China Implements Data Ownership Registration System

China has officially implemented a system for registering data ownership rights, a move intended to accelerate the circulation and use of data as a significant production factor nationwide. The system aims to clarify rights and promote the orderly flow of data.

The data ownership registration serves as an "identity card" for data, clearly defining who holds ownership, usage, and operational rights. According to the National Data Administration, this unified system addresses previous inconsistencies and lack of standardization, enabling "one registration, national validity." This is expected to build a unified national data market and reduce transaction costs.

Registration covers various rights, including data holding, usage, and business rights. For instance, a company might own its production data and grant usage rights to a bank for credit assessment or to a data intermediary for commercial transactions. These rights are independent and can be held by multiple parties concurrently, differing from traditional factors like land or labor.

The national data ownership registration service system has begun a pilot operation, with several data exchanges acting as registration institutions. The process involves application, review, and public disclosure, and registration certificates are typically valid for five years. The initiative seeks to unlock data's value and ensure its secure and compliant flow within the economy.