ChinaCNIPA

    Register your China trademark before a squatter beats you to it.

    China is strictly first-to-file* — whoever files at CNIPA first owns the mark, even with no prior use. A Mandarin-speaking attorney files yours directly with CNIPA, with Chinese-character (中文) defensive strategy built in.

    From $300.00 + ¥300 CNIPA, per class · 12–18 months to registration

    IIPLA Top IP Consultancy 2026Filing since 2016
    GTC China trademark team — CNIPA filings from the Guangzhou office
    Janice Lin, China Trademark Counsel
    Filed by
    Janice Lin
    China Trademark Counsel
    CNIPA filings · Guangzhou office

    What you get

    Everything a China trademark gives you — and everything we handle

    A China trademark, granted by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) in Beijing, gives you exclusive rights to your brand name, logo, or slogan across mainland China. China is strictly first-to-file — whoever files at CNIPA first owns the mark, regardless of prior use elsewhere.

    Your rights once it’s registered

    • Exclusive rights to your brand across mainland China for the registered Nice classes and sub-classes.
    • The right to use the ® symbol throughout mainland China once registered.
    • Recordation with China Customs (GACC) to seize counterfeits at every Chinese port.
    • The right to sue infringers in the Chinese IP Courts or before the local AMR for administrative enforcement.
    • A basis to extend protection to 130+ countries through the Madrid System.
    • A 10-year term, renewable indefinitely — your name locked in before a squatter can take it.

    What’s included when you file with GTC

    Janice Lin, China Trademark Counsel
    Filed by
    Janice Lin
    China Trademark Counsel — Guangzhou office
    CNIPA filings · Mandarin-speaking

    Every step is handled by a Mandarin-speaking China attorney — not a paralegal or an automated form.

    • Attorney-led clearance search

      A CNIPA database search across the Latin-character and Chinese-character (中文) marks AND the Chinese sub-class system, with your attorney's read on your odds — plus a free second search if your first mark conflicts.

    • Drafted & filed by your attorney

      Your goods and services drafted, classified under Nice, and mapped to the CNIPA sub-class system, then filed directly with CNIPA via Mandarin e-filing under a recognised agency.

    • 中文 defensive strategy

      Advice on the best phonetic and meaning-based Chinese-character (中文) marks to file alongside your Latin mark — so a third party can't register your Chinese identity for you.

    • Examination & opposition watched

      Your attorney tracks the ~9-month examination and the 3-month opposition window, and responds to standard office actions at no extra cost§.

    • A year of aftercare

      One year of post-registration attorney representation, included — plus squatter-defence counsel if someone has already filed your mark.

    Want ongoing protection after you file? Add Trademark Monitoring and get alerted the moment someone tries to register a similar mark in China.

    Compare your options

    A direct CNIPA filing, or Madrid into China?

    For any brand serious about China, a direct national filing in Mandarin — with sub-class strategy and a Chinese-character (中文) mark — is the more robust route. Extending an existing mark via the Madrid Protocol is lighter-touch. Here’s how the two compare, so you can pick what fits.

    What mattersDirect CNIPA filingMadrid Protocol designation of China
    Sub-class strategyGoods mapped to CNIPA's ~10,000 sub-classes — only same-sub-class goods are protectedSpecification carried over as-filed; sub-class gaps often go unnoticed
    Chinese-character (中文) marks中文 transliterations chosen, screened, and filed in parallelCovers only the mark as registered at home — no 中文 defensive cover
    Clearance searchFull CNIPA search across Latin and 中文 marks before you fileNo mandatory pre-screen — a conflicting CNIPA mark can refuse the designation
    Examiner correspondenceMandarin office actions handled directly by your China attorneyA CNIPA refusal still requires a local Chinese agent to respond
    Speed to a China-specific filing

    When a Madrid designation can be the better call

    • You already hold a home registration and want low-cost coverage across many countries at once, with China as one of several designations.
    • China is a secondary market for you, and a direct filing with full sub-class and 中文 strategy isn't yet justified.

    Your attorney reviews the CNIPA landscape — Latin and 中文 — first and tells you, plainly, which route gives your brand the strongest protection in China before you commit. We handle either path.

    Register my China trademark

    How much

    Transparent pricing, fair because we work efficiently

    We run China filings on one online platform with Mandarin-speaking attorney oversight, so the work stays efficient and the price stays fair — a flat service fee, CNIPA’s fee at cost, and every cost shown before you pay.

    Flat service feeCNIPA fees at costEvery cost shown before you payMandarin-speaking attorney included
    GTC service fee
    $300.00
    first class — attorney work, start to finish ($300.00 each beyond).
    CNIPA fee, at cost
    ¥300
    per class (≈$45), paid to CNIPA — covers up to 10 items; ¥30 per item beyond.

    What makes up your price

    • GTC service fee — first class
      Clearance search, sub-class strategy, 中文 advice, Mandarin translation, power-of-attorney handling, CNIPA e-filing, and standard prosecution by a China-qualified attorney.
      $300.00 / class
    • GTC service fee — each additional class
      The same attorney work scaled across additional Nice classes in the same application.
      $300.00 / class
    • CNIPA government fee
      Set by CNIPA in yuan and paid at cost: ¥300 per class (covers up to 10 items; ¥30 per item beyond 10). Non-refundable, even if your application is refused.
      ¥300 (≈$45) / class
    • Payment processing
      A 5% fee on the CNIPA fees we pay on your behalf, itemised separately before you pay.
      ≈$2.25

    Only if it applies: substantive refusals under Articles 10, 11, or 30, opposition defence, and invalidations are quoted upfront before any work§ — never a surprise.

    CNIPA government fees are set by CNIPA in Chinese yuan (¥) and are shown at cost.

    What it costs to keep it

    A China registration lasts 10 years and renews indefinitely in 10-year terms. You must also put the mark to genuine use in mainland China within 3 years of registration to keep it enforceable (Article 49) — we track every deadline so nothing lapses by accident. A defensive Chinese-character (中文) mark is filed as a separate application with its own service and CNIPA fees.

    Register my China trademark

    How long

    From search to registered in mainland China — and beyond

    Most unopposed China marks register in about 9 to 18 months — among the faster major Asian registries. Filing is fast; the set waits are CNIPA’s examination and the mandatory 3-month opposition window. Here’s the honest timeline.

    1. Before you pay

      Free clearance search

      A China attorney runs a CNIPA search across Latin and Chinese-character (中文) marks and the sub-class system, and tells you — plainly — whether to file, refine, or pivot.

    2. ~3–5 business days

      We prepare and file with CNIPA

      Your attorney drafts and classifies the goods, maps them to CNIPA's sub-class system, and files your mark via Mandarin e-filing under a recognised agency.

    3. ~1–2 months

      Formal examination

      CNIPA checks formalities — the application form, classification, power of attorney, and applicant details — and issues a filing receipt.

    4. ~4–6 months

      Substantive examination

      CNIPA examines absolute grounds (Article 11 distinctiveness, Article 10 prohibited signs) and relative grounds against prior marks (Article 30). Your attorney responds to any office action.

    5. 3 months

      Publication & opposition window

      Your mark is published in the CNIPA Trademark Gazette and any party with an earlier right can oppose for three months. Your attorney watches the window and advises if anyone files.

    6. ~9–18 months total

      Registration across mainland China

      With no opposition (or one resolved in your favour), CNIPA issues your registration certificate — valid across mainland China, and you can use the ® symbol.

    7. Year 3, then every 10

      Genuine use & renewal

      Put the mark to genuine use within 3 years to keep it enforceable against non-use cancellation, then renew every 10 years. We track both deadlines for the life of your portfolio.

    How it works

    Three steps. One China attorney. Zero guesswork.

    Attorney researching CNIPA trademark classes
    01

    Free attorney-led clearance search

    Tell us your brand name and what you sell. A Mandarin-speaking attorney runs a CNIPA search across Latin and Chinese-character (中文) marks and the sub-class system, and tells you — in plain English — whether to file, refine, or pivot. No charge, no obligation.

    GTC attorney preparing a China trademark filing
    02

    We prepare and file with CNIPA

    Your attorney drafts the goods, maps them to CNIPA's sub-class system, advises on the best 中文 marks, and files directly with CNIPA via Mandarin e-filing under a recognised agency — so non-PRC applicants are fully represented from day one.

    Tracking CNIPA trademark deadlines on a calendar
    03

    We watch examination through to registration

    Formal exam, substantive exam, the 3-month opposition window, and final registration — your attorney monitors every step in Mandarin and responds to standard office actions. You're notified at each milestone in English.

    Register my China trademark

    Why GTC

    An online-first law firm built for China brand protection

    We pair a Mandarin-speaking China attorney with one easy platform, so filing at CNIPA is transparent, well-run, and handled by people who know your file.

    One platform, online-first

    Start, pay, and track your China filing in one place — in English. Real-time status, Mandarin examiner correspondence translated for you, and every opposition deadline watched, so you never have to navigate CNIPA's Mandarin-only system yourself.

    On the ground in Guangzhou

    GTC files through its own Guangzhou office under a CNIPA-recognised agency — the mandatory route for foreign applicants. The same team handles your 中文 defensive strategy, Madrid extensions, and 100+ other jurisdictions when you grow.

    A dedicated team that owns your matter

    A dedicated account team that learns your business and stays with you from first search to certificate — real people who pick up the phone, not a fresh ticket every time.

    Attorney-led, fairly priced

    A Mandarin-speaking China attorney drafts, files, and prosecutes every mark via a recognised CNIPA agency. Because we run filings efficiently, the fee stays flat and fair — and CNIPA's fee is passed through at cost.

    Register my China trademark

    Your Customer Success Team

    A real team that owns your matter — not a ticket queue.

    Every GTC client gets a dedicated Account Manager and a Senior Account Manager who learn your business and stay with you from first email to final filing — real people who pick up the phone, so you never re-explain your brand or chase a queue.

    Your Account Manager

    Your day-to-day point of contact — coordinates every matter, keeps things moving, and already knows your file. No intake form, no re-explaining.

    Your Senior Account Manager

    Senior oversight on strategy and escalations, stepping in as your needs grow — so nothing important slips through the cracks.

    A real person, on email or a call — at every step.

    Your dedicated GTC Customer Success Team

    The proof

    Real work, real clients, real reviews

    7,500+

    Trademarks filed

    10,000+

    Clients served

    107

    Trademark jurisdictions

    11

    In-house attorneys

    Top-10 US Trademark FilerIIPLA Top IP Consultancy 2026Upwork · Top Rated Plus

    Verified reviews

    What clients say

    Trustpilot
    “I've had the pleasure of working with Rajat for many years. He has expertly guided me through the process of registering my company in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. His deep knowledge of trademark law across jurisdictions is impressive.”
    Darius Tay, IDVerify
    Trustpilot
    “We had various US trademarks to submit, and the team at Modi & Zaidi handled the entire process. They are friendly, knowledgeable and punctual. We will definitely use their services again.”
    Nathan Dulley, USVerify
    Trustpilot
    “Working with Maryam & the team of Rajat Modi has been an exceptional experience. Her professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to my case have been evident throughout the process.”
    Sohel, USVerify
    Trustpilot
    “I am a regular customer of GTC. They have done more than 15 Multi-Countries Trademarks for me so far. Their service quality and turnaround time is exceptional.”
    Umer Nouman, PKVerify
    Trustpilot
    “I had infringed on the copyright of a big brand, which threatened to lose my business. However, thanks to the professional work of this team, we signed the best possible contract and saved the business.”
    Anahit Taranyan, AMVerify
    Trustpilot
    “Global Trademark Company is the best in the business and I've used them for a number of my applications. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable trademark services.”
    Sheffali Chaudhary, CAVerify

    Questions, answered straight

    Frequently asked questions

    CNIPA's government fee is ¥300 per class (about ≈$45) — its ¥300 schedule covers up to 10 items, plus ¥30 per item beyond 10, paid to CNIPA at cost. The GTC service fee is $300.00 for the first class and $300.00 for each additional class, covering the clearance search, sub-class strategy, Chinese-character (中文) advice, Mandarin translation, CNIPA e-filing, and standard prosecution through to registration. A 5% payment-processing fee applies to the CNIPA fees we pay on your behalf. Government fees are subject to CNIPA-scheduled changes — we always quote on the day of filing, and every line is itemised before you pay.
    Register my China trademark

    Start your China trademark

    Tell us about your brand and a GTC attorney will review it and email a flat-fee quote — no payment, no obligation.

    No payment required Reply within 1 business dayA GTC attorney reviews it & sends a flat-fee quote.
    1. 01Your request
    2. 02Goods & services
    3. 03Owners
    4. 04More details
    5. 05Your details

    Your request

    1

    Select every country or region you want protection in — we price each separately.

    🇨🇳 China
    2

    The exact word or slogan to protect — spelling, capitalization and spacing all matter.

    3

    Word only (e.g. NIKE), logo only (the swoosh), or both — this changes what we can protect.

    💡 Not sure? Choose "Combined" if your brand uses both a logo and text together.

    4

    If your mark uses foreign words or non-Latin script, offices require a translation/transliteration.

    Talk to a China trademark attorney

    Ready when you are.

    Book a free 30-minute consult with a Mandarin-speaking China trademark attorney. We'll search the CNIPA landscape across your Latin and Chinese-character marks, flag any squatter risk, and map your fastest route to a registered China mark — no sales pitch, no obligation.

    GTC China trademark attorney on a client consult call

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