Trademark law of China

The system of trademark law in mainland China is administered by the China National Intellectual Property Administration CNIPA (with an appeal function administered by the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board and the courts). Both are divisions of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC).

History

China first established its Trademark Law in 1982.[1]: 19 

The two principal pieces of legislation forming the trademark system are the Trademark Law, and the Unfair Competition Law.

Only registered trade and service marks are protected in the PRC: there is no common law protection for unregistered trademarks (except for "well-known" marks, as detailed below).

In 2000, China amended the Trademark Law to ensure compliance with its obligations with the TRIPS Agreement.[1]: 20 

Trademark registration

China uses a first-to-file trademark registration system.[2]: 230  Trademark registrants do not need to demonstrate their prior use of a trademark.[2]: 230 

See also

• Intellectual property
• Law in the People's Republic of China
• Chinese law
• Hong Kong trademark law

References

1. Cheng, Wenting (2023). China in Global Governance of Intellectual Property: Implications for Global Distributive Justice. Palgrave Socio-Legal Studies series. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-031-24369-1.
2. Zhang, Angela Huyue (2024). High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oso/9780197682258.001.0001. ISBN 9780197682258.

Further reading

• Alford, William P.,To Steal a Book Is an Elegant Offense: Intellectual Property Law in Chinese Civilization, Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8047-2270-6
• Paul Kossof, "Chinese Trademark Law: The New Chinese Trademark Law of 2014," (Carolina Academic Press, Durham, North Carolina 2014). ISBN 978-1-61163-566-9.
• Paul Kossof, Mini-Series on Chinese Trademark Law: Welcome to The New Chinese Trademark Law of 2014, available at http://www.asialawportal.com/2014/03/29/mini-series-on-chinese-trademark-law-welcome-to-the-new-chinese-trademark-law-of-2014/

External links

• State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC)

China Trademark Law