Embracing enforcement and examinations – Asia-Pacific IP Focus launched

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Embracing enforcement and examinations – Asia-Pacific IP Focus launched

editorial-adobestock-440916445.jpg

IP experts have come together in Asia-Pacific IP Focus to provide insight into IP developments for 2021 and beyond.

Managing IP’s 2021 Asia-Pacific IP Focus looks at a series of thought-provoking IP developments across China, India, Japan and South Korea, that have come to the forefront during the past few months.

Interaction with national patent offices is a seminal topic in this guide, as countries respond to the increasing use of enforcement and examinations, while contending with how to react to the changes under IP law.

In June 2021, China’s amended patent law came into force, with notable wider protection offered for designs. Through the use of case studies, the article by DEQI Intellectual Property explains how applicants can overcome office actions concerning substantive defects of design applications.

Arguments for inventive step in the Japan Patent Office examination can be categorised into five particular groups: fact finding, matter of design, motivation, obstructive factor and effect. If an applicant can persuade the examiner to accept any one of these arguments, the rejection of inventive step is overturned. Shiga International Patent Office’s article presents a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of such arguments in the examination.

The Indian Patent Office has often been seen to interpret Section 59 of the Indian Patent Act in a highly restrictive manner, thus raising barriers to amendment. The authors from Anand and Anand explore the limits of claim amendments in India and call for modification to the rules to reflect global standards.

Through a set of example cases, FirstLaw PC’s article outlines the investigation procedure that can be sought by IP holders against unfair international trade practices involving IP infringement through the Korea Trade Commission’s proceedings. Corrective measures, penalties and remedies for such infringement are cited in further detail.

As the investment climate bounces back in the Asia-Pacific, IP queries and research and development looks set to grow in the coming year. We hope that you enjoy hearing from the IP experts leading the progression in our Asia-Pacific IP Focus.

Prin Shasiharan

Senior commercial editor

Managing IP

Click here to read all the chapters from Asia-Pacific IP Focus 2021

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Arty Rajendra and Gary Moss discuss why ‘thorough and intense’ preparation, plus the odd glass of wine, led to a record FRAND victory for their client
Monday’s coverage includes news of a potentially 'game-changing' trademark development in China and how practitioners are using AI
Managing IP gives a taster of the numbers behind this year’s IP STARS trademark rankings, and looks back at our 2025 award winners
Updates from IP offices, the shifting requirements of in-house counsel, and news of London 2026 were among major talking points on Sunday
Etienne Sanz de Acedo discusses the association’s three-year plan, what he is looking forward to in San Diego, and why London came calling for 2026
Professionals from three organisations reveal what led them to sponsor Brand Action and why doing so can build camaraderie
The results of a UK government consultation on the exhaustion of IP rights and an annual review published by the EPO’s Boards of Appeal were also among the top talking points this week
The decision disregards Perlmutter’s work at the US Copyright Office and comes at a time when strong leadership and expertise are crucial
Sources say the decision to fire Shira Perlmutter raises constitutional concerns and speculate on what the decision could mean for the country’s approach to AI
India has formally liberalised its legal market, allowing foreign firms to open offices in the country and provide advisory services
Gift this article