Trademark and brand registration in China

China operates a first-to-file trademark system. This matters more than most foreign business owners expect: if someone else registers your brand in China before you do, they own it in China, even if you have used it for years elsewhere. Registering early is the cheapest protection available to you.

Foreign applicants cannot file directly. The China National Intellectual Property Administration requires applications from foreign companies and individuals to be made through a certified agent, so we work with a licensed agency and arrange the filing entirely on your behalf.

Registration is done by class. A trademark registered for one class of goods does not protect you in another, so part of the work is choosing the classes that actually match what you sell, and what you may sell later.