Guide to Trademark Registration and Protection in China (1) - General Information

General Information

The Chinese Trademark Office accepts trademark applications for registration on goods as well as on services; applications for registration of certificate marks and collective marks are also accepted.

The trademark can be letters, designs or a combination of both. Shapes of goods, sounds and scent are not registrable.

The Chinese Trademark Office adopts the International Classification of Goods and Services, and multi-class application is still not applicable, one application can only for one mark in one class. The descriptions of the goods/services should be concrete.

Examination is based on absolute ground and relative ground. Before registration, there is a period of three (3) months for public opposition purpose.

The protection term for a registered trademark is ten (10) years, calculated from the registration date. The protection term can be renewed every ten years.