Register a Trademark in China

Register a Trademark in China

Before doing business in China, you are recommended to register your trademark to protect your brand.

After your trademark having been registered, you'll be able to:

• put the ® symbol next to your brand - to show that it’s yours and warn others against using it; and

• take legal action against anyone who uses your brand without your permission, including counterfeiters

Trademark registration lasts 10 years. You must renew your trade mark every 10 years for it to stay in force.

What You Can Register

Your trade mark can include:

• words

• logos

• 3D shape

• sounds

• combination of colours

• a combination of above elements

What You Cannot Register

• contain offensive content, such as discriminatory words;

• describe goods or services that it will represent, for example, using the term "organic" as a trademark on fruits is not allowed;

• lack distinctiveness or uniqueness, for example, using a generic term like "rail cargo";

• incorporate national flags without proper authorization;

What It Costs

Registering a trademark costs at least CNY270 plus our service fee. It will usually cost more depending on your circumstances, for example how many types of goods or services you want to protect your brand in.

The Application Process

You must send details of your trademark and the goods or services you want to use your trademark on to the National Intellectual Property Administration of the PRC (CNIPA).

The CNIPA will:

• check that your trad mark is not the same as, or similar to, any existing trademarks

• publish details of your application in the journal, in case anybody wants to oppose it

If there are any issues the CNIPA will let you know. You will have to resolve them before you can register your trademark.

If there are no issues, it usually takes around 4 to 5 months from application for your trade mark to be granted.