A trademark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities. A trademark may be designated by the following symbols: A trademark is typically a name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these elements. There is also a range of non-conventional trademarks comprising marks which do not fall into these standard categories, such as those based on color, smell, or sound. |
Trademark registration is one of the strongest ways to defend a brand. A trademark registration provides you with the exclusive right to use it and to ensure that no one else uses it.
A trademark can become one of the most important assets of a company. A trademark registration can so provide you a legal guarantee of the money and time invested in acquiring value for your brand.
If you do not register your trade mark, others may do so and may prevent you to use it. |
International An International Registration enables you to register a trademark in several countries at a time. Generally speaking, an International registration offers you the same protection as a National Registration in the countries concerned. Before a request for International Registration of a trademark can be submitted, you should already have an application or registration for the same trademark in the country of origin, that is, the member state where your business is established. We shall be glad to give you further information on the matter.
European Union (Community Trademark) The Community Trademark grants protection over the entire European Union with one registration. This Trademark Registration includes protection in: Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom.
Madrid trademark The Madrid system for the international registration of marks (the Madrid system) established in 1891 functions under the Madrid Agreement (1891), and the Madrid Protocol (1989). It is administered by the International Bureau of WIPO located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Registration through the Madrid system does not create an 'international' registration, as in the case of the European CTM system, rather it creates a bundle of national rights, able to be administered centrally. Madrid provides a mechanism for obtaining trademark protection in many countries around the world, which is more effective than seeking protection separately in each individual country or jurisdiction of interest. Madrid now permits the filing, registration and maintenance of trade mark rights in more than one jurisdiction, provided that the target jurisdiction is a party to the system. |
Trademark search Our company will perform a trademark search, checking all possible earlier trademark rights in accordance with the description that client provide.
Trademark registration Our company will file and process the trademark application before the Trademark Office. We will timely inform you about the trademark registration process.
Registration Certificate Once the trademark is approved for registration, we obtain and forward the registration certificate to the client. |
Owners of registered trademarks have the ability to prevent others (i.e., their competitors, partners in China, we had clients that found out their trademark was registered by their supplier in China and other third parties) from using their registered trademark without permission. Your registered trademark can also successfully prevent others from (A)- acquiring trademark rights in your trademark, and/or (b)- claiming that you are infringing their trademark rights. Trademark Infringement actions can be costly. Few companies have the financial strength to overcome the full or partial loss of their right to use their own business name or product name. Consequently, trademarks are critical business assets. Coca-Cola is commonly believed to be the most valuable and admired trademark worldwide.
Trademarks protect your business name, product names, Domain names, logos and slogans. The decision to Trademark is likely one of the most important business decisions you will make. We would be pleased to assist you with the complex trademark registration process. It's what we do best. |
Step 1
Find a trademark attorney to assist you with registering your trademark. This is important for researching already-registered trademarks. An attorney should help to conduct an official search of existing trademarks and their status, both by using the official database and by filing with the CTMO. Your trademark must be a “visible mark;” trademarks for sounds or smells are not granted in China. An attorney is also important because your application must include a Chinese translation. The Chinese translation of the applicant’s name and address is a requisite for applications.
Step 2
Identify the laws which regulate trademark registration between your country and China. Under Chinese law, your trademark is subject to any laws, regulations, or treaties between your country and China and any international laws to which both countries are party.
Step 3
Determine the classification of commodities under which you will register your trademark and the scope of your trademark claims. This information must be declared in your application
Step 4
Ensure that your trademark adheres to Chinese laws and restrictions. For example, the image may not include insignia of any country, and may not involve only generic names. Conduct a search to endure that your trademark is not to similar to any already registered.
Step 5
If your trademark has been registered first in another country, you are eligible for a right of priority in China (6 months from the day filed in a foreign country). You must claim this right with a written request on the Application Form. Additionally, the Certified Copy of the original trademark application issued by your local registry should be filed with the CTMO along with the Application Form. Nevertheless, if you could not file such certified document with the initial filing, you could submit it within 3 months from the filing date.
Step 6
Apply for registration with the China Trademark Office (CTMO). The application shall undergo a preliminary examination (to determine document authenticity), followed by a substantive examination. If it passes these examinations, the Trademark Office will publish the application, which, if not opposed, will be registered after three months.
Cost for Register Chinese trademark
Trademark search: USD 50
Trademark filing & preparation: USD 150
Government fee: USD 200
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