China Trademark Registration
China is where 'I'll file later' gets expensive fast. It is first-to-file, supplier and squatter risk is real, and the filing fee itself is cheap enough that waiting usually makes less sense than people think.
China is where 'I'll file later' gets expensive fast. It is first-to-file, supplier and squatter risk is real, and the filing fee itself is cheap enough that waiting usually makes less sense than people think.
Yes. That is one of the most common nightmare scenarios. If they file first, they can end up holding the Chinese trademark leverage over your own products.
Yes. Once a third party owns the Chinese mark and records it properly, customs and platform problems become very real.
Usually both. Your English mark and your Chinese-character brand are not the same legal asset in China.
Because China is first-to-file and the local filing cost is low. That combination attracts professional squatters and opportunistic partners.
Usually not in a practical sense. There are narrow exceptions, but relying on them is expensive and weak compared with just filing.
Yes. China can support Brand Registry, but if speed is urgent many sellers still pair it with a faster filing like Germany or the UK.
It does not. Contracts help, but they do not substitute for actually owning the Chinese trademark.
China classification is technical and over-filing creates more ways for the plan to get messy.
If the Chinese version of your brand sounds odd, misleading, or commercially weak, it can become a problem later.
If a conflict is already sitting there, filing the same mark directly is usually just paying for a refusal.
It does not. That gap is exactly what copycats look for.
China has a non-use vulnerability window, so you should not file casually and forget about use forever.
China is cheap to file compared with the trouble a squatter can cause. For online filing, the core logic is one fee per class, with up to 10 items included before extra item charges kick in.
| Fee Item | Amount | When Payable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Online Application — Per Class | CNY 270 | At filing | Current CNIPA online filing fee |
Included Items | Up to 10 items | At filing | Included within the class fee |
Each Item Beyond 10 | CNY 27 / item | At filing | Applies if the specification runs long |
Can my supplier in China register my brand before I do?
Yes. That is one of the most common nightmare scenarios. If they file first, they can end up holding the Chinese trademark leverage over your own products.
Can someone else use a Chinese trademark to block my exports?
Yes. Once a third party owns the Chinese mark and records it properly, customs and platform problems become very real.
Should I file the English name, the Chinese version, or both?
Usually both. Your English mark and your Chinese-character brand are not the same legal asset in China.
Why do so many foreign brands run into trouble in China?
Because China is first-to-file and the local filing cost is low. That combination attracts professional squatters and opportunistic partners.
Does prior use in China save me if I did not register?
Usually not in a practical sense. There are narrow exceptions, but relying on them is expensive and weak compared with just filing.
Can a Chinese application help with Amazon Brand Registry?
Yes. China can support Brand Registry, but if speed is urgent many sellers still pair it with a faster filing like Germany or the UK.
Yes. That is one of the most common nightmare scenarios. If they file first, they can end up holding the Chinese trademark leverage over your own products.
Yes. Once a third party owns the Chinese mark and records it properly, customs and platform problems become very real.
Usually both. Your English mark and your Chinese-character brand are not the same legal asset in China.
Because China is first-to-file and the local filing cost is low. That combination attracts professional squatters and opportunistic partners.
Usually not in a practical sense. There are narrow exceptions, but relying on them is expensive and weak compared with just filing.
Yes. China can support Brand Registry, but if speed is urgent many sellers still pair it with a faster filing like Germany or the UK.
The price does not include official fees.
We never recommend buying the most expensive option, but rather the one that is most suitable.
| Feature | Basic Plan $299 | Standard Plan $499 | Premium Plan $699 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Price | $299 | $499 | $699 |
| Service Price | $299 | $499 | $699 |
| Government Fees | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Included Class | 1 | 3 | Unlimited |
| Filed by a licensed attorney | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Office Action Response | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Professional Consulting | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Priority Filing | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |