CNIPA's answers on foreign applicants' documents and names

An applicant that is a legal person or other organization must submit a copy of the registration document of its region or country. A copy of the registration certificate of a foreign company's office or permanent representative office in China cannot serve as a copy of its identity document. Where these documents are in a foreign language, a Chinese translation must be attached; if it is not, the document is treated as not submitted.

A foreign company with no place of business in China must appoint a lawfully established trademark agency to apply for registration and handle other trademark matters in China. Note: a wholly owned branch company that a foreign company lawfully sets up in China is a Chinese enterprise, not the foreign company's place of business in China.

Yes. Where the proof of status a foreign applicant submits is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation must be attached; if it is not, the document is treated as not submitted.

Where an application document is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation must also be provided, confirmed by the seal or signature of the applicant, the agency or a translation organization.

Fill in the Chinese name and address. The signature may be in Chinese or English.

Notarization is not mandatory.

There is no mandatory requirement.

Submitting a notarial deed is not mandatory. If one is submitted, it must be translated into Chinese.

Both must be submitted.

The Trademark Registration Application. An applicant that is a legal person or other organization of the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR or Taiwan must submit a copy of the corresponding registration document. Where a trademark agency handles the application, a Trademark Agency Power of Attorney must be submitted.

Residents of the Hong Kong SAR, the Macao SAR and Taiwan must appoint a lawfully established trademark agency to handle trademark applications. Those holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, a Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents or a Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents with one year or more of validity may handle them themselves.

Submit them together.

The China Trademark website has no bilingual power of attorney template to download. The agency may write its own bilingual version from the website's form. Do not change the form's content or layout.

1. Yes. 2. The translated Chinese name must be filled in.

Where the applicant is a foreign legal person or other organization, the official seal of the legal person is enough when applying for a trademark. If it has no seal, its legal representative signs.

A foreign company with no seal may have its person in charge sign. Keep this consistent with the application.

Yes, a director may sign, and yes, it is needed.

1. Fill in the applicant's nationality in the blank. 2. Either “China” or “Hong Kong, China” is acceptable.

Nationality of “Japan”; organized under the law of “Japan”.

Under the latest trademark examination guidelines, a foreign company's name must be filled in as the simplified Chinese name translated from the attached proof of status, and must not contain abbreviation letters. An application not filled in this way will not be accepted.

Simplified characters must be used.

It must match the information on the registration certificate.

Fill in the English name as it appears on the license.

They will be treated as two entities. Filing a change application for the earlier marks is recommended.

Where the English part of a foreign applicant's Chinese address is a postcode, it need not be changed. Explain this in the reply to the correction notice.

These special characters must be translated into English.

A foreign applicant must also fill in its English name in the “Applicant name (English)” field. It must match the name in the attached proof of status or be an English translation of that name.

It must be filled in according to the identity document. A foreign applicant must designate a domestic recipient in the application to receive CNIPA's legal documents on later trademark matters. The domestic recipient's address must be given in detail, beginning with the province, city, county or other administrative division.

Foreign companies must all fill in an English company name and address.

The corresponding Chinese name and address must be filled in.

As long as the case falls within Article 2 and meets the conditions in Articles 3 and 4, a foreign applicant can also use fast examination.

The domain of the China Trademark website is sbj.cnipa.gov.cn. Do not trust information spread through unofficial channels. Stay alert and guard against being deceived.