On March 3, 2021, the Supreme People's Court issued the Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on the Application of Punitive Damages in the Trial of Civil Cases of Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Interpretation).

The Interpretation made specific provisions on the application scope of punitive damages in civil intellectual property cases, the determination of intentional and serious circumstances, and the determination of calculation bases and multiples. The Interpretation aims to guide courts at all levels to accurately apply punitive damages and punish serious violations of intellectual property rights via making judgment standards clear. The issuance of the Interpretation is an important measure to implement the punitive damages system, which manifests the determination of the people's courts to comprehensively strengthen the judicial protection of intellectual property rights, being of great significance for further optimizing the legal environment for technological innovation. It will be implemented on March 3, 2021.

                                            From Supreme People’s Court

March 3rd, 2021