Case Studies

Portfolio planningGlobal patent portfolio for an intraventricular left ventricular assist device

The client was a medical device project of a well-known university’s technology transfer company. The device comprises three independent parts - a miniature pump head, a transmission shaft and a drive control module - so a single application would not have prevented a competitor from manufacturing and selling the parts separately. Working from a defensive portfolio perspective, and taking account of the volume of competitor filings, the team built a protective network around the core technology.

8 Chinese applications→ 1 PCT application (claiming priority)→ EuropeUnited StatesJapanSouth Korea

The engagement also produced a macro analysis of 1,000 patents, a portfolio recommendation combining core patents with a peripheral defensive ring, and an assessment of the prospects of grant.

Foreign filingsGlobal applications via the PCT and the Paris Convention

· PCT route: PCT/CN2020/085277 was filed claiming priority from CN201910322033.0 and entered the national phase within 30 months in the United States, Canada, Europe (validated in France), Japan, South Korea and Thailand; PCT/CN2022/104747 entered South Korea, Europe and Japan directly.

· Paris Convention route: CN202410741623.8 was used as the priority document for filings within 12 months in Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong; CN202410715967.1 was used in the same way for Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

Several hundred foreign patent applications handled to date, covering the United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Brazil, Israel and dozens of other countries and regions.

Fast-track grantRepresentative pre-examination and prioritized examination cases

Where a certificate is needed urgently - for financing, a tender, or a High and New Technology Enterprise application - grant can be accelerated through the pre-examination channel of an IP Protection Center or the prioritized examination channel of CNIPA:

Patent No.	Title	Filed	Granted	Channel
202410195316.4	Pre-sodiated copper-zinc based cathode material for sodium-ion batteries	2024-02-22	2024-06-04	Pre-examination · 3 months
202410064463.8	Method for analysing road snow-melting effect based on deep learning	2024-01-16	2024-07-05	Prioritized examination · 6 months
202411243816.7	Lens driving device	2024-09-05	2025-01-24	Pre-examination · 5 months
202411673106.8	Method and system for correcting colour deviation in packaging printing	2024-11-21	2025-02-28	Pre-examination · 3 months
202310837126.3	A variant of malate dehydrogenase	2023-07-07	2024-05-14	Prioritized examination · 10 months
202410971231.0	Internal support device for the reinforcement cage of an ultra-high voltage cast-in-place pile foundation	2024-07-19	2025-05-27	Prioritized examination

FTO and monitoringFreedom-to-operate searching for mobile camera modules

For a large Chinese designer and manufacturer of mobile phone camera modules, FTO work was carried out across four product lines: two-axis prism drive motors, periscope lens drive motors, OIS three-axis drive motors and linear vibration motors:

· Two-axis prism drive motors: more than 6,000 relevant patents searched, identifying 2 high-risk utility models and setting out the response measures;
· Linear vibration motors: 3 patents carrying infringement risk identified, with response measures;
· Periscope lens drive motors and OIS three-axis drive motors: risk cleared, confirming freedom to operate.

Separately, for a well-known life science instrument and reagent manufacturer, monthly worldwide patent monitoring is carried out on gel imaging systems and in-vivo imaging products, with periodic monitoring reports.

InvalidationInvalidation proceedings (acting for both sides)

Patent No.	Title	Acting for	Outcome
202230098464.6	Ceramic tube for a corona treatment machine (Chinese design)	Petitioner	Successfully invalidated
EU0150085510001	Ceramic discharge electrodes (European registered design)	Petitioner	Successfully invalidated
ZL200580049463.6	Impact mechanism for an impact wrench	Petitioner	All claims invalidated
ZL201410086787.8	A combine harvester	Petitioner	All claims invalidated
ZL200910115670.7	Method of forming a lake by non-negative-pressure leak plugging in a karst depression	Petitioner	The high-risk independent claim was invalidated
ZL201220407611.4	Container lid locking mechanism and container	Patentee	Core claims maintained
ZL201630116334.5	Helmet (MX632, design)	Patentee	Patent maintained
ZL202020396063.4	A sealing structure for horizontal anti-seepage of a geomembrane	Patentee	All claims maintained

LitigationTrademark infringement: prior-use defence upheld

Case No. (2023) Zhe 0110 Min Chu 8033. The claimant alleged that its trademark registration No. 24251957 had been used by the defendant in the product listings, packaging and promotional material of an e-commerce store. Acting for the defendant, the team adduced evidence of continuous prior use and of the market influence built up through extensive promotion, and ran the prior-use defence under Article 59(3) of the Trademark Law.