The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) – located in Wuhan city in Central China's Hubei province – recently announced that a major intellectual property rights protection center there is to expand its role and change its name.
WHDZ officials said that the new-look China Wuhan (Creative Services) Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Protection Center will be located in the Zhuankou economic development center, which is part of the WHDZ.
They said the center is expected to provide expeditious and efficient pre-examinations, confirmations and protection of IP rights for companies, universities, colleges and scientific research institutions in Wuhan and also in the province.
China Wuhan (Automotive and Parts) Intellectual Property Rapid Rights Protection Center [Photo/whkfq.gov.cn]
In July 2018, the National Intellectual Property Administration approved the establishment of the existing China Wuhan (Automotive and Parts) Intellectual Property Rapid Rights Protection Center in the WHDZ.
The center was the first IP protection center approved by the State Intellectual Property Administration in Hubei province at the time.
It mainly performs pre-examinations, rights protection and mediation of IP disputes related to industrial design patents in Wuhan and the province.
In April this year, the China Wuhan (Automotive and Parts) Intellectual Property Rapid Rights Protection Center expanded the scope of its pre-examinations function -- and was included on a list of 151 key projects compiled by Wuhan to request support from national ministries and commissions.
WHDZ officials said the center plans to change its name to the China Wuhan (Creative Services) Intellectual Property Rights Protection Center,
The types and fields of pre-examination patents covered have been expanded to full range of utility model patents and design patent applications.
After expanding the scope of the pre-examinations, the new IP rights protection center will become the first fast-track IP rights protection center in China that can quickly examine utility model patents.
The examination and authorization processing time for design patents will be shortened from the original average of about six months to less than one month – and as little as one week.
