China Patent Service

More than half million patents applied in China per year, based on 2006 statistics, with 20% annual increase.

Roughly equal number in invention, utility, and design.

More than half invention patents are applied by inventors from outside China.

Typical time needed to get invention patent approved is 22 months

Most utility patents are of Chinese origin.

Typical time needed to get utility patent approved is 9 months

Most design patents are of Chinese origin.

Typical time needed to get design patent approved is 6 months