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 registers trademarks in China for foreign brands. China follows a first-to-file system, examines similarity by subclass within each Nice class, and registers marks for 10 years, renewable. We run an availability search across the subclasses you need, recommend whether to file a Chinese-language mark, and choose between a direct Chinese filing and a Madrid designation. Filings are submitted through a licensed Chinese trademark agency we partner with; 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:
What makes Chinese trademark filing different
- First to file wins.Rights generally go to the first applicant. Bad-faith filings without intent to use can be refused or challenged, but that takes time and evidence.
- Subclasses define your coverage.China divides each Nice class into subclasses and examines similarity within them. Listing goods across all relevant subclasses closes gaps others could file into.
- Your brand will get a Chinese name.Consumers and distributors use Chinese. Choose and register a transliteration, a translation, or both before the market chooses for you.
- Use it or risk losing it.A registration can be cancelled after three consecutive years without use, so plan filings around products you will actually sell.
Direct filing or Madrid designation?
Direct Chinese filingGoods are described in the standard Chinese terms examiners expect, refusals are answered directly, and a Chinese registration certificate is issued — often easier to use with platforms and customs.
Madrid designation of ChinaConvenient when you already hold a home registration and file in many countries, but goods descriptions translated from English can draw objections, and the scope stays tied to the base mark for five years.
Our recommendationWe compare both for your goods list and markets and recommend one route in writing before filing.
How a China trademark filing works
- Availability searchIdentical and similar marks across your target subclasses, including Chinese-character marks.
- Filing planClasses, subclasses, goods list, and whether to add a Chinese-language mark. Written quote before filing.
- Filing & examinationThe partner agency files with CNIPA. We report receipts, refusals, and recommended responses in English.
- Publication & registrationPreliminary approval is published for a three-month opposition period; registration follows if no opposition succeeds.
How we work
- Who filesChinese filings are submitted through a licensed Chinese patent and trademark agency that we partner with. ZYL Law coordinates the matter in English and reviews the work before filing. Chinese law requires foreign applicants to act through a licensed agency.
- FeesQuoted per matter in writing, by mark and class: professional fee and CNIPA official fees listed separately, including any charge for extra goods.
- Linked to your U.S. filingsWe can file the same mark in the United States and China on one plan, with matching goods descriptions.
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
Do I need a Chinese trademark if I already have a U.S. registration?
Yes. Trademark rights are territorial. A U.S. registration does not protect you in China, which follows a first-to-file system.
What are trademark subclasses in China?
China divides each Nice class into subclasses and examines similarity within them. Coverage depends on which subclasses your goods list reaches.
Should I register a Chinese-language version of my mark?
Usually yes. Your brand will be referred to in Chinese, and an unregistered Chinese name can be registered by someone else.
Is a Madrid designation as good as a direct Chinese filing?
Both can lead to protection in China. A direct filing uses standard Chinese goods terms and issues a Chinese certificate; Madrid is convenient for multi-country filing. We recommend one based on your goods and markets.
How long does a Chinese trademark registration last?
Ten years from the registration date, renewable for further ten-year terms.
Can a Chinese trademark be cancelled for non-use?
Yes. Anyone may apply to cancel a registration that has not been used for three consecutive years without a legitimate reason.
Primary sources
- China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
- PRC Trademark Law (WIPO Lex, China profile)
- WIPO Madrid System
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.
Check your mark in China
Send the mark (word and logo), your products, and any Chinese name you use to ip@zyllaw.com. We confirm the conflict check and quote the search and filing in writing.
Email ip@zyllaw.com U.S. trademark services