In order to further facilitate the trademark applicants and create a sound business environment, the Trademark office of China resolve to simplify the application materials, optimize working process and shorten the examination period according to Opinions of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce on Deepening the Reform of Trademark Registration Facilitation and Effectively Raising Efficiency of Trademark Registration, the relevant announcement is as follows:

From this day forward, where an applicant applies for a color combination or colored design trademark registration, the copy of design in black and white are not needed as the applicant submitting to the Trademark Office, if it is needed during continued forward examination, the trademark office will give the applicant a notification to subsequently submit.

From this day forward, where an applicant submits multiple paper applications for trademark modification at one time, only one identity certificate document and only one power of attorney shall be submitted, besides only one supporting document for modification according to the ongoing provisions. When applying for modification, the applicant shall indicate where the documents mentioned above are in application, it shall be stated in the attorney of power including authorized matters and the limit of power of all the application for trademark modification in this time. Where an applicant submit multiple paper applications for trademark registration, assignment, renewal, licensing recordation,correction, replacement of the Trademark Registration Certificate and other surrounding matters at once, the above provisions are applicable.

From this day forward, where an applicant applies for multiple Madrid trademark modification for changing name or address, only one application need to be submitted; where an applicant applies for multiple Madrid trademark assignment to the same subject, only one application need to be submitted.

From February 9,2018, the written examination and substantive examination for the existing application for trademark modification would be combined, from April 1, the written examination and substantive examination for the existing application for trademark renewal would be combined, after the combination, the notification to applicant about rejection or acceptance would be cancelled, which could lead a greater examination efficiency.

From February 14, 2018, where an applicant applies for multiple trademark modification online, the online application system would fill out the application information filed and upload files uploaded automatically into the next application, which could reduce filling and uploading repeatedly to improve the efficiency and convenience of online applications.

 From April 1, 2018, The Trademark Office will complete the first examination of the application for modification within one month from the date of receiving the application, From June 1, 2018, The Trademark Office will complete the first examination of the application for renewal within one month from the date of receiving the application.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.