Trademark registration
in China.
Acclime makes trademark registration in China simple. We help companies safeguard the commercial potential of their brands, products and technologies – a key step before entering the Chinese market.
How do trademarks work in China?
It is important to understand that each country in the world has a national trademark system. Whilst there are initiatives that facilitate cross-border application and protection (such as in the European Union), trademark laws are in principle a national matter.
There are two routes to obtain trademark registration in China:
- China national trademark application with China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA); or
- WIPO filing in any third-country plus a specific designation to China
Registering a trademark in China takes a first-to-file system. International trademarks are not recognized in China unless they are locally registered. Your company’s trademark should be distinctive and should not be similar to any organization, state, or flag. The China Trademark Office (CTMO) has an online database where trademarks can be checked if they are available for registration.
As China’s trademark system and classes are different from most countries, WIPO filings designated to China often result in rejections due to procedural and mismatching of subclasses issues. Consequently, no protection is granted, while a China national application of the same mark would have been granted protection. In addition, the process of approval through WIPO may take 9-18 months, while approval of China national filings usually takes 6-9 months. Therefore, we strongly recommend companies to file for China national trademark application.
China applies a first-to-file basis, meaning that whoever files first shall, in principle, be given trademark protection absent any similar prior marks. There are several legal grounds to battle bad faith applications successfully; however relevant procedures cost time, effort, and money. As a result, opportunists (squatters) often scour trade fairs and the internet and apply for trademark protection of international brands that they anticipate will enter the Chinese market in the future to sell their branded products or services and will turn to them to purchase the trademark rights. When these brands come, they often have big plans for China and no time to fight a legal battle. As a result, many reluctantly pay high prices to buy their own trademark back in an attempt not to waste valuable time. To avoid these and similar issues, we strongly recommend you to file for trademark protection BEFORE you are considering entering the Chinese market or do so immediately if you have already been exploring these steps.
Simple steps
to register trademark.
1. We conduct a trademark search
Before filing your application, we will conduct an exact trademark search at the CTMO online database to ensure that your exact brand name is not already applied for or registered before.
2. We choose relevant sub-categories
We will also assist in making sure that the trademark covers all the appropriate products and services in every subclass following the International Classification of Goods and Services.
3. You sign the POA and trademark information sheet
4. We submit your trademark application
Change location 