1. Deadlines for filing divisional applications are made clear. If the mother case is concluded, the only possibility to file a divisional is that you have a divisional that has unity problem, and you can file further divisional only from this divisional (not from other divisionals that don't have unity problem).

2. Examiners are now required to show evidence if they raise objections based on common knowledge.

3. Interview with examiners before 1st office action made possible.

4. Human embryonic stem cells and preparation method thereof become patentable subject matter

5. Deferred examination by 1, 2 or 3 years made possible for invention and design patent applications (not for utility models).