When does the 15 days start for a notice sent electronically?

CNIPA treats an electronic notice as served 15 days after it is sent, unless an earlier receipt date is shown. We plan from the earliest date that could apply.

What is CNIPA's official fee for a review?

CNIPA lists ¥675 for a review of a refusal filed online, or ¥750 on paper.

Does the revised Trademark Law change the review deadline?

No. The revised law, in force from 1 January 2027, keeps the 15-day review window, the 9-month decision limit and the 30-day court deadline.

Can I get more time to prepare evidence for a CNIPA review?

The review request itself must be filed within 15 days. You can add supporting evidence within 3 months after filing the request.

What if the cited earlier Chinese mark is not being used?

A registered mark unused for three consecutive years without a good reason can be cancelled on request. Removing it can clear the way for your application.

What happens if the review also fails?

You can sue in the people's court within 30 days of receiving the review decision.

How long do I have to respond to a China office action?

15 days from the date of the CNIPA notification. Some offices allow extensions on request, but the safer strategy is to file inside the original window.

What happens if I miss the deadline?

The application is abandoned. You lose the filing fee and the priority date. The mark must be re-filed as a new application (sometimes blocked by intervening third-party filings). A response filed inside the window keeps the original application and its date.

Office action response · CNIPA

CNIPA refused your trademark. You have 15 days.

Ask CNIPA to review it within 15 days of receipt, or the refusal becomes final.

Start My Response

Questions first? Ask our attorney.

Replies from $150, confirmed in writing after a free review.

ExcellentTrustpilot

GTC attorney reviewing a CNIPA examination report

10+ years

Top IP Consultancy for E-Commerce, IIPLA 2026Upwork · Top Rated Plus

Trusted by founders and brands worldwide

Before you start

Which notice did you get?

A refusal, full or partialOur attorney requests review at CNIPA, or divides off the approved goods.Start My Response
A request to explain or amendCNIPA asks before it refuses. The reply is due 15 days after receipt.Start My Response
An opposition, not a refusalA third party objected to your mark. That is a separate defence at CNIPA.See China Opposition Defence

How pricing works

A flat fee, agreed before any work.

1
Free review

Send the report. Our attorney reads each objection and tells you the options.
2
A fixed price in writing

Replies start from $150. You get the fixed price for your reply before any work begins. A hearing or appeal is quoted the same way.
3
Office fees at cost

Any CNIPA fees are passed through at cost, itemised before you pay.

The first flat fee covers

Full review of the CNIPA office action and cited prior marks
Response strategy memo before drafting. You approve the approach
Attorney-drafted response with statutory argumentation
Acquired-distinctiveness evidence package if the refusal turns on distinctiveness
Specification amendments if narrowing helps clear the refusal
CNIPA portal filing on your behalf

Know the rules

How refusals work at CNIPA.

CNIPA review fee, filed online (¥750 on paper): ¥675
Kept by approved goods you divide off: Same date
Of non-use lets you cancel a blocking mark: 3 years
For all evidence, or it counts as not filed: Chinese

1

Read the refusal

Full or partial, with the grounds and any earlier marks cited.
2

Request review or divide

Within 15 days of receipt. Dividing lets the approved goods move ahead.
3

File the evidence

Within 3 months of the request: use in China, market proof, translations.
4

Decision, then court

CNIPA decides within 9 months. If it refuses, sue within 30 days.

Key dates

15 days from receipt

Request review of the refusal
15 days from receipt

Divide after a partial refusal
+3 months

Add evidence to the review
9 months

CNIPA decides, 3 more if extended
30 days from decision

Sue in the People's Court

Your deadlines

Your situation

Date you received the refusal notice

An estimate counted from the day you received the notice. We confirm the date from CNIPA's notice.

Pick a date to see your own deadlines.

What you need

The refusal notice and the date you received it
Power of attorney for the Chinese trademark agency
Evidence of use in China, for a distinctiveness refusal
Chinese translation of every foreign document

Common mistake

Counting 15 days too late

The clock starts on receipt, and the law gives only 15 days.

Common mistake

Ignoring the blocking mark

Unused for 3 years in a row? A cancellation request may clear the way.

Common objections

Article 30 Prior conflicting mark
Article 11 Lack of distinctiveness
Article 10 Prohibited signs

Official sources (4)

The team on your file

Your attorney, and a team behind every step.

Our attorney reviews the refusal and files the review request with CNIPA. Your account team tracks the 15-day deadline.

Your Account Manager

Your day-to-day contact. Knows your file, so every conversation starts where the last one ended.
Your Senior Account Manager

Senior oversight on strategy and anything that escalates, so nothing important slips.

Lead attorney

Janice Chen

China Attorney

CNIPA agent of record

View profile

The wider GTC team

Attorneys and legal specialists supporting your matter.

Meet our team

In their words

Rajat has expertly guided me through the process of registering my company in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Currently, he is safeguarding my business interests on a global scale. His dedication and expertise are unmatched.

Darius Tay, Indonesia

ExcellentTrustpilot

Chinese office action questions

What owners ask about a CNIPA refusal.

No. Within 15 days of receiving the partial refusal, you can divide the application. The approved goods move on with the original filing date, and you can seek review for the rest.