The official trademark fees in China have been reduced by 50% as of 1 April 2017. The fee reductions relate to trademark application fees, renewal fees, fees for a change of name, assignments and license agreements, and opposition and cancellation fees.
We advise trademark owners to register their marks in China, as trademarks are not automatically protected there just through use. A registered trademark is also necessary to safeguard the import of goods manufactured in China. Companies operating in China should also protect their trademark in Chinese characters.
Due to the fee reductions, it is now possible to significantly cut costs of trademark protection in China. So don’t let your trademark be hijacked – a registered trademark is practically the only, and by far the most cost-efficient, option you have to protect your rights.
For more information, please contact our European trademark attorney Heidi Mikkola.
Read more about protecting trademarks in China in our blog post.