Yaling Zhou
Licensed in China, New York & Connecticut
Led foreign-client work at a Chinese IP firm for over ten years, handling thousands of trademark filings, reviews, oppositions, and disputes.
ZYL Law Firm coordinates copyright registration in China for foreign companies: computer software registration and registration of literary, artistic, and design works such as product art, packaging, illustrations, and photos. Copyright arises automatically in China, but a registration certificate is accepted as preliminary evidence of ownership by e-commerce platforms, customs, and courts. We prepare the application materials in English and Chinese and coordinate the filing; fees are quoted per matter in writing.
Reviewed by Yaling Zhou (licensed in China, New York, and Connecticut) and Lilan Zhu (PRC patent attorney qualification) · Rules reviewed:
When a Chinese registration helps
Platform takedownsChinese e-commerce platforms act faster on complaints backed by a Chinese certificate than on foreign documents.
Customs recordalRegistered copyrights can be recorded with customs so infringing goods are stopped, including at export.
Software licensing and dealsInvestors, partners, and government programs in China often ask for a software registration certificate.
LitigationThe certificate shifts the burden to the other side to disprove ownership.
What we need from you
- For softwareProgram name and version, completion and first-publication dates, selected pages of source code, and a user manual or description.
- For worksThe work itself, the author and creation date, first-publication details, and proof of how rights passed to your company (employment or assignment).
- For foreign ownersCompany documents showing the applicant's identity; we tell you which need notarization or translation.
How we work
- Who filesZYL coordinates the application with our China team and Chinese filing partner, reviews the materials in English and Chinese, and reports each step to you.
- FeesQuoted per matter in writing, with official and any expedited-processing fees listed separately.
- Linked to the U.S.We can register the same work with the U.S. Copyright Office, which you need before suing for infringement of a U.S. work.
Who works on your China matter
Lilan Zhu
PRC patent attorney qualification (专利代理师)
Eight-plus years of foreign-related patent practice; handles China patent filings, Office Action responses, and PCT entry into China.
Jingwei Sun
PRC lawyer · California attorney
Tsinghua Law graduate; coordinates Chinese copyright, commercial matters, and litigation counsel.
Tao Wang
Overseas IP consultant
Former GE global patent operations; over 5,000 international IP matters. Advises on portfolio strategy and cross-border enforcement.
Frequently asked questions
Is copyright registration required in China?
No. China is a member of the Berne Convention and copyright arises automatically. Registration is voluntary but provides preliminary evidence of ownership.
Can a foreign company register software copyright in China?
Yes. Foreign companies can register computer software and other works in China; identity documents may need notarization and translation.
Does a Chinese copyright certificate help with Chinese e-commerce platforms?
Yes. Platforms generally act more readily on complaints supported by a Chinese registration certificate.
Can copyrights be recorded with Chinese customs?
Yes. Copyrights, as well as trademarks and patents, can be recorded with China's General Administration of Customs.
How much does China copyright registration cost?
Each matter is quoted in writing, with official fees and any expedited-processing fees listed separately.
Primary sources
- Copyright Protection Center of China
- National Copyright Administration of China
- PRC Copyright Law (WIPO Lex, China profile)
Platform rules, deposits, and fees change; confirm against your notice and the current platform rules before acting.
Attorney Advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. ZYL Law Firm LLC is a U.S. law firm and does not practice PRC law. Chinese patent and trademark filings are submitted through a licensed Chinese agency we partner with, and Chinese litigation is handled by PRC-licensed lawyers through a Chinese law firm; ZYL coordinates the matter in English and reviews the work before filing. Fees are quoted per matter in writing, with official and third-party fees listed separately. No one can guarantee how an examiner or court will decide, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Engagement is subject to a conflict check.
Register your work in China
Send a description of the software or work and how your company acquired the rights to ip@zyllaw.com. We list the documents needed and send a written quote.
Email ip@zyllaw.com U.S. copyright services