China Trademark Registration – China Trademark Search
Are you a global business with exposure to China? Do you think about expanding your business to China? Do you want to register trademark in China?
Let us help you register trademark in China. No broken English, no miscommunication. Let us make the process easy for you.
Important highlights of the China trademark registration process:
- China is a “first-to-file” country, unlike Canada or USA. It means that the first person to file a trademark application will generally have priority over a prior user of the trademark.
- It is important to apply for trademark protection in China as early as possible.
- In China, applications can be filed and registered without evidence of use.
- Multiple class applications are possible but not recommended as they are more likely to encounter complications during the registration process.
- A trademark is valid for 10 years and can be renewed every 10 years.
- If a trademark has not been used in China for three years, it may be subject to cancellation for non-use.
- It takes about 9-12 months to trademark registration in China and starting from 2019 Chinese Trademarks Office plans to make the registration process quicker.
We have a designated Chinese trademark search practitioner in-house so we can take care of all your legal needs in China, from filing to opposition and litigation.
Select a plan to start your Trademark Registration in China
Prices are in USD for China
SAIL THROUGH
$445
Covers filing your application and reporting the progress all the way to registration. Single class. This is our entry-level package.
ALL IN
$775
Covers full trademark registration, including reporting and responding to non-substantive examiner’s objections. Re-filing guarantee.
BELLS AND WHISTLES
$1545
Covers all aspects of trademark registration, including responding to all examiner’s objections and free re-filing. More free extras.
Prices depend on the country. Please check individual country page for exact prices for each package.
View All Country PackagesDetails About Chinese trademark packages
What’s included:
Preparation and filing of your application and reporting the progress all the way to registration.
The maximum number of classes: 1. You can list up to 10 items in a single class with no extra fees. The additional charge for each extra item above 10 is $15.
Our professional fees for each extra class are $200.
What’s not included:
Government fees, responding to examiner’s objections (office actions), opposition proceedings, free re-filing and additional extras that you get with the “ALL IN” package
If an office action is received, you will be notified and provided with an estimate to respond based on our hourly rate. Where possible, we will try to give you a flat fee.
When to choose:
If your funds are limited and if our free china trademark registration search didn’t uncover any obstacles to registration.
When it’s better to choose another package:
If our search showed that there may be an objection that may need to be addressed.
If your trademark may be problematic and re-filing may be required.
We usually recommend the ALL IN package in China as in China objections are quite common.
What’s included:
Covers everything that is included in “SAIL THROUGH” package plus reporting and responding to non-substantive (procedural) office actions and free re-filing if Client’s mark is refused by Trademarks Office.
Free re-filing will be done on our “SAIL THROUGH” package conditions – you will be responsible for government fees but we will waive professional fees. Check out our FAQ section for re-filing details.
You can list up to 10 items in a single class with no extra fees. The additional charge for each extra item above 10 is $15.
The maximum number of classes: 1. Our professional fees for each extra class is $450.
Free extras:
- Unlimited consultations with us about your trademark (average value of $250).
What’s not included:
Government fees, substantive office actions, opposition proceedings and additional free extras that you get with “BELLS AND WHISTLES” package.
When to choose:
Most popular – this package gives you peace of mind and predictability of the budget. This is the package we recommend for China.
Why is it a better choice than “SAIL THROUGH” package:
We will deal with non-substantive office actions for free. In addition, if your trademark is refused, you will have an option to file for a different trademark and our professional fees will be waived!
File with confidence:
If your trademark is refused,
We’ll file another – fee excused.
What’s included:
Covers everything that is included in the “ALL IN” package plus reporting and responding to substantive office actions and free re-filing if Client’s mark is refused by Trademarks Office.
Free re-filing will be done on our “ALL IN” package conditions – you will be responsible for government fees but we will waive professional fees. Check out our FAQ section for re-filing details.
You can list up to 10 items in a single class with no extra fees. The additional charge for each extra item above 10 is $15.
The maximum number of classes: 1. Our professional fees for each extra class is $1295, filed as a a separate trademark.
Free extras:
- Unlimited consultations with us about your trademark (average value of $250).
What’s not included:
Government fees, opposition proceedings, cancellation proceedings and additional free extras that you get with “BELLS AND WHISTLES” package.
When to choose:
Please note that given very irregular updates of the Chinese Trademark Office database, substantive refusals are very common, so this package is the best choice.
Why is it a better choice than “ALL IN” package:
We will deal with substantive office actions for free. Since substantive objections are very common, this package is a steal.
File with confidence:
If your trademark is refused,
We’ll file another – fee excused.
Then, the logo could provide sufficient distinctiveness to allow registration of TRADEMARK REGISTRATION CO. onto the Principal Register (with a disclaimer for “TRADEMARK REGISTRATION CO.”).
Another situation when filing for a logo is advantageous is when there are similar marks. For example, a client wanted to register the mark HAWQUE with a design element of a flying hawk 
- for computer software connecting customers to security contractors, in Class 9. We advised that the logo will most likely be registrable but the wordmark alone would be too similar to marks containing the word HAWK providing similar products in the same class. Although we received an office action alleging that the HAWQUE logo mark was confusingly similar to a registered wordmark, HAWQ, that also covered Class 9 computer software, we were ultimately able to overcome the objection. Our client’s logo, HAWQUE, was successfully registered soon after.
In another case, a client wanted to register the mark ESTEEM APPAREL, either the word mark or the logo. However, in our initial search, we found a very similar, registered mark, ESTEEM CLOTHING. In this case, we advised that the logo would have a greater chance of registration. The client chose to file for the logo 
instead of the word mark and, although we received a confusion objection based on similarity with ESTEAM and ESTEEM CLOTHING marks, we were able to successfully able to overcome the objection and the mark was successfully registered.
Since the client protected the logo 
, or a combined mark: 
Example: SKYPE, 
Let's take another example of a giant retailer Kraft Foods.
Company name: Kraft Foods Inc.
12 of Kraft Foods brands are sold worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident and Tang.
For each brand Kraft Foods has a website: cadbury.co.uk; cadbury.com.au; oreo.com; oscarmayer.com, etc.
Not everyone knows that these 12 famous brands are owned by the same giant! It doesn't really matter, what matters is that everyone knows where do buy their favorite Cadbury chocolate or Oreo cookies and everyone knows how the Oreo cookies package looks like!
