How to conduct a search for Chinese trademark?

Ma Jun, Chinese trademark lawyer

majun@100ybf.com

WhatsApp/Wechat/Mobile: +8618922206544

Price for application: 250 USD per class only, search and consulting for free, we charge only when you decide to file.

---

Before reading this article, I would remind that you can ask me to search for free HERE instead of self search.

A lot of our clients want to conduct a trademark search by themselves. In this article, I would share the most recommended way for foreigners to conduct search by themselves:

What search engines to use?

The official search engine of China Trademark Office may be entered by this link:

http://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbcx/

I would not recommend you to use any other search engine other than this one as a foreigner.

Here are some steps for use:

1. When you enter the page, click the button pointed by the red arrow (this means you accept the terms of CTMO):

2. After you click the button, you will enter this page, again, click the button pointed by arraow. This page will help you enter the search of “similar marks”:

3. Enter the similar search page and enter the information needed:

Now we can start the search, (a) enter the class of your product/service; (b) enter the group of your product/service; (c) choose “English Word” as the criteria if you mark is alphabetic word mark; (d) enter name of your trademark. Then click the blue button at the bottom of the page.

4. Find similar marks

Like if you are search Apple on class 41, you find it registered already.

I would recommend you to find professional people, like me to read the result of search because you may not view some circumstances as similar and thus ignore the risks of application. But if you still feel you want to compare yourself, I would give some simple rules:

(a) If you find exact the same trademark, your mark cannot pass;

(b) If you find a trademark that has only one alphabet different from yours, your mark cannot pass, unless such difference lies in the first alphabet.

At this point, I would say, now you have the 50% correct answer as per my experience. It is required by law of China that foreigners have to work with a trademark agent/lawyer to apply trademark protection in China, why don’t you just resort to me?

majun@100ybf.com WhatsApp/Wechat/Mobile: +8618922206544