Skip to content Over the past few years, we have noted a huge rise in the appetite and interest for trade mark protection in China. With the Chinese system differing greatly from the UK and the EU, the advice we provide is always tailored to the region in which you wish to file.
Securing your brand in one of the world’s largest markets is simpler with the right support. Our China trade mark service breaks the process down into three clear steps.
We discuss your brand, your goods and services and your plans for the Chinese market, and confirm the classes your application should cover.
Yann and the team prepare your Chinese trade mark application, tailored to the requirements of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
Your application is filed in China and we keep you updated on its progress, advising you at every stage through to registration.
Protecting your brand in China requires advice that reflects the Chinese system, which differs greatly from the UK and the EU. Our team includes Yann Tang, a qualified Chinese lawyer and Patent Agent who worked in Shanghai for 7 years specialising in intellectual property law, so your application is handled with genuine regional expertise.
With our service, you are not just getting a filing; you are gaining a partner for your brand’s expansion into China.
Under the Trademark Law 2019 (Amendment), a Chinese registration covers goods trade marks, service trade marks, collective marks and certification marks, and gives the owner exclusive rights to use the registered mark. A registration lasts ten years and can be renewed for further ten-year periods, and we can manage those renewals for you alongside your UK and EU portfolio.
Filing a trade mark in China is not the same as filing in the UK or the EU. Any distinctive sign, including words, designs, letters, numerals, three-dimensional symbols, combinations of colours and sounds, may serve as a trade mark in China, but the application must satisfy the requirements of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), the authority responsible for reviewing applications.
Our team combines UK-based client care with qualified Chinese legal expertise. Yann Tang is part of the team at Lawdit and The Trademarkroom, assisting with all Chinese trade mark matters while she dual qualifies in the UK. If you would like further information on how to register your brand in China, get in touch with Yann and the team today.
Here are some frequently asked questions about protecting your brand in China. We have provided detailed answers to help you understand the process.
China operates a first-to-file system, which means rights generally go to the first applicant rather than the first user. Registering before you trade, manufacture or sell in China is the safest way to secure your brand.
A Chinese trade mark is registered for ten years from the date of registration and can be renewed for further periods of ten years. We can manage renewals for you as part of your portfolio.
Yes. China is a member of the Madrid Protocol, so you can designate China within an international application, or file a national application directly. We advise on the most cost-effective route for your plans.
Under the Trademark Law 2019 (Amendment), any distinctive sign can be registered, including words, designs, letters, numerals, three-dimensional symbols, combinations of colours and sounds, provided it is distinctive and does not conflict with earlier rights.
Your matter is handled with Yann Tang, a qualified Chinese lawyer and Patent Agent who worked in Shanghai for 7 years specialising in intellectual property law, supported by the rest of The Trademarkroom team in the UK.
