China trademark registration requirements and procedures are important for those who are seeking for trademark protection in China. A trade mark is a sign that serves the specific and primary purpose of identifying the goods or services of a producer, thus allowing the consumers to distinguish goods or services of one producer from those of another. And a strong trade mark can be instrumental in winning new customers when establishing a brand in China.
Requirements on Trademark Registration
In order to be eligible for registration, the following points must be adhered to:
1. It must be legal
The sign must not be identical or similar to the name or flag of a State, the Red Cross or other international organizations, have discriminative content against a nationality, or consist of exaggerated and fraudulent advertising etc.;
2. It must be distinctive
The signs must be easy to distinguish and be capable of distinguishing the goods/ services of one person from those of another person;
3. It must not be functional
This requirement applies, in particular, to three-dimensional shapes that cannot be registered as trade marks.
4. It must be available for registration
The China Trade Mark Office’s (CTMO) official trade mark database is available online and can be used to search existing trade marks.
.jpg "China Trademark Registration")
Procedures for Trademark Registration
A trademark can only be effectively protected in China once it has been registered. When you file your application, it will take you about 1-3 months to receive the notification of acceptance. After 6 months, you’ll get the result of the trademark examination by the China State Intellectual Property Office.
Once your trademark passes the examination, it will be published on the website TM gazette of China trademark for around 3 months. If no one opposed the trademark, you will receive the certificate of the trademark within a month.
A trademark in China is valid for ten years from the date of registration. A request to renew the registration must be filed within twelve months prior to the date of expiration. A grace period of six months is allowed by paying a corresponding surcharge. A trademark may be renewed each time for a period of ten years.
Contact Us
If you have further inquires, please do not hesitate to contact Tannet at anytime, anywhere by simply visiting Tannet’s website english.tannet-group.com, or calling Hong Kong hotline at 852-27826888 or China hotline at 86-755-82143422, or emailing to 2355735242@qq.com. You are also welcome to visit our office situated in 16/F, Taiyangdao Bldg 2020, Dongmen Rd South, Luohu, Shenzhen, China.
Previous：China Utility Model Patent Application Requirements and Process
Next：Guide to Trademark Registration in China