Step-by-Step Guide: China Trademark Search
China trademark search is necessary to register a trademark in China. Whether it is a foreign enterprise or a domestic enterprise, it is generally necessary to conduct a search before registering a trademark to determine if the trademark you wish to submit is similar to any that already exist. If there is a similarity, your application is likely to be rejected. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a trademark similarity search before registering a trademark. The following text will illustrate, with pictures and text, how to conduct a similarity search for trademark registration on the Chinese website.
China Trademark Search Step 1 : Register an account on TRADEMARK OFHCE OF CHINA NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
First, visit https://wcjs.sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/cas/login, you need to register an account. If you are not good at Chinese, you can use a translation software or Google’s plugin to translate the page into English. After registration, the search operation page has the corresponding English version.
China Trademark Search Step 2 : Log in to the query page
After you complete the registration and log in successfully, you will see the following page
When conducting a china trademark search, if you are not proficient in Chinese, you can switch to the English version. As shown in the figure below
China Trademark Search Step 3 : Select the Chinese trademark classification and fill in the relevant query fields
Click on “SISIM (Search for identical or similar TMs)” in the image above, and you will see the following page
Click on the magnifying glass icon circled in the picture above to show the classification of Chinese trademarks, which are divided into 45 categories, each of which has a large number of sub-items.As shown below
As shown in the figure below: China’s trademark classification has 45 major categories and each sub-item. The coverage of your registered trademark must be accurate to the sub-item. Select 10 sub-items in a major category. Exceeding this will incur additional fees.
China Trademark Search Step 4 : Check the results of China trademark search
After selecting the trademark classification and filling in the relevant fields, click the search button, and you will get the following search results（China trademark search results）
Reference content: 45 major classifications of Chinese trademarks
China’s 45 Trademark Classes: Official English Translations
(Based on the Nice Classification System)
1. Goods (Classes 1–34)
- 1.Chemicals: Industrial, agricultural, and scientific chemicals; unprocessed plastics; fertilizers.
- 2.Paints and Pigments: Dyes, inks, rustproofing agents, and non-medicated cosmetics.
- 3.Non-Medical Cosmetics & Cleaning Agents: Soaps, essential oils, laundry bleach.
- 4.Fuels & Lubricants: Industrial oils, candles, and lighting materials.
- 5.Pharmaceuticals: Medicines, dietary supplements, veterinary products.
- 6.Metal Products: Raw metals, construction materials, and metal containers.
- 7.Machinery and Equipment: Engines, agricultural tools, and vending machines57.
- 8.Hand Tools: Manual cutlery, blades, and non-mechanized farming tools.
- 9.Electronics & Software: Scientific instruments, security devices, and computer hardware57.
- 10.Medical Devices: Surgical instruments, prosthetics, and dental equipment.
(For Classes 11–34, refer to WIPO’s official Nice Classification guidelines.)
2. Services (Classes 35–45)
- 35.Advertising & Business Management: Retail services, office functions, and marketing.
- 36.Financial Services: Insurance, real estate, and monetary transactions.
- 37.Construction & Repair: Building maintenance, installation services.
- 38.Telecommunications: Data transmission, broadcasting, and internet services.
- 39.Transport & Logistics: Packaging, storage, and travel planning.
- 40.Material Processing: Custom manufacturing and food/drink production.
- 41.Education & Entertainment: Training, sports events, and cultural activities.
- 42Technology Services: Engineering, research, and software development.
- 43.Food Services: Restaurants, catering, and temporary lodging.
- 44.Healthcare & Veterinary: Medical care, gardening, and animal breeding.
- 45.Legal & Personal Services: Security, social networking, and funeral services
In China, it is a must to entrust a local service provider to register a trademark. This is a mandatory regulation, and the classification of trademarks is complex. Although the classification of Chinese trademarks generally follows the Nice Classification, it also has its uniqueness. Therefore, the trademark search can be entrusted to your service provider to handle
We have made it easy to register a trademark in China, you can get in touch with us
