# CNIPA's answers on agencies and official notices CNIPA's published replies from 2019 to 2022 on using or removing an agency, powers of attorney, official charges, filing dates by post, and public notices of service. Canonical URL: https://ginbing.com/docs/china-trademark/cnipa-answers-agencies-and-notices Markdown URL: https://ginbing.com/docs/china-trademark/cnipa-answers-agencies-and-notices/index.md ## TLDR CNIPA's published replies from 2019 to 2022 on using or removing a trademark agency, completing a power of attorney, official charges, filing dates by post, and public notices of service. ## Guide Replies CNIPA published from 2019 to 2022 to questions about trademark agencies, powers of attorney and how official documents are delivered, translated by Ginbing. Each reply links to its Chinese original on CNIPA's website. ## About these replies - **Official source.** [Trademark registration questions](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpublist.do?sysid=13), the public column where CNIPA answers trademark questions. Each reply links to its official page. - **Issued by.** CNIPA - **CNIPA's dates.** Each reply shows the date CNIPA answered. All of them date from 2019 to 2022. - **Checked against the official page.** November 6, 2026 > These are replies to individual questions. They are not rulings, and CNIPA decides each case on its own facts. The translations are Ginbing's own, not official, and Ginbing is not part of CNIPA. Only the Chinese text is official. Each heading is Ginbing's short summary of the point the reply answers; the asker's own words, which may cover other points, are on the official page. Greetings and contact details are left out, and long replies are shortened to the parts that answer the question. > **Warning:** These replies are older than those on CNIPA's other answer pages, and each states the position on its date. Where a [later reply](/docs/china-trademark/cnipa-answers-filing-and-timing) or CNIPA's current guide differs, rely on the later source. They were written under the 2019 Trademark Law, and the [revised law](/docs/china-trademark/laws/trademark-law/2026) takes effect on January 1, 2027, with [some changed rules and article numbers](/docs/china-trademark/2027-trademark-law-changes). Fees and procedures can also change. Check the current rule before relying on one of these replies. ## Which trademark matters can a domestic company handle itself? > For all trademark matters, you can choose to handle them yourself or through an agency. > > [CNIPA reply of July 2, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=59943), translated by Ginbing ## Must every matter for one mark go through the same agency? > Different matters can be entrusted to different agencies. > > [CNIPA reply of June 25, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=358867), translated by Ginbing ## Before registration, if a different agency handles a later matter, is a change of agency needed? > You can entrust agency B with the matter directly. It is advisable to file a change of agency, because otherwise later notices still go to the original agency. > > [CNIPA reply of April 26, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=352730), translated by Ginbing ## The agency cannot be reached before registration: how do official documents reach the applicant? > You can file a change of agency with the Trademark Office and leave "the agency after the change" blank on the form, which is treated as removing the agency. Once the change is approved, notices go directly to the applicant. > > [CNIPA reply of January 14, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=344119), translated by Ginbing ## Does delivery to the agency count as delivery to the owner? > Where a party has appointed a trademark agency, delivery of a document to the agency is treated as delivery to the party. > > [CNIPA reply of April 30, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=55687), translated by Ginbing ## Does the Trademark Office designate agencies? > The Trademark Office has no designated agencies. Beware of being deceived. > > [CNIPA reply of January 22, 2019](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=23582), translated by Ginbing ## How should an applicant check an agency before hiring it? > When appointing a trademark agency, an applicant should check its registration status through platforms such as the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, choose carefully, and avoid being deceived. > > [CNIPA reply of April 20, 2022](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=391019), translated by Ginbing ## Do examiners contact applicants directly? > Examiners do not contact applicants on their own initiative. > > [CNIPA reply of May 6, 2022](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=392506), translated by Ginbing ## Does the office charge for printing a registration certificate? > The Trademark Office charges only the registration application fee. It charges no separate fee for printing the registration certificate after registration is approved. > > [CNIPA reply of June 29, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=359098), translated by Ginbing ## Is there an official fee for responding to a correction notice? > No official fee is charged for correcting a trademark registration application. > > [CNIPA reply of July 9, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=60481), translated by Ginbing ## Does a registered mark need an annual inspection or dues? > No. > > [CNIPA reply of October 18, 2019](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=43745), translated by Ginbing ## Can a company's power of attorney name its legal representative as the principal? > The appointment must be made in the company's name. > > [CNIPA reply of March 23, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=52661), translated by Ginbing ## Can a power of attorney bear a company's contract seal? > No. > > [CNIPA reply of June 12, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=58679), translated by Ginbing ## Can a power of attorney be completed by hand? > It can be handwritten. > > [CNIPA reply of May 6, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=353247), translated by Ginbing ## Can the trademark field on a new application's power of attorney be left blank? > For a new application it can be left blank. > > [CNIPA reply of May 25, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=57418), translated by Ginbing ## Is filing in person examined faster than filing online? > Examination progress has nothing to do with how the application is filed. > > [CNIPA reply of April 18, 2022](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=390766), translated by Ginbing ## When filing by post, which date counts? > Under Article 18 of the Regulations for the Implementation of the Trademark Law, the filing date of a registration application is the date the Trademark Office receives the application documents. > Article 9: except as provided in Article 18, the date on which a party submits documents or materials to the Trademark Office or the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board is the date of submission if delivered in person. If posted, it is the postmark date; if the postmark is unclear or missing, it is the date actually received, unless the party can prove the actual postmark date. > > [CNIPA reply of November 4, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=338305), translated by Ginbing ## What is a public notice of service? > When a notice we sent is returned to the Trademark Office because nobody signed for it, we publish a public notice of service. > > [CNIPA reply of March 11, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=348381), translated by Ginbing ## After a public notice of service has run for 30 days, when does the response period start? > The returned document can still be collected. If it is not collected within 30 days of the public notice of service, it is treated as served and the response or review period starts to run. > > [CNIPA reply of March 10, 2022](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=386803), translated by Ginbing ## How long is the time limit to respond to an examination opinion? > An examination opinion generally requires an explanation or comments within 15 days of receiving the notice. > > [CNIPA reply of March 11, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=51771), translated by Ginbing ## Is the Trademark Gazette still mailed on paper? > Since May 2016 the Trademark Gazette has been published electronically, and we no longer send out any paper copies of it. > > [CNIPA reply of November 12, 2021](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=374511), translated by Ginbing ## Does an online status of "registration announcement" prove the right has been obtained? > The system's data is not updated in real time and lags somewhat. It is for reference only and has no legal effect. > > [CNIPA reply of January 15, 2020](https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/jact/front/mailpubdetail.do?sysid=13&transactId=49646), translated by Ginbing ## Related pages - [The local agent requirement](/docs/china-trademark/local-agent-requirement) - [CNIPA's answers on filing and timing](/docs/china-trademark/cnipa-answers-filing-and-timing) - [Official notices](/docs/china-trademark/official-notices)