MY CNTMChina Trademark Agent
Planning to sell, manufacture or build a brand in China? Trademark rights are territorial, so a home registration does not protect you there. This guide covers the rules that surprise foreign applicants most.
A foreign applicant cannot lodge a China trademark application directly. CNIPA requires a locally recorded agent to file and prosecute the matter. Your agent prepares the Chinese-language documents and reports back to you in English, so you do not need a China desk of your own.
China uses the Nice Classification of 45 classes. Each class is a separate application with its own official fee and (usually) its own agent fee. File the classes that cover both your current goods/services and the adjacent ones a copycat might target.
| Route | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Direct CNIPA filing | China is your first or main market; you want speed and control. | Separate process from other countries. |
| Madrid Protocol | You already have a base mark at home and want one centralized filing. | A later problem with the base mark can pull down the China designation ("central attack"). |
The right choice depends on your global plan. If China is the priority, direct filing is common; if you are protecting many countries at once, Madrid may be efficient.
Not directly. Foreign applicants must file through a locally recorded China trademark agent. The agent lodges and prosecutes the application with CNIPA on your behalf.
A straightforward uncontested registration typically takes about 9–12 months. Complex cases with office actions or oppositions take longer.
If you already hold a home registration or pending application that qualifies as a base mark, Madrid lets you designate China through WIPO. Direct CNIPA filing is common when China is your first or primary market. The right route depends on your global filing plan.
Send us your mark and classes on the main site. We handle the Chinese-language filing and report in English.
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