodia for his/her patent to take effect, and documents will need to be submitted in English and Cambodian (Khmer).
According to a legislative proposal submitted to China’s National People’s Congress on March 13the, the Chinese Patent Office, or SIPO, will have expanded jurisdiction to include trademarks and geographical indications, in addition to patents. Worth noting that copyrights will still not be examined by SIPO. The proposal passed on March 17, 2018. This is a part of a comprehensive reform package for China’s State Council. There may be different interpretations for the reform, but generally it is agreed that the proposed changes will reduce redundancies and overlapping jurisdictions among the various agencies.