Founded on December 12, 1988, All-China Patent Agents Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association) is a nation-wide, non-profit, professional and self-disciplinary organization, representing both the patent agents and patent agencies across China. By May 31, 2010, there were 768 patent agencies as group members and 6312 practicing patent agents as individual members of ACPAA. Approximately, more than 17,000 people are working in patent agencies. Of all the domestic and foreign patent applications received in China, 70% are prosecuted through patent agencies. ACPAA obtained Permanent Observer Status of WIPO at the 45th Assembly of WIPO Member States held in Geneva September 22-30, 2008, which marked a new milestone of internationalization of Chinese patent agency profession.

AIMS

      The aims of the Association are as follows: to unite its members and educate them in observing the constitution, laws, regulations and national policies, in devoting to the patent profession and in strictly following the professional ethics and practitioners’ discipline; to play its coordination role both inside and outside the profession, to maintain the interests of its members and improve the members’ practicing capabilities; to reinforce the professional selfdiscipline; to stop the unfair competition; to promote the healthy development of patent profession; and to develop international communications and cooperation.

TASKS

      To maintain the order and the interests of the profession; to strengthen and improve the administration and self-discipline of the profession; to regulate and supervise patent agents’ practicing code and ethics; to summarize and circulate across the country the working experience in patent profession and broaden the scope of services rendered by patent agents; to organize and provide trainings, academic communications and research activities for patent agents; to study the laws and regulations related to intellectual property, collect suggestions for the development of patent profession and submit to the State Intellectual Property Office the comments or opinions; to play its coordination role both inside and outside the profession; to provide assistance to State Intellectual Property Office in patent agents qualification examination; to examine and issue patent agents’ practicing certificates and record the changes of such certificates; to participate in the disciplinary committee headed by State Intellectual Property Office and implement the disciplinary code of conducts; to develop exchange and cooperation with other professional organizations in other countries and participate in the international conferences and meetings; to publicize patent profession, publish the national journal and maintain the official website of the Association.

      With regard to international exchange and cooperation, the Association has already set up good cooperative network with its counterpart organizations in European Union, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States of America.