Procedure Timeframe for Completion Trademark Office Official filing receipts for new application 1 month from application date (e-filings) 2 months (paper filings) Notices of amendment …
New Rules on Suspension of Cases Before the TRAD and the BIPC
In June 2023, the Trademark Review and Adjudication Department (“TRAD”) under the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) adopted internal rules permitting the suspension of …
CNIPA Work Plan on Bad Faith, Suspensions, Unregistrable Marks
The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently released its work plan for the years 2023 to 2025, which sets out 30 action points, with …
SIPS White Paper on Proposed Trademark Law Revision in China
In January 2023, the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) issued a draft revision of the PRC Trademark Law for public comment. A SIPS translation of …
PRC Trademark Law – Draft Amendment Published for Public Comment
The China National IP Administration (CNIPA) recently published a draft amendment of the PRC Trademark Law for public comment. The changes – which are summarized …
Defensive Trademark Filings in China – Time to Review Strategies?
Defensive trademark registrations are a critical tool for securing protection against piracy and preserving business opportunities for future lines of goods and services. By their …
PRC – Beijing Decision Confirms Right to Compensation of Legal Costs against Bad Faith Filer
Background The Beijing IP Court issued a decision in July 2022 confirming the right to compensation for victims of bad faith trademark registration. To date, …
CNIPA’s Reply to the Proposal of Amendment of Trademark Law and Implementation Regulations
In August 2022, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) issued a document (available in Chinese here) offering a summary of its proposals to legislative …
Recent Developments in Trademark Prosecution in the PRC
This report provides updates on a range of encouraging developments relating to PRC trademark prosecution, including in particular: bad faith registration; the use of consent …
In-Sink-Erator Case Demonstrates Chinese Courts’ Increasing Willingness to Punish Trademark Piracy Using the AUCL
The Chinese trademark regime is a first-to-file system. Accordingly, priority is given to the individual or entity that first applies for and registers, rather than …
2021 Wrap Up – People’s Republic of China IP Developments
The past year saw quite a few encouraging developments in the world of China intellectual property, encompassing developments in both the judicial and administrative spheres. …
Update on Trademark Consent Letters in the PRC
Consent letters and coexistence agreements (referred to herein generally as “consent letters”) are written instruments issued by a prior trademark owner or between two parties, …
Latest Requirements for PRC Trademark License Recordal and De-recordal
It is now possible to record and de-record licenses of registered PRC trademarks through e-filing or paper filing. As indicated below, it is no longer …
Translation: Measures for Data Exit Security Evaluation (Draft for Comments)
On October 29, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the “Measures for Data Exit Security Evaluation (Draft for Comments)”. The original text is available …
Goodbye Paper Registration Certificates
On October 12, 2021, the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) formally announced that starting January 1, 2022, only electronic copies of trademark registration certificates will …
Draft Amendment to the PRC E-commerce Law
On August 31, 2021, the State Administration of Market Regulation (“SAMR”) issued draft amendments to the PRC E-commerce Law for public comment. Set out below …
PRC Trademarks: Consent Letters
When handling appeals of rejected applications, administrative authorities and the courts in China have until recently accepted consent letters as persuasive evidence, provided that the …
Fendi Case Provides Solid Justification for Class 35 Filings in Fight Against Parallel Importers in China
Tackling counterfeits can be frustrating and challenging at the best of times. Dealing with their trickier – and more “lawful” – cousin, the parallel imported …
Notice Regarding Potential Pre-action Mediation of Administrative Appeals in China
In August, the Beijing IP Court (BIPC) issued a Notice (available here) that provides for potential pre-action mediation of administrative appeal cases involving application appeals. …
Translation: SAMR Announcement on the Decision on the Amendment of the PRC E-Commerce Law
Announcement of the State Administration for Market Regulation on the Decision on the Amendment of the E-Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft …
Defensive PRC Trademark Filings Recognized as Legitimate
Defensive registrations can be a critical tool for securing protection against piracy and preserving business opportunities for new lines of goods and services. This is …
