The 2025 High-Level Forum on Intellectual Property Protection, held in Beijing from April 21 to 22, served as a critical venue spotlighting the intersection of intellectual property (IP) and artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s technological frontier. Key developments announced by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), including new Guidelines on Patent Applications Involving AI and the refinement of criteria for assessing “inventive step” in patent examinations, mark a significant turning point in adapting IP systems to rapid AI advancements.
Toward the World’s Largest Holder of AI Patents: China’s Position and WIPO’s Evaluation
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China already accounts for 61% of global AI-related patent filings, making it the leading nation in terms of volume. Particularly noteworthy is the 700% growth rate in AI patent applications over the past five years—far outpacing other fields. It is no exaggeration to say that China is becoming synonymous with AI innovation.
WIPO further highlights that over half of the major patent holders in the generative AI field are based in China, suggesting that the country is not only leading in technological development but also strategically securing and leveraging associated intellectual property.
Redefining “Inventiveness”: Institutional Reforms for AI-Generated Inventions
Inventions involving AI often blur the line between traditional human-driven creativity and machine-generated outcomes. The establishment of new guidelines, as revealed at the forum, represents a critical first step toward closing the gap between evolving technologies and existing legal frameworks. In Chinese patent examination practice, there is now a shift toward recognizing the inventive step of AI-generated outputs, provided that they produce clear technical effects through human involvement.
This is a challenge also faced by patent offices in Japan, the U.S., and Europe, and China’s pioneering approach may exert considerable international influence.
A New Phase in Global IP Competition
How we assess and protect AI-generated inventions will directly impact the global innovation race. Especially in domains like generative AI, where pre-trained models are used to create new outputs, complex legal and ethical questions arise—such as who is the creator and who holds the rights.
By clarifying its domestic guidelines, China is rapidly optimizing its IP system in parallel with accelerating AI development. This is not merely a national policy move, but one with the potential to shape future international standards.
Conclusion
As China leads the charge in the fusion of AI and intellectual property, the question remains: how will other nations respond? Can current IP frameworks keep pace with technological evolution? The 2025 forum may well offer a glimpse of the answer.