The Supreme People's Court Issues Report - Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in Chinese Courts (2022)
Date: 20 April 2023
On 20 April 2023, the Supreme People’s Court issued its report ‘Judicial Protection of Intellectual Property Rights in Chinese Courts (2022)’, which reflects recent developments in the judicial protection of intellectual property rights in China throughout the country’s court system, and provides information relating to both the number and type of IP cases brought in the various courts in 2022.
Details in the Report include the following:
Source: The Supreme People’s Court of the People’s republic of China
https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-397082.html
最高法发布《中国法院知识产权司法保护状况（2022年）》
发文日期：2023-04-20
2023年4月20日，最高法发布《中国法院知识产权司法保护状况（2022年）》，从案件总体情况、数据领域知识产权保护、纠纷多样化解决方式、知识产权国际交流等方面，系统介绍了中国知识产权司法保护的新进展。
2022年，全国法院新收一审、二审、申请再审等各类知识产权案件526165件，审结543379件（含旧存）比 2021 年分别下降 18.17% 和 9.67%。2022年人民法院受理的知识产权技术类案件数量持续上升，具体来看，2022年，最高人民法院知识产权法庭新收技术类知识产权民事二审实体案件数量保持较高增长。地方各级人民法院新收涉专利、技术合同一审案件数量增幅明显。江苏法院新收技术性较强的知识产权权属、侵权纠纷案件1817件，同比增长17.61%。山西、海南法院新收知识产权案件数量同比增长达22.21%和72.58%。河北法院知识产权案件收结案数同比增长45.94%和106.01%。辽宁法院新收知识产权民事案件数同比增长61%。江西法院新收知识产权民事一审案件数同比增长22%。湖南、黑龙江、新疆生产建设兵团等地法院收案量也延续了稳定增长的态势。
资料来源：最高法 2023-04-20
新闻链接：https://www.court.gov.cn/zixun-xiangqing-397082.html
The Supreme People's Procuratorate Reported on National IPR Prosecution Work in 2022 and Issued Guidelines for People’s Procuratorates on Handling IPR Cases
Date: 26 April 2023
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate reported that from January 2022 to March 2023, the procuratorates nationwide prosecuted more than 7,300 cases and 15,000 persons for crimes of infringement of intellectual property rights, advised administrative authorities to transfer more than 550 suspected criminals in total to public security authorities, supervised the filing of more than 520 cases and the dismissal of more than 410 cases by the public security authorities, corrected the omission of more than 150 suspects from the public security authorities for arrest, corrected the omission of more than 980 co-defendants referred for review and prosecution, and handled more than 1,100 cases of civil and administrative litigation supervision of intellectual property rights.
In order to enhance the capacity and level of judicial protection of intellectual property rights nationwide, the Supreme People's Procuratorate issued Guidelines for People’s Procuratorates on Handling IPR Cases on 26 April. The Guidelines consist of 45 articles, divided into five areas, including general principles; handling of criminal intellectual property cases; handling of civil and administrative litigation supervision cases; and handling of public interest litigation cases. The Guidelines clarify the scope of cases and the manner in which IPR procuratorates should perform their duties; specify that IPR cases mainly include criminal, civil, administrative and public interest litigation cases; and provide for procuratorates to give exercise fully their criminal and litigation prosecutorial and supervisory functions. The Guidelines also make it clear that the procuratorates should strengthen communication with public security authorities, people's courts and administrative departments in relation to intellectual property rights, promptly transfer evidence of criminal activity and inform relevant organs of the acceptance of criminal cases, promote the sharing of information on law enforcement and judicial case handling, and ensure uniformity in the application of judicial standards.
Source: The Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the People’s Republic of China
https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbh/202304/t20230426_612558.shtml
最高检通报2022年度全国知识产权检察工作情况并发布《人民检察院办理知识产权案件工作指引》
日期：2023年4月26日
2022年1月至2023年3月，全国检察机关共起诉侵犯知识产权犯罪7300余件1.5万余人；共建议行政机关向公安机关移送涉嫌犯罪嫌疑人550余人；监督公安机关立案520余件，监督撤案410余件；纠正公安机关遗漏提请逮捕犯罪嫌疑人150余人，纠正遗漏移送审查起诉同案犯980余人；共办理知识产权民事行政诉讼监督案件1100余件。
为提升知识产权司法保护的能力和水平，最高人民检察院于4月26日发布了《人民检察院办理知识产权案件工作指引》（以下简称《工作指引》）。《工作指引》共45条，分为总则、知识产权刑事案件的办理、民事和行政诉讼监督案件的办理、公益诉讼案件的办理等五个方面。《工作指引》明确了知识产权检察的案件范围和履职方式，明确规定知识产权案件主要包括刑事、民事、行政和公益诉讼案件，规定检察院充分发挥刑事检察职能和诉讼检察职能、实行法律监督。《工作指引》还明确检察机关应当加强与公安机关、人民法院、知识产权相关行政部门等沟通交流，及时移送违法犯罪线索并及时告知相关机关刑事案件受理情况，推进执法司法办案动态信息互通和共享，保证司法裁判标准适用的统一。
来源：中华人民共和国最高人民检察院
https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbh/202304/t20230426_612558.shtml
Report on China’s Combating of IPR Infringement and Counterfeiting 2022 was Issued
Date: 26 April 2023
A report on combating IPR infringement and counterfeiting in 2022 has been issued by the Office of the National Leading Group on Coordinated Implementation of Building a Quality-powered Nation. The Report elaborates on the effectiveness of China's efforts to combat infringement and counterfeiting in 2022, focusing on top-level design, laws and regulations, administrative law enforcement, judicial protection, diversified governance, publicity and guidance, international cooperation.
In terms of administrative law enforcement, China has achieved outstanding results in the following key areas: Firstly, rectification on the Internet: a total of 840,000 links of IPR infringing and pirating content were taken down, 15,400 IPR infringing accounts were disposed of, and 1,180 online IPR infringement cases were investigated and dealt with. Secondly, rectification in key livelihood areas: 44,000 illegal cases relating to trademark infringement, patent counterfeiting was investigated and dealt with, involving a total amount of RMB 1.62 billion (approx. $US 229 million). Thirdly, rectification on import and export: in 2022, the General Administration of Customs detained 61,000 batches of suspected infringing goods, involving 77,939,000 pieces of goods; postal administration departments at all levels conducted a total of 31,000 inspections for the purpose of administrative law enforcement and handled 6,077 administrative penalty cases.
In terms of judicial protection of intellectual property rights, China has increased its criminal crackdown on intellectual property crimes. In 2022, a total of 27,000 criminal cases of intellectual property infringement and the production and sale of counterfeit goods were cracked; the procuratorial organs approved the arrest of more than 3,600 suspects and prosecuted 13,000 persons; courts at all levels concluded 2.194 million first instance IPR cases, a year-on-year increase of 221.1%, and the compensation amount increased by 153% compared to 2018.
Source: The State Council of the People’s Republic of China
http://www.gov.cn/lianbo/2023-04/27/content_5753402.htm
《中国打击侵权假冒工作年度报告（2022）》发布
日期：2023-04-26
国家质量强国建设协调推进领导小组办公室发布了《中国打击侵权假冒工作年度报告（2022）》。该《报告》围绕优化顶层设计、健全法律法规、强化行政执法、注重司法保护、实施多元治理、加强宣传引导、深化国际合作7个方面，阐述了2022年中国打击侵权假冒工作的成效。
在行政执法方面，中国在以下重点领域取得突出成效：其一，深化互联网领域整治，删除侵权盗版链接 84 万条，处置侵权账号 1.54 万个，查处网络侵权案件 1180 件。其二，推进重点民生领域整治，查处商标侵权、 假冒专利等违法案件 4.4 万件，涉案金额 16.2 亿元。其三，加强对进出口等重点环节的整治。2022年，海关总署扣留侵权嫌疑货物 6.1 万批， 涉及货物数量 7793.9 万件；各级邮政部门开展行政执法检查 3.1 万人次，办理行政处罚案件 6077 件。
在知识产权司法保护方面， 中国对知识产权犯罪的刑事打击力度加强。2022年全年共破获侵犯知识产权和制售伪劣商品犯罪案件 2.7 万起；检察机关共批准逮捕涉嫌侵犯知识产权犯罪嫌疑人 3600 余人， 提起公诉 1.3 万人；各级法院审结一审知识产权案件 219.4 万件，同比增长 221.1%，判赔额较2018 年增长 153%。
资料来源：中央人民政府 2023-04-26
新闻链接：http://www.gov.cn/lianbo/2023-04/27/content_5753402.htm
China’s First Case Involving Virtual Digital Human - Defendant Liable for Copyright Infringement and Unfair Competition
Date: 26 April 2023
The Plaintiff, Xmov Technology Ltd. (Xmov Company), used artificial intelligence technology to create Ada, a virtual digital human. The Defendant, a network company in Hangzhou, released two videos through its Douyin account. The videos used the content related to Ada that had been released by Xmov Company, replaced the logo of Xmov Company in the opening and closing credits, and inserted marketing information about the Defendant’s virtual digital human course. In one of the videos the Defendant's registered trademark was included.
The Hangzhou Internet Court held that the representation of the virtual digital human, Ada, constituted an artwork for the purposes of the Copyright Law and the related videos using Ada's image constituted audiovisual works and a video production. Xmov Company enjoyed intellectual property rights in the work. Xu, an employee of Xmov Company had performed the live-action drive on the virtual digital human Ada in the course of his employment, and Xmov Company was the owner of rights in the performance. The Defendant's release of the video infringed Xmov Company's right of information network dissemination. Further, the Defendant had used Ada to attract traffic for marketing purposes, which directly harmed Xmov Company’s commercial interests and constituted an act of unfair competition.
The Court found in favour of Xmov Company and ordered the Defendant to pay RMB 120,000 (approx. $US 17,000) in compensation for economic loss and legal costs.
Source: The Hangzhou Internet Court
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/IhvYGLk6_KqXZZIiiQkJJA
首例涉“虚拟数字人”侵权案判决公布，被告构成著作权侵权及不正当竞争
日期：2023-04-26
原告魔珐公司应用人工智能技术，打造了虚拟数字人Ada。被告杭州某网络公司通过抖音账号，发布了两段视频，在视频的居中位置使用了魔珐公司发布的与Ada相关的视频内容，并在片头片尾替换掉了魔珐公司的有关标识、插入虚拟数字人课程的营销信息，还在其中一段视频中添加了被告的注册商标。
杭州互联网法院经审理认为，虚拟数字人不具有作者身份，不享有著作权和邻接权。但是，虚拟数字人Ada的表现形式构成美术作品，使用Ada形象的相关视频分别构成视听作品和录像制作，魔珐公司享有对该作品的财产性权利及录像制作者权。对虚拟数字人Ada进行真人驱动的魔珐公司职工徐某，符合《著作权法》中的表演者的相关规定，其进行的职务表演由魔珐公司享有表演者权中的财产性权利。因此，被告杭州某网络公司发布视频的行为，侵害了魔珐公司的信息网络传播权。同时，被告公司利用虚拟数字人Ada进行引流营销，直接损害魔珐公司的商业利益，构成虚假宣传的不正当竞争行为。最终，法院判决被告杭州某网络公司赔偿原告魔珐公司经济损失（含维权费用）12万元。
资料来源：杭州互联网法院