Recipes are not protected by copyright. Because cookbooks are inventions rather than legal works, you can apply for patents. The object of copyright in China is works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and so on created in tangible form.

Legal objectivity:

Copyright Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) Article 3 Works mentioned in this Law include works in the following forms: (1) written works; (2) Oral works; (3) Music, drama, folk art, dance and acrobatic works; (4) Artistic and architectural works; (5) Photographic works; (6) cinematographic works and works created by similar cinematographic methods; (seven) engineering design drawings, product design drawings, maps, schematic diagrams and other graphic works and model works; (8) Computer software; (9) Other works as prescribed by laws and administrative regulations.