China is a strict first-to-file jurisdiction administered by CNIPA, where early registration is critical to defend against bad-faith filings. Protection is available via the Madrid Protocol or national filing, and should be paired with active anti-counterfeiting enforcement.
At a Glance
IP Authority
China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
Filing Route
Madrid Protocol or national filing
Trademark Term
10 years from filing, renewable indefinitely for like periods
Classification
Nice (International) Classification of goods and services
Filing Basis
First-to-file — priority belongs to the earliest applicant
International Frameworks
Treaties that shape protection here.
Protection We Secure
The four rights that protect a brand in China.
Trademarks
Word marks, logos, and trade dress are registered with the CNIPA on a first-to-file basis. Elite handles clearance searches, filing, examination responses, oppositions, and renewals, building a portfolio that scales as you add classes and markets.
Patents
Patents protect new, inventive, and industrially applicable technology. Elite advises on patentability, drafting, and filing, nationally and through the PCT, and on keeping inventions confidential until rights are secured.
Industrial Designs
Industrial design rights protect the visual appearance of a product, its shape, pattern, and ornamentation. Registration secures exclusivity against copying and is a fast, cost-effective complement to trademark and patent protection.
Copyright
Copyright protects original creative work, content, designs, software, packaging, and campaigns, generally from the moment of creation. Elite advises on ownership, licensing, recordal where available, and cross-border enforcement.
How Elite Helps
Protecting your brand in China.
- Early defensive filing against bad-faith registrations
- Madrid designation and national filing
- Anti-counterfeiting, customs recordal, and online takedowns
- Opposition and invalidation actions
Information is provided for general guidance. Specific filing requirements, timelines, and fees are confirmed by Elite for each matter against the current rules of the CNIPA.
Filing in China?