China as an emerging rule-maker in multilateral intellectual property cooperation

Abstract

This article explores China’s evolving role in multilateral cooperation on international intellectual property. It traces China’s transformation from a rule-taker to a rule-maker, examining the historical developments, driving forces, practical actions, challenges, and future outlook. The international intellectual property system, a central element of global economic governance, is undergoing significant change. At the same time, China, now the world’s second-largest economy, is redefining its position in ways that reflect its domestic development, advances in the rule of law, and broader shifts in inter­ national power structures towards multipolarity. Through historical analysis and case studies, the article assesses the impact of this evolution on global intellectual property governance and offers recommendations for future development.