(1) New trademark service windows

In February, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) (Huai'an) Trademark Service Window went into operation; in September, the CNIPA (Xuzhou) Trademark Service Window was inaugurated; in November, the CNIPA (Yancheng) Trademark Service Window commenced operation. Now, Jiangsu has 12 trademark service windows in total, which facilitates trademark registration, transfer, and pledge for market entities (enterprises, self-employed individuals, etc.), reduces the cost of handling trademark affairs, and improves efficiency.

(2) Protection of well-known trademarks

In February, the Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province (JSIPO) issued the Key Intellectual Property Tasks of Jiangsu Province in 2021, which calls for special law enforcement actions to be carried out in key sectors and regions (such as e-commerce, exhibitions, well-known trademarks, and agriculture-related geographical indications) that have suffered from frequent infringement and counterfeiting and drawn significant public concern. "Zheng Lyu Hai and logo", "LUOLAI", "Dayi", "WELLONG ETOWN", "HUAMEI and logo", and other registered trademarks have been recognized and protected as well-known trademarks.

(3) "Geographical indications (GI) +" model for integrated development

In March, the promotion of Zhenhu embroidery through the "GI + intangible cultural heritage" development model was reported by China Market Regulation News. In July, the JSIPO collected innovative measures and typical cases revolving around the "GI +" model across the province. In August, JSIPO guided Jiangsu Trademark and Brand Research Center in carrying out "GI +" research and made a short video titled "'Geographical Indications +' Boosts Jiangsu's Rural Revitalization", which won an award in a call for videos launched by the CNIPA on the theme of "Keeping the Innovative Spirit Alive for a Healthy IP Stream: Discover the Intellectual Property Around You". In September, Pizhou garlic and Xuyi crayfish were selected into the list of demonstration zones for the protection of national GI products to be built. In October, the Reform Office of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, together with the JSIPO and the JSTV, produced and aired a special TV series titled "Small geographical indication, big industry" in a program named "Prime Time: E-interpretation of Reform Policies". The TV series interpreted Jiangsu's GI policies and promote the province's experience with the "GI +" development model. In December, Gaoyou duck egg, Pizhou garlic, Zhenjiang vinegar, Longchi crucian carp, and Xuyi crayfish were selected into the first batch of national key guidance projects for promoting the use of GIs.

(4) Live promotion of Jiangsu GI products

In May, Jiangsu Trademark and Brand Research Center held a live streaming campaign to promote the GI-certified tea and rice from Jiangsu under the guidance of the JSIPO. In December, the market regulation bureau of Luhe District, Nanjing staged a special live promotion of the GI-certified jasmine products from Luhe under the guidance of the JSIPO.

(5) Trademark and brand strategies for the 14th Five-Year Plan period

In August, the General Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government issued the Intellectual Property Development Planfor the 14th Five-Year Plan Period of Jiangsu Province. The Plan proposes that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the number of the province's valid trademark registrations under the Madrid System should reach 6,000, the annual sales of GI products reach RMB 200 billion, and the number of enterprises with valid registered trademarks in every 10,000 enterprises reaches 1,300. The Plan has also clarified key tasks such as the trademark and brand cultivation project, and specified the overall action plan, including strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection and cracking down on trademark and GI violations in accordance with the law.

(6) National pilot program on trademark and brand building

In September, the JSIPO, entrusted by the CNIPA, launched a pilot program on trademark and brand building. In line with the Outline for Building an Intellectual Property Powerhouse (2021-2035) and the National Plan for Protection and Application of Intellectual Property Rights During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, Jiangsu Province, based on a comprehensive investigation on the policies, measures, and progress of trademark and brand building, will innovate working practices, explore new approaches in practice, and accumulate experience for trademark and brand building, which can be replicated and popularized nationwide, to fulfill key tasks of establishing a sound system for promoting trademark and brand building and urging enterprises to implement the trademark and brand strategy, and provide a "Jiangsu plan" for the in-depth implementation of the trademark and brand building project.

(7) Trademark and brand guidance stations under construction

Trademark and brand guidance stations were established in Nanjing, Wuxi, Yancheng, Zhenjiang, Taizhou, and other cities in Jiangsu Province. Relying on the city's 100 grassroots market regulation branches, Yancheng set up trademark and brand guidance stations with well-defined institutional structure, work objectives, and supervision and inspection mechanisms to form a comprehensive work pattern. Zhenjiang issued the Guidelines of Zhenjiang City for the Establishment of Trademark and Brand Building Guidance Stations to guide nine entities (including the Zhenjiang High-tech Industrial Development Zone) to set up trademark and brand guidance stations. Taizhou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation (Intellectual Property Office) held the Taizhou Trademark and Brand Strategy Training & Brand Guidance Station Building Conference. The market regulation bureau of Luhe District, Nanjing set up trademark and brand guidance stations in Luhe Economic Development Zone, Luhe High-tech Industrial Development Zone, and Luhe Agricultural E-commerce Service Center. Jiangyin's first trademark and brand guidance station was inaugurated in the Chengjiang Cross-border E-commerce Industrial Park.

(8) The first initiative on cultivating and protecting trademarks and brands.

In December, the JSIPO issued the Notice on Organizing Applications for the 2022 Provincial Intellectual Property Strategy Promotion Projects, by which the JSIPO launched provincial projects on trademark and brand cultivation and protection for the first time. These projects aim to provide financial support for qualified industrial brand and GI development projects, raise the awareness of trademark and brand cultivation, promote the importance and benefits of trademarking and branding, and create Jiangsu brands with international appeal.

(9) Jiangsu Trademark and Brand Development Index Report 2021

In December, under the instructions of JSIPO, Nanjing University of Science & Technology School of Intellectual Property prepared and released the Jiangsu Trademark and Brand Development Index Report 2021, in which the Year 2020 index for the development of trademarks and brands in Jiangsu cities with subordinate districts are evaluated. The Report tracks and studies the development of trademarks and brands in various cities of Jiangsu Province, displays the achievements these cities have made in the implementation of the trademark and brand strategy, and puts forward suggestions based on local resources and industrial characteristics to provide a reference for these cities to support their development of trademarks and brands.

(10) Preparation of work specifications for trademark and brand building

In December, the JSIPO started the preparation of a series of work specifications for trademark and brand building to standardize the construction, operation, and management of the province's trademark and brand guidance stations and industrial cluster brand cultivation bases. These specifications also serve to regulate the promotional activities of Jiangsu's GI products, providing useful references and guidance for various cities of Jiangsu Province in trademark and brand development.