Asia: Intellectual Property

The commercial exploitation of fictional characters is hardly new. Recognisable characters from film and television sell everything from toys and apparel to cars and financial services. But when does borrowing a character for an advertisement cross the line from creative reference into infringement?

AFD China's August 2026 newsletter covers China's updated patent priority examination measures, enhanced copyright protection for digital content, IP development goals through 2030, and five landmark cases on malicious intellectual property litigation released by the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

China's Supreme People's Court has issued an amended judicial interpretation expanding copyright protection to cover digital media alongside traditional print formats.

When manufacturing custom products in China, companies face critical decisions about legal protections at different stages of the supplier relationship. Understanding when to deploy an NNN Agreement versus a Manufacturing Agreement—and how to structure each for enforcement in Chinese courts—can mean the difference between protecting your intellectual property and losing control of your designs, molds, and market position.

후난성은 시장감독 분야의 표준 및 지식재산 서비스 자원을 통합하고,고가치 특허와 인지도 높은 상표 및 브랜드를 기반으로 국제표준을 연계하는 해외 지식재산 보호체계를 구축할 계획이다.

中国で人工知能（AI）の「幻覚」を意図的に誘導して虚偽の証拠を作成し、商標権侵害訴訟を起こしたとして、企業に10万元の司法制裁が科された。AIを悪用した証拠捏造に対する司法判断として全国初の事例とされる。（1元は約23.5円）

In the knowledge-based economy, technical innovation drives market competition, leading enterprises to adopt commissioned and cooperative development models to integrate external resources and achieve collaborative innovation. This article systematically examines the legal framework governing patent application rights in joint R&D arrangements, analyzing how parties' rights and obligations differ across development stages from initial research through patent maintenance.

Indonesia has eliminated copyright registration fees for songs and musical works, reducing costs from $11 to zero in an effort to build a comprehensive national music database. While the policy is expected to significantly benefit domestic copyright owners by encouraging active registration, foreign rights holders may see limited practical advantages as they continue to face enforcement challenges in the country.

商标许可是企业开拓新市场、依托本地分支机构开展经营，或是授权经销商、商业合作伙伴使用自身品牌的常用方式。但各国规范商标许可的法规不尽相同，泰国的部分要求常常令境外品牌权利人感到意外。

This article examines how cosmetic patent applications in China face rejection risks under Patent Law Article 5 due to safety concerns.

上海市高级人民法院在小i机器人与苹果公司的专利侵权纠纷中作出一审判决，驳回小i机器人的全部侵权诉讼请求。本案围绕聊天机器人系统专利௚

후난성은 시장감독 분야의 표준 및 지식재산 서비스 자원을 통합하고,고가치 특허와 인지도 높은 상표 및 브랜드를 기반으로 국제표준을 연계하는 해외 지식재산 보호체계를 구축할 계획이다.