15 November, 2015
Registering Intellectual Property Rights in China
Resources and Contact Details for Wine Producers & Distributors
Registration Requirements and Offices in the People’s Republic of China for the European Wine Industry.
Trade Marks
Trade marks in China can be registered either with your local office through the Madrid system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), or domestically with the China Trade Mark Office (CTMO). The CTMO maintains an English language trade mark database for basic searches, however registrations must be completed in Chinese and it is recommended that SMEs engage a local trade mark attorney to handle this process for them.
Beware expensive online services offering trade mark registrations as many of these will charge 3-4 times the usual fees[1]. The Helpdesk recommends that applicants engage experienced trade mark attorneys and discuss their needs in depth before going ahead with applications.
Helpdesk Guides
China IPR SME Helpdesk Guide on Trade Mark Protection in China
China IPR SME Helpdesk Guide on How to Conduct a Trade Mark Search
China IPR SME Helpdesk Guide on How to Find an IP Agent
International Registration System
Madrid Trade Mark System Portal
WIPO Trade Mark Database Tools
List of Madrid System Member States
Domestic Application Procedures
Trade Mark Database Search Tool (English)
Official List of Registered Trade Mark Agencies
Official List of Registered Trade Mark Agency Law Firms
CTMO English Language Website (Information Only)
Copyright
Copyright can be voluntarily registered with the Copyright Protection Centre of China (CPCC). Unfortunately the online registration system is only available in Chinese and therefore applicants will likely have to engage a native speaker in order to process applications. Below are some useful links and contact details for copyright registrations.
China IPR SME Helpdesk Guide to Copyright Protection in China
CPCC English Language Website (Information Only)
CPCC Website (Information & Registrations)
List of CPCC Official Department Contacts (English)
Customs Registration
Intellectual property can be registered with the General Administration of Customs in China (GACC) and is currently provided as a free service. Whilst the Helpdesk always recommends that SMEs engage a local legal professional to aid in the handling of applications, rights holders can apply via the GACC online system themselves if they wish. Below are some useful links and contact details for customs registrations.
China IPR SME Helpdesk Step-by-Step Guide to Recording Trade Marks with Chinese Customs
Customs IPR Registration Portal
GACC User Guide to the IPR Registration System
GACC Office Address:
General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China
No.6. Jianguomennei Avenue
Dongcheng District
Beijing
China
100730
[1] It should be noted for example that www.chinatradeamarkoffice.com has no affiliation with the CTMO, despite the use of its name in their website address.
Alex Bayntun – Lees, China IPR SME-Helpdesk
