Ireland’s worries regarding intellectual property (IP) infringement in China primarily focus on data privacy and security risks, emphasised by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) action in fining TikTok €530m for unlawful data transfers to China. The case highlighted concerns about transparency and the security of user data. But are there other risks in dealing with China?
The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI), in issuing its 2024 Annual Report noted that the increase in national patent applications was due to “a continuing high number of applications received from China”. The IP office received from China 110 of the 774 national patent applications across 2024.
One of the main developments outlined in the report is a 31% increase in patent applications. This growth is largely attributed to a continued influx of applications from overseas. While this international interest underscores Ireland’s relevance in the global IP landscape, it also prompts reflection on the high number of Chinese inventors who are using the Irish IP office to register and protect their inventions, designs and trade markets, when trading across the EU.
China’s intellectual property sector is undergoing a significant phase of transformation, trying to move beyond its former role as an imitator. Earlier this year, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published the 2025 Intellectual Property Nation Building Promotion Plan. The intention is enabling the transitioning from a breacher of patents, trademarks, designs, and data, to supporting the global intellectual property landscape.
In the high-tech sector, pharmaceutical and biotechnology products clearly demonstrate the strong link between IP and market value. Patents serve as both legal protection and valuable intangible assets that enhance investor trust. Chinese biotech companies are steadily expanding their international patent portfolios, forming global R&D partnerships, and seeking listings on multiple stock exchanges, including the Nasdaq in the US and Hong Kong Exchange in China.
The Chinese rapid entry into the registration of Intellectual Property protection system in Ireland reflects the long-term use by US corporations of the Irish patent office and supporting legislation. It also reflects the wider use of European patents where 194,693 were designated in Ireland, reinforcing the country’s strategic importance in the broader European IP framework.
In the first quarter of 2025, €3.2bn in IP patent royalties were paid out internationally from Ireland and primarily to US patent holders including the big pharmaceutical and social media giants. The full year payout is expected to reach €16.3bn in 2025, much the same as the prior year.
On a global level, Ireland has risen to 19th place in World Intellectual Property Office’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index 2024. Ireland is also ranked first globally in both ICT services exports and intellectual property payments, and ranks second globally for its intangible asset intensity.
Chinese corporations are obviously attracted by the system and determined to reap the same benefits as the US from an Irish IP location.
BeOne Medicines, trading in Ireland through its subsidiary, BeOne Medicines Ireland Limited, exemplifies this trend, holding patents worldwide for innovative cancer treatments. Its effective IP management and international collaborations have been crucial to its successful dual stock market listings in the US and China, attracting considerable foreign investment and driving rapid growth, highlighting IP’s essential role in China’s biotech development.
Surprisingly, besides the hi-tech advancements, entertainment intellectual properties have emerged as key indicators of China’s full endorsement of the need for brand protection.
Labubu, the worldwide hit Chinese toy beloved of young kids, is a typical example. Its commercial achievements reflected in broad international licensing agreements, illustrating the evolution of China’s creative industry. This progress is underpinned by strengthened copyright registration, sophisticated digital rights management, and improved cross-border enforcement, areas where China has made significant institutional advancements.
Labubu dolls are a product of Chinese company Pop Mart, a publicly traded company, with total revenue for the first-half 2025 of €1.66bn, which was a 204% year-on-year increase in the first half of 2025.
And in the food and drink sector China has entered into the EU’s recognition and protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) scheme for the sector. In the first half of 2025, GI protection was granted to 110 Chinese GI products, including Baoshan Arabica Coffee and Wine in Helan Mountain East Region, which are now protected in international markets.
The top patent applicants in Ireland reflect a healthy mix of industry and academia. Companies like Aptiv Plc and GH Research Ireland dominate, alongside institutions such as Trinity College and UCD.