CNIPA's answers on renewal, expiry and certificates
Replies CNIPA published from 2019 to 2022 to questions about renewing a mark, what follows when it lapses, and registration certificates, translated by Ginbing. Each reply links to its Chinese original on CNIPA's website.
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About these replies
- Official source
- Trademark registration questions, 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
A term ends on May 13, 2023: when does the renewal window open, and must examination finish in it?
1. The renewal period starts on May 14, 2022. 2. The filing must be made within the twelve months before expiry.
Can a mark be renewed two or three years early?
No.
Renewal was filed in time but the term ended before a result: is the renewal affected?
No.
Several marks expire in the same year: must they be renewed together?
They can be filed separately.
I want to renew and change the address for only one mark of several: can the others be left alone?
A change of the owner's name or address must cover all of the owner's registered marks; marks that are no longer used can be cancelled instead. A renewal can be filed on its own and need not cover the others.
The company's address changed: can it renew without first changing the address?
It can be filed directly, but a correction notice will be issued for the renewal, saying a change must be filed, or else the renewal will not be approved.
An individual's address no longer matches: must it change the address before renewing?
An individual can renew directly without a change.
An individual's identity number went from 15 to 18 digits: is a change needed before renewal?
You can renew directly without a change.
An individual's legal name changed: can renewal go ahead without a change?
A change must be filed.
Can a mark be renewed indefinitely?
A renewal can be filed as long as the materials are complete.
Can a third party file a renewal for someone else's mark?
It is not accepted.
A mark bought at auction is past its grace period: can force majeure save the renewal?
The grace period has passed, so it cannot be renewed.
A mark expired more than six months ago: is a new application the only way?
The only way is to file a new registration application.
Does a former owner have priority to re-register after its mark lapses?
No.
Does a mark past its grace period lapse automatically?
It lapses automatically.
Can a mark frozen by a court be renewed?
Yes.
Can a mark under an invalidation request be renewed?
It can be filed as normal.
Can a mark under a non-use application be renewed before the result?
It can be filed.
Can renewal be filed in the assignee's name with a pending assignment?
File the renewal in the assignee's name together with the assignment application. The renewal is approved after the assignment is complete.
Does renewal change the goods if an item is no longer in the table?
Renewal does not change the goods or services.
Can an owner file the identical mark again instead of renewing?
The same applicant can file the identical mark again, and can choose for itself whether to renew the expiring one.
The paper certificate is lost and renewal is due: is renewal affected, and is a paper certificate reissued?
Renewal can proceed as normal. A replacement certificate is no longer issued on paper.
A paper certificate is lost: must it be replaced, and do electronic and paper versions carry equal weight?
If you need one, file a replacement application; it is not mandatory. Electronic and paper registration certificates have the same legal effect.
Can a paper certificate be requested separately for a mark issued an electronic one?
A paper registration certificate cannot be requested separately.
Do electronic change, assignment and renewal certificates have the same effect as paper ones?
Yes.
Must I publish a notice myself for a lost certificate?
The Trademark Office announces it on its own initiative; nothing else is needed.
Questions? Open Support.