The document states that, in accordance with the arrangements made at the Central Economic Work Conference, efforts should be focused on key links and priority areas of the photovoltaic industry chain to strengthen intellectual property protection, enhance risk management, and foster a positive industry-wide culture of respect for intellectual property and innovation, thereby leveraging IPR to drive the development of a modern photovoltaic industrial system. By 2027, intellectual property protection will have yielded significant results in fostering the healthy development of the photovoltaic industry.
Focus on advancing high-quality patent portfolio development. Strengthen guidance on corporate patent portfolio development, encouraging enterprises to intensify innovation in areas such as inverters, critical raw and auxiliary materials, equipment, and system components. At the same time, promote patent mining and cultivation across upstream and downstream links, including photovoltaic–energy storage integration, intelligent management systems, and integrated operation and maintenance services. Strengthen intellectual property layout requirements within special projects related to the photovoltaic industry, emphasize quality-oriented approaches, and develop patent outcomes that align with the key technological challenge objectives.
Enhance the efficiency of patent pre-examination and examination. Leverage the role of national-level intellectual property protection centers to provide photovoltaic enterprises with professional and efficient patent pre-examination services. Further streamline the “green channel” for priority patent examination, accelerate the implementation of on-demand examination, and leverage examination practices such as deferred examination and centralized examination to help photovoltaic companies enhance both the quality and efficiency of their patent application portfolios. Strengthen the efficient handling of administrative dispute resolutions. Promote the establishment of a cross-regional joint adjudication mechanism for administrative rulings on photovoltaic patent infringement disputes. Improve the system of technical investigators, strengthen the development of an intellectual property appraisal framework, and enhance technical support for administrative adjudication cases in the photovoltaic sector. Strengthen the efficient coordination between administrative adjudication of patent infringement disputes and related administrative procedures for confirming patent rights, expedite the handling of relevant cases, and enhance the efficiency of rights protection.
The document states that regulations against intellectual property infringement in tendering and bidding will be strengthened. Central enterprises and state-owned enterprises should set a leading example by firmly prohibiting the production, sale, and use of goods that infringe upon intellectual property rights. They are encouraged to include explicit requirements in tender documents stipulating that bidding companies must independently undertake to the effect that their proposed products do not involve any violations or infringements of intellectual property rights. The administrative rulings or final judicial judgments in intellectual property infringement disputes shall be used as an important basis in the procurement tendering processes of central state-owned enterprises.
The original text is as follows:
National Intellectual Property Administration Notice on Protection [2025] No. 41
To the Intellectual Property Administrations and Departments of Industry and Information Technology of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:
In order to thoroughly implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, fully leverage the value of intellectual property protection in safeguarding and incentivizing innovation, effectively address “involutionary” competition, continuously foster a fair and orderly market environment, and promote the healthy development of the photovoltaic industry, the following opinions are hereby put forward.
1. General Requirements
Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all subsequent plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee. In accordance with the arrangements made at the Central Economic Work Conference, focus on key links and priority areas of the photovoltaic industry chain, strengthen intellectual property protection, enhance risk management, foster a positive industry-wide environment that respects intellectual property and innovation, and harness the role of intellectual property in advancing the development of a modern photovoltaic industrial system, thereby supporting the building of a manufacturing powerhouse and an IP powerhouse. Adhere to the principle of combining an efficient market with a proactive government; strengthen policy guidance; reinforce enterprises’ status as primary market players; and foster a sound intellectual property environment. Adhere to the principle of integrating innovation incentives with quality enhancement, further stimulating photovoltaic enterprises’ innovative drive and their enthusiasm for intellectual property creation, and accelerating the deployment of high-quality intellectual property portfolios. Adhere to the principle of combining stringent protection with efficient utilization, improve a well-coordinated and seamless protection framework, and establish a standardized and orderly market-based patent operation mechanism. By 2027, significant progress will have been made in leveraging intellectual property rights to promote the healthy development of the photovoltaic industry. China’s photovoltaic industry has significantly strengthened its intellectual property portfolio, cultivating and strategically deploying a cohort of high-value patents that confer competitive advantages. Efforts to protect intellectual property have been continuously intensified, the level of IP commercialization and utilization has steadily improved, and the industry’s capacity to manage IP-related risks has been steadily enhanced.
2. Key Tasks
(I) Promote high-quality patent layout. Encourage enterprises to intensify R&D investment, accelerate technological advancements in TOPCon cells, back-contact cells, heterojunction cells, and other technologies, and strengthen the filing of high-value patents. Guide enterprises to focus on cutting-edge technologies such as perovskite and tandem solar cells, and proactively secure foundational patents. Strengthen guidance on corporate patent portfolio development, encouraging enterprises to intensify innovation in areas such as inverters, critical raw and auxiliary materials, equipment, and system components. At the same time, promote patent mining and cultivation across upstream and downstream links, including photovoltaic–energy storage integration, intelligent management systems, and integrated operation and maintenance services. Strengthen intellectual property layout requirements within special projects related to the photovoltaic industry, emphasize quality-oriented approaches, and develop patent outcomes that align with the key technological challenge objectives.
(II) Enhance the efficiency of patent preliminary examination and examination. Leverage the role of national-level intellectual property protection centers to provide photovoltaic enterprises with professional and efficient patent pre-examination services. Further streamline the “green channel” for priority patent examination, accelerate the implementation of on-demand examination, and leverage examination practices such as deferred examination and centralized examination to help photovoltaic companies enhance both the quality and efficiency of their patent application portfolios. Support qualified enterprises in targeting diverse international markets, formulating site-specific deployment strategies, and fully leveraging the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) to advance their overseas patent portfolio development.
(III) Strengthen monitoring and early warning of intellectual property risks. Promote the establishment of a full-chain intellectual property infringement risk monitoring mechanism, covering everything from upstream raw material procurement for photovoltaic (PV) applications to PV module manufacturing. Strengthen monitoring of intellectual property risks, IP litigation, the outbound transfer of core technology patents, and public opinion; establish and improve a sound intellectual property risk notification mechanism. Establish a photovoltaic industry intellectual property database to provide enterprises with information on IP laws and regulations, institutional frameworks, and practical guidance in key countries and regions. Regularly publish reports on PV IP development trends and risk alerts.
(IV) Strengthen the efficient handling of dispute administrative rulings. The intellectual property management departments and the departments of industry and information technology of provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government) where the photovoltaic industry is concentrated shall establish specialized mechanisms for resolving PV patent disputes and efficiently handle administrative adjudication cases involving patent infringement in accordance with laws and regulations. Promote the establishment of a cross-regional joint adjudication mechanism for administrative rulings on photovoltaic patent infringement disputes. Improve the system of technical investigators, strengthen the development of an intellectual property appraisal framework, and enhance technical support for administrative adjudication cases in the photovoltaic sector. Strengthen the efficient coordination between administrative adjudication of patent infringement disputes and related administrative procedures for confirming patent rights, expedite the handling of relevant cases, and enhance the efficiency of rights protection.
(V) Strengthen collaborative protection of intellectual property rights. An information-sharing mechanism has been established whereby the intellectual property administrative authorities periodically forward copies of administrative adjudication case files to the ministries and commissions responsible for industry and information technology, state-asset supervision and administration, and customs administration, thereby effectively curbing intentional and repeated infringements of intellectual property rights in the photovoltaic sector. The competent authorities for industry and information technology have rigorously enforced the standardization requirements for the photovoltaic manufacturing industry. Based on a comprehensive assessment of enterprises’ core patents and administrative rulings on intellectual property infringement, they have strengthened the dynamic management of the list of enterprises that meet these standardization criteria. Strengthen customs protection of intellectual property rights, strictly implement the requirements of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, and prohibit the import and export of PV products that infringe intellectual property rights in accordance with the law.
(VI) Strengthening the regulation of infringement in bidding and tendering. Central enterprises and state-owned enterprises should set a leading example by firmly prohibiting the production, sale, and use of goods that infringe upon intellectual property rights. They are encouraged to include explicit requirements in tender documents stipulating that bidding companies must independently undertake to the effect that their proposed products do not involve any violations or infringements of intellectual property rights. The administrative rulings or final judicial judgments in intellectual property infringement disputes shall be used as an important basis in the procurement tendering processes of central state-owned enterprises.
(VII) Guiding the implementation of diversified dispute resolution. Fully leverage the “top-to-top” litigation-mediation linkage mechanism to proactively resolve intellectual property disputes in the photovoltaic industry. Areas meeting the requisite conditions are encouraged to leverage intellectual property protection centers and other relevant organizations to carry out intellectual property mediation services for the photovoltaic industry. Support industry associations and other social organizations in actively participating in the mediation of intellectual property disputes involving photovoltaic enterprises. Encourage arbitration institutions that are so equipped to strengthen their specialized teams for handling intellectual property disputes in the photovoltaic industry. Fully leverage the role of industry organizations by issuing a self-regulatory initiative for the photovoltaic industry to respect intellectual property rights.
(VIII) Promote the efficient transformation and application of intellectual property. Leveraging the existing patent revitalization system of universities and research institutions, we will accelerate the matching of supply and demand for photovoltaic patents and their industrial application. Fully leverage the roles of PV industry enterprises, trade associations, and research institutions to establish an industrial intellectual property operation center. On the principles of market orientation, balanced interests, openness, and non-discrimination, a patent pool shall be formed to facilitate the efficient commercialization and collaborative utilization of intellectual property assets across the value chain.
(IX) Strengthen responses to overseas intellectual property risks. Improve the overseas intellectual property rights protection assistance mechanism for the photovoltaic industry. Strengthen intellectual property risk prevention in photovoltaic enterprises’ international trade fair participation, product exports, and overseas investments. Fully leverage the role of the Photovoltaic Industry Sub-center for Guidance on Responding to Overseas Intellectual Property Disputes, guide PV companies to strengthen information sharing and exchange on overseas intellectual property matters, and enhance their capacity to handle overseas IP disputes. Leverage a robust portfolio of high-value patents to collaboratively address overseas intellectual property litigation. Support enterprises in establishing an overseas intellectual property rights protection and mutual assistance fund for the photovoltaic industry to help reduce the costs of managing intellectual property risks.
(X) Enhancing enterprises' intellectual property capabilities. Guide photovoltaic enterprises in establishing intellectual property compliance management systems. Conduct specialized training to strengthen intellectual property protection for photovoltaic enterprises. Support research institutions, intellectual property protection centers, and other entities in organizing regular training programs for IP management personnel at PV companies, with a view to accelerating the development of a pool of high-caliber, multidisciplinary professionals who can drive the commercialization and application of IP assets in the PV industry and effectively manage associated risks. Fully leverage the role of intellectual property public service institutions and strengthen public service support for core technology R&D efforts by photovoltaic enterprises. Promote exchanges and cooperation with high-level photovoltaic industry associations in Belt and Road partner countries and other countries (regions), and contribute China’s strength to the global PV industry’s development. (11) Strengthen trademark branding and protection. Guide PV companies to enhance their brand management capabilities and elevate the creation, utilization, and protection of their trademarks and brands. Promote photovoltaic companies to actively shape a positive image of Chinese brands and develop well-known brands with international influence. Strengthen trademark protection and severely crack down on acts such as counterfeiting well-known trademarks and brands, as well as malicious trademark applications. Guide PV companies to effectively monitor the use of their trademarks overseas, thereby reducing the risk of trademark and domain-name hijacking and enabling timely and appropriate resolution of overseas intellectual property disputes.
3. Work Guarantees
The intellectual property management departments and the competent departments of industry and information technology shall establish a coordination and consultation mechanism for the development of intellectual property in the photovoltaic industry, strengthen overall guidance, and form a regular communication mechanism. Actively explore mechanisms for central-local coordination and regional collaboration. Increase support for public service platforms in the photovoltaic sector. Photovoltaic enterprises that demonstrate outstanding capabilities in innovation and R&D, as well as in intellectual property management and utilization, shall receive preferential treatment in project applications, credit rating assessments, and other related administrative processes. By pooling high-quality service resources from overseas, we will work with industry associations to establish a specialized think tank comprising experts in intellectual property, industry, law, and public services, among other fields. Strengthen publicity efforts to protect intellectual property rights in the photovoltaic sector, innovate outreach methods, collect and disseminate best practices, and foster a positive social environment that respects intellectual property and champions innovation. National Intellectual Property Administration Ministry of Industry and Information Technology December 29, 2025