Source: Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

Announcement on the Full Digitalization of Trademark Procedures

In order to further improve public trademark services, facilitate trademark-related procedures for applicants and trademark agencies, and enhance the efficiency of trademark examination and adjudication, the Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will implement full digitalization of trademark application acceptance, examination and adjudication, as well as official correspondence. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

1.          Starting from July 1, 2026, trademark matters handled through trademark agencies shall, in principle, be submitted electronically via the Trademark Online Service System, and paper documents will no longer be required. Trademark matters requiring electronic evidence submission shall comply with the requirements set forth in the “Guidelines for Submission of Electronic Evidence in Trademark Matters.”

2.          Trademark applications submitted online through the Trademark Online Service System will enjoy fee reductions in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission. Specifically, online applications for trademark change matters will be free of charge, while other online trademark applications will receive a 10