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Trade Marks
China Trademark protection rights could only be obtained after the trademark is officially registered with Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
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Hong Kong Trademark Under the Trade Marks Ordinance (Amendment 2000) which was introduced in 2003, the process of registering a trademark in Hong Kong could now be completed in 8 months.
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Community Trademark A Community Trademark Registration covers all 25 member counties of the European Community. If you are considering registering your mark in three Enropean countries, you should consider the Community Trademark.
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Trademark Classes For the purpose of trademark registration, all products and services and categorised into 45 classes. A trademark could be registered in one or more classes.
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TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA


CHINA TRADEMARK REGISTRATION

Trademark Registration and Administration in China

The system of trademark law in mainland China is administered by the Trade Mark Office (with an appeal function adminstered by the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board and the courts). The two principle pieces of legislation forming the trademark system are the Trademark Law, and the Unfair Competition Law.

Only registered trade and service marks are protected in the PRC: there is no common law protection for unregistered trademarks (except for "well-known" marks, as detailed below).

Amendments to the PRC's Trademark Law on October 27, 2001 allows three-dimensional trademarks and colours to be registered as trade marks. Collective and certification trademarks can also now be registered in China. "Well-known" trademarks are also now recognised under Chinese law (the courts and administrative bodies will take into account the level of knowledge of the trademark by relevant consumers, the length of use of the trademark, the amount of publicity given to the mark in China, and the history of the mark).

China Trademark Registration Body

Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China (http://sbj.saic.gov.cn/english/index_e.asp) .

Step by Step Guideline to Register a Trademark in China

Conduct pre-filing searchwith the China Trade Mark Office (CTMO) --> Confirmation of availability (by way of search reports by kaizen --> Sumission of trademark registration application forms --> Official examination of registrability --> (if accepted) Publication in Government Gazette --> (if no objections received) Issuance of Certification of Registration.

China Trade Mark Pre-filing Search

Trademark without logo (No official opinion given): US$100 inclusive of official fee
Trademark with logo (No official opinion given): US$125 inclusive of official fee

Pre-filing search includes:
(1) Per class code
(2) Search results returned back by fax or email in 3 working days
(3) Covers Direct Hits and Close Matches in English and Chinese

Application: US$455

(1) Per class code
(2) Prepared and submitted in 1-2 weeks
(3) payment of official application fee
(4) Monthly follow ups of your mark through out the entire unopposed registration process (via e-mail)

The application fee stated above includes government filing fee of US$125. However, its is limited to 10 items, additional items will cost US$30 per item.

Issuance of Certificate: US$80

Obtaining and forwarding of Certificate of registration

Summary of Fees (first class code)
$ 100 Search (word mark)
$ 455 Registration (including official filing fee but limited to 10 items only)
$ 80 Obtaining Certificate of Registration
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US$635 TOTAL

Summary of Fees (second class code and thereafter, please check out your class code from Classification of Classes)
$ 100 Search (word mark)
$ 375 Registration (including official filing fee but limited to 10 items only)
$ 40 Obtaining Certificate of Registration
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US$515 TOTAL (second class and thereafter)

Download the fee schedule now

Required Documents & Services

1. A simple power of attorney executed by the applicant, no notarisation is required.
2. Fifteen prints of the trademark (not required for word marks). A trademark print should not exceed 10x10 centimeters. Four black and white prints as well as fifteen color prints are required when a trademark is in color.
3. One copy of certificate issued by competent authorities authorizing manufacture in the home country in the case of a trademark covering pharmaceutical products for human use. A certificate of the Chamber of Commerce of the home country is sufficient.
4. A priority document when priority is claimed. The document can be filed within 3 months after the filing date of the application.
5. A Chinese translation of the applicant's name should be provided where available especially where the name of the applicant incorporates its trademark (e.g. "Kodak") for which a Chinese translation already exists.

-- Translation of foreign terms is required
-- Power of Attorney form is required for international customers
-- No legalization or notarization is required
-- No Samples Required

Time Scale

Currently it is taking approximately 18-24 months to get a trademark in China.

Period of Protection

10 years.

Download the fee schedule now

See also:
Requirements on Application for Registering a Trademark in China
Chinese Trademark Renewal, Assignment, Bibliographic Change, Reissuance of Certificate, Recordal of Trademark Licence
Opposition, Review Procedure in the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, Cancellation on the Basis of Improper Registration

Hong Kong Head Office              Room 803, Futura Plaza, 111 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong
                                                 TEL +852 2341 1444      FAX +852 2341 1414      E-mail info@bycpa.com

Shenzhen Office   TEL +86 (0755) 82684480 82684483 82684484 FAX +86 (0755) 82684481
Shanghai Office   TEL +86 (021) 64394114 64399276 FAX +86 (021) 64394414
Beijing Office   TEL +86 (010) 68748420 68748422    FAX +86 (010) 68748421  

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