Under Art. 177 of the Securities Law, the export of information pertaining to securities operations to overseas entities is contingent upon obtaining approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other relevant authorities of the State Council.

Section 13 of the "Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access" stipulates that foreign investment in Internet news and information services, Internet publishing services, Internet audio-visual programme services, and cyber culture operations, excluding music, is prohibited. The prohibition also extends to Internet public information services, except in relation to content that has been liberalised in accordance with China’s commitments under the World Trade Organization.

Section 19 of the "Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access" provides that investment in the following areas shall be prohibited, namely aerial imaging and mapping, real 3D maps, electronic navigational charts, remote sensing geology, and the compilation of topographic maps.

China’s national security review regime is primarily governed by the Measures on National Security Review of Foreign Investment (NSR Measures), issued on 19 December 2020 by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and MOFCOM. The NSR Measures build on earlier regulations, including the Circular of the General Office of the State Council on the Establishment of Security Review System Regarding Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (2011 Circular) and the Measures for the National Security Review of Foreign Investment Pilot Free Trade Zones from the State Council General Office (Free Trade Zone Circular), which technically remain effective but have been rarely applied in practice.
The NSR Measures outline detailed rules for the national security review framework, managed by a Working Mechanism led by the NDRC and MOFCOM. The process consists of two stages: a General Review to assess whether a transaction requires further scrutiny, and a Special Review for a more in-depth assessment if potential national security risks are identified. According to Art. 4 of the Measures, the regime applies to foreign investments that: (i) involve control over enterprises in key sectors, such as critical infrastructure, technology, energy, and information services; or (ii) impact national security through equity acquisitions, asset purchases, or greenfield investments.
Furthermore, "control" is defined broadly, encompassing scenarios where foreign investors hold more than 50% equity, exert significant influence over operations or decision-making, or control key aspects of the business. It is reported that the NSR regime introduces clearer procedures compared to previous rules, it remains opaque regarding timelines, procedural details, and decision outcomes.

According to Art. 59 of the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China, the State shall establish comprehensive systems and mechanisms for national security review and oversight. These systems shall encompass the review of foreign commercial investments, special items and technologies, internet information technology products and services, projects related to national security, and other significant activities or matters that impact or could impact national security. Art. 60 provides that central state organs shall conduct national security reviews, issue opinions, and supervise enforcement in accordance with legal and administrative regulations. Moreover, Art. 61 mandates that provinces, autonomous regions, and directly governed municipalities shall be responsible for national security review and regulation within their administrative regions, ensuring compliance with the law.

According to Art. 11-13 of the Provisions on Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, investors seeking to establish foreign-invested telecommunications enterprises—whether for basic telecommunications services or value-added services—must submit a project application report. This report should include the names and basic information of the joint venture parties, the total investment in the business, registered capital, each party's capital proportion, the type of business applied for, and the duration of the joint venture.
Additionally, under Art. 14 of the Provisions, the project proposal and feasibility study report must provide a business forecast, development plan, and an analysis of the return on investment. Furthermore, as stated in Art. 3 of the Implementing Rules of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Capital Enterprises, the establishment of foreign capital enterprises must contribute to the development of China's national economy and demonstrate the potential for significant economic benefits.

Art. 3 of the "Regulations on the Approval and Filing of Corporate Investment Projects" provides that projects involving national security, the national distribution of major productive forces, the development of strategic resources, or major public interests are subject to an approval-based management regime. Under Art. 6, enterprises undertaking project approval procedures must submit a project application to the competent approving authority, and this application must include, among other elements, an assessment of the project’s economic and social impacts. Art. 9 requires the approving authority to examine whether the project endangers national security, including economic, social and ecological security, whether it complies with relevant development and construction plans, technical standards and industrial policies, whether it ensures the rational development and effective utilisation of resources, and whether it adversely affects major public interests. In connection with the foregoing approval requirements, Section IV of the "Catalogue of Investment Projects Subject to Government Confirmation" further provides that international telecommunications infrastructure projects require approval from the competent investment authority under the State Council, while domestic backbone transmission networks and other telecommunications infrastructure projects involving information security must be approved by the relevant sectoral regulatory authorities of the State Council.

Art. 18 of the amended Chinese Patent Law establishes that non-resident foreigners or organisations without business establishments in China shall entrust the patent agency established by law to handle patent applications or other patent-related matters in China. Moreover, according to Art. 19, any entity or individual intending to file a patent application in a foreign country for an invention or utility model completed in China shall submit a request for confidential examination to the patent administration department under the State Council in advance. The patent administration department of the State Council shall handle international patent applications in accordance with the relevant international treaties to which the People's Republic of China is a party, this Law and the relevant provisions of the State Council.

It has been reported that the obstacles to patent enforcement include prolonged delays within the judicial system, a perceived reluctance of the courts to grant preliminary injunctions, burdensome invalidity proceedings, stringent evidentiary requirements, and uncertainty regarding whether a patentee's right to exclude encompasses manufacturing for export.

China is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

China has a copyright regime under the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Art. 22 lists the exceptions, which include: the use of a published work for the purposes of the user's own private study, research or self-entertainment; and the use of a published work, within proper scope, by a State organ for the purpose of fulfilling its official duties; among others.

It is reported that concerns regarding online piracy in China persist, with rights holders continuing to emphasise the need for effective enforcement and clearer delineation of criminal liability for the manufacture, distribution, and export of circumvention devices, as well as for the adoption of additional measures to address online piracy.

China has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

According to Art. 9 of the Government Procurement Law, government procurement must facilitate the achievement of China's policies for economic and social development, including but not limited to environmental protection, assistance to underdeveloped or ethnic minority areas, and the promotion of SMEs.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has issued a Notification on Further Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Public Procurement (MOF Announcement No. 19) in response to the State Council's Notification on a Package of Policy Measures to Stabilize the Economy (Guo Fa 2022 No.12). This announcement outlines three primary directives for relevant procuring entities: (i) strict implementation of public procurement policies supporting SMEs; (ii) enhancement of price preferences for SMEs; (iii) augmentation of the proportion of reserves allocated for SMEs.
Furthermore, MOF Announcement No. 19 introduces significant modifications to the preferential treatment of SMEs in public procurement. The price deduction preferential rate for small and micro enterprises in goods and service procurement projects has been increased from the previously stipulated 6%-10% (as per Document No. 46 of Caiku 2020) to 10%-20%. Moreover, for large and medium-sized enterprises that form consortia with or subcontract to small and micro enterprises, the preferential rate has been elevated from 2%-3% to 4%-6%.

China has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.