Trademark Registration Process and FAQ

1. Self-service Trademark Registration Process

Submit Application→Upload Materials→Submit Application to Trademark Office→Formal Examination→Issue Trademark Application Acceptance Letter→Substantive Examination→Public Announcement Period→Issue Trademark Registration Certificate (Submit Now)

2. Consultant/Guaranteed Trademark Registration Process

Submit Application→Consultant Calls Back→Materials Preparation→Submit Application to Trademark Office→Formal Examination→Issue Trademark Application Acceptance Letter→Substantive Examination→Public Announcement Period→Issue Trademark Registration Certificate (Submit Now)

3. Trademark Registration Time

a. Submit to Trademark Office: Submit the application to the Trademark Office and obtain an application number, 1-2 working days

b. Trademark Office Formal Examination: The Trademark Office's formal examination takes about 3 months; after approval, an acceptance notice is issued within 1 month

c. Substantive Examination of Trademark Content: 6-8 months

d. Trademark Preliminary Examination and Approval Announcement: within 3 months

e. Application Successful: Issue Trademark Registration Certificate, 2 months Trademark Office Formal Examination

4. Trademark Refund Reminder

Due to the fact that within 3-4 months after the trademark is submitted to the Trademark Office, the Trademark Office may issue a Notice of Non-Acceptance, our company will discuss refund matters with you. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply for an invoice after receiving the acceptance notice. If you apply for an invoice in advance and the trademark is not accepted later, you need to return the invoice before a refund can be made.

5. Conditions for Trademark Registration

Since March 14, 2016, the Trademark Office no longer examines whether the goods or services declared by individual industrial and commercial households when applying for trademark registration are within their approved business scope; there is no restriction on the trademark classes applied for in the name of a company.

6. Trademark Registration Success Rate

Trademark registration involves a certain degree of uncertainty. The National Trademark Office's online database does not include the most recent3-6 months of submitted trademark application information, resulting in a blind search period for prior trademark searches. However, compared with the 20-plus years of trademark information available for search, the probability of an identical trademark appearing during the blind search period is extremely low. It is recommended that you use our company's trademark guarantee registration service; if unsuccessful, all fees will be refunded.

7. Validity Period of Trademark Registration

The validity period of trademark registration is10 years, calculated from the date of approval of registration. No annual fees or the like are incurred during the period. A renewal application can be filed one year before expiration.

8. Color of Trademark Application

Generally, trademark applications are filed in black and white. After successful registration, colors can be freely matched. If you apply in color, once approved, it must be used in the colors as originally applied for and cannot be changed separately. It is recommended to apply in black and white.

9. Font of Trademark Application

The font registered should be the font used; this is a principle consistently adhered to in trademark management. However, in trademark management, minor changes (e.g., the registered mark is in handwriting but is used in print; the registered mark is in Kai script but is used in Hei script) generally do not affect trademark use, but the R mark must never be used. It is advisable to re-register the font form actually used.

10. About the "Service and Goods Classification Table"

It is used to determine which class the goods or services to be registered belong to. Trademarks are divided into45 classes. The registration principle for domestic trademarks in China is that a trademark registered in one class counts as one trademark, and one application form is submitted, i.e., one form for one class. A trademark registered in two classes counts as two trademarks, and two registration applications are submitted, and so on. For one trademark, 10 goods can be selected in one class. For more than 10, the Trademark Office charges an additional item fee for each additional good.