At its recent Annual General Assembly, the Chinese Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI China) presented the “2025 Award of Merit” to Xuefang Huang, Partner at Marks & Clerk’s Beijing office, in recognition of her work for the Trademark Committee of AIPPI China.
AIPPI China was founded in 1982 and now includes nearly 600 members. It operates 21 specialized committees covering the full spectrum of IP fields, including patents, trademarks, copyright, geographical indications, trade secrets, and alternative dispute resolutions. The Trademark Committee currently has 41 members, and Xuefang Huang serves as co-vice chair.
The Trademark Committee regularly organizes seminars and roundtables, bringing together judges, examiners from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), administrative enforcement officials, academics, rights holders, and domestic and international legal practitioners. These sessions address cutting-edge issues and practical challenges in trademark law in China, with resulting recommendations submitted to relevant authorities to inform policy and practice.
The Committee also holds regular closed-door consultations with CNIPA, representing the profession and rights holders to discuss practical difficulties and advance potential solutions. At the international level, it conducts research and prepares reports on topics under discussion at AIPPI’s annual World Congress. For example, in 2025, it provided perspectives, analysis, and recommendations rooted in Chinese practice on “Exhaustion of trade mark rights (SQ 294).”
As a core member of the Trademark Committee, Xuefang Huang has consistently contributed to and participated in various aspects including agenda planning, event organization, outcome reporting, as well as survey design and promotion.