Shanghai launches China’s first standalone IP dispute assessment rules

Companies can ask independent experts to assess an intellectual property dispute before going to court, arbitration or an administrative process.

The experts review technical facts, possible harm and relevant law, and generally aim to issue an opinion within 30 working days.

The opinion is not binding, but it can help companies decide whether and how to pursue a claim.

The process is meant to make disputes clearer and reduce the cost of pursuing them blindly.