Amid growing global attention to intellectual property protection, the 2025 Annual Meeting of the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law (ABA-IPL) was recently held in Washington, D.C. Spring Chang, managing partner of Chang Tsi & Partners, was invited to attend and speak at the event.

As one of the featured panelists, Spring Chang shared insights on the development and application of China's design patent system, highlighting the country's latest legal advancements and practical experience in the field.

The ABA-IPL Annual Meeting is one of the world's most influential IP events, drawing lawyers, judges, academics, and corporate representatives from across the globe to explore key trends and innovations in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and design law. The forum fosters international collaboration and dialogue in the IP community.

With over 30 years of experience in China's IP legal practice, Spring gave a comprehensive overview of recent progress in the country's design protection regime. She emphasized the transformative changes introduced with the fourth amendment to China's Patent Law in 2021, including the extension of design patent term from 10 to 15 years, the formal recognition of partial designs, and China's accession to the Hague Agreement, which provides a streamlined framework for global design registration.

Moreover, she also presented several real-world cases involving Chinese companies defending or licensing their design rights abroad. She emphasized that design rights are not merely legal tools—they are powerful assets reflecting a company's innovation, aesthetics, and product value. Effectively leveraging design rights for brand building and market differentiation is increasingly a strategic priority for Chinese companies going global.

The event deepened the international community's understanding of China's evolving design law system and reflected the country's growing professionalism and international engagement in the IP legal field. As China continues to push forward with industrial upgrading and innovation-driven growth, design protection will play an even more critical role. Chang Tsi & Partners remains committed to tracking legal developments and delivering strategic, globally oriented IP solutions to help Chinese brands thrive internationally.