The Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department (IPD) has introduced a major administrative reform in 2026! This new policy centers on two core pillars: first, the full implementation of electronic filing (E-filing) for statutory declarations and affidavits to significantly boost processing efficiency; second, a strict requirement that trademark agents must possess a physical operational address in Hong Kong to crack down on offshore "ghost" agencies. Please ensure that your overseas trademark agent complies with these new regulations to avoid affecting your brand rights!
Read MoreIndonesia’s latest trademark examination regulations (Regulation No. 5 of 2026) came into force on 23 February 2026. Provided there are no procedural issues, the overall examination period can be reduced to as short as 6 months. This measure significantly shortens the lengthy examination period of approximately 18 to 36 months associated with the traditional route. The key to expediting the examination process lies in ensuring that application documents are complete and free from defects, and in making maximum use of the electronic filing system (DJKI) to accelerate the initial formal examination (which is typically completed within 1–2 months).
Read MoreOn 11 March 2026, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) released a major update to its Trade Mark Practice Guidelines. These revisions specifically target Sections 2.7, 2.8, and 4 within the "Absolute Grounds - General" chapter.
Read MoreThe most significant announcement in Vietnam's trademark and intellectual property sector for 2026 is the official implementation of the 2025 Amended Intellectual Property Law (Law No. 131/2025/QH15) on April 1, 2026. This amendment represents Vietnam's most extensive legal reform in recent years, aimed at aligning domestic laws with international standards such as the CPTPP and EVFTA. This reform significantly accelerates the registration process and introduces a “Fast-track Examination” option for the first time.
Read MoreThe UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) introduced new fee schedules on 1 April 2026, increasing official fees for patents, trade marks and designs. This move is intended to address inflation and cover the costs of providing services; trade mark fees, in particular, have been adjusted for the first time since 1998.
Read MoreOn 18 March 2026, the Argentine National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) issued Resolution No. 75/2026, announcing a comprehensive increase in all intellectual property fees effective from 1 April 2026, and introducing a new fee structure – the “Industrial Property Tariff Unit” (“UMAPI”) - a new calculation unit that is adjusted monthly in line with inflation. This adjustment applies to all trademark applications, registrations and related procedures, and is designed to be linked to the inflation rate, meaning that the operational costs associated with trademarks will rise significantly.
Read MoreArgentina’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) announced that ex officio or upon an applicant’s request, INPI may partially cancel a trademark in relation to the goods/services for which the trademark was not used, will come into effect on 12 June 2023.
Read MoreThe China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published its draft for the 5th Amendment to the Chinese Trademark Law (Draft Amendment) on 13 January 2023. The trademark law was amended four times since 1993, 2001, 2013 and 2019.
Read MoreThe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a notice that the time for responding to Office Action (OA) of US trademark examination will be shortened from 6 months to 3 months starting from 3 December 2022, which is intended to improve the efficiency of US trademark registration as well as speed up the registration process.
Read MoreIn order to facilitate and improve the process of filing applications and other registration-related documents with the Department of Intellectual Property, the Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Science and Technology announces the abolition of the notarization requirement for IP-related documents with effect from 26 June 2023.
Read MoreThe Korean Intellectual Property Office (“KIPO”) had made a several amendments to the Korean Patent Act, Trademark Act, and Design Protection Act that came in force on 20 April 2022. The aim of these amendments is to improve the Intellectual Property Rights (“IPR”) laws and make it more accessible to the applicant which often incurred in formality mistakes in detriment of their IP Rights.
Read MoreChina has new rules on trademark that came in force on 1 January 2022, which the rules are intended to strengthen the detection of illegal trademark acts and stricter requirements on manufacturers on trademark use.
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