China’s New Trademark Online Application System
Launching on October 20
On September 28, the Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration issued a notice announcing that the new trademark online application system will be launched on October 20, with the online service mini-program also being activated simultaneously.
1 System Launch Details
According to the notice, the new trademark online application system will officially open at 9:00 on October 20. Users need to complete identity verification through the China National Intellectual Property Public Service Platform’s unified identity authentication system to log in to the new system.
By associating their original trademark online application system account with the National Intellectual Property Public Service Platform’s unified identity authentication system, users can continue to handle various business previously submitted in the original system.
Service Interruption Notice: From 20:00 on October 16 to 9:00 on October 20, the original system will suspend external services. For electronic applications already submitted in the original system, if deadlines for document responses, fee payments, or supplementary materials fall during this period, these deadlines will be uniformly extended to October 20.
2 New Mini-Program Features
At 9:00 on October 20, the Trademark Office’s online service mini-program will be simultaneously activated. The mini-program includes functions such as:
- QR code authentication
- Application business inquiries
- Electronic document reception
- Fee payment
- Electronic invoice downloads
Users can search for “国家知识产权局商标局网上服务” in WeChat or Alipay mini-programs, or scan the QR code at the bottom of the new system page to access it.
3 Expanded Online Services
After the new system launches, in addition to existing services, it will add online processing for the following:
- Trademark refusal review applications
- Cancellation of registered trademark review applications
- Registered trademark invalidation declaration review applications
- Trademark pledge registration applications
- Applications to cancel registered trademarks that have become generic names for goods/services
The scope of online trademark business processing will be gradually expanded in the future.
4 System Transition Details
According to the notice, starting from 9:00 on October 20, the original system will reopen but will only retain service functions such as:
- Application viewing
- File downloads
It will no longer support user registration, application submission, document responses, replies, payments, and other operations.
Important Note: The new system will display all basic processing information for business submitted in the original system, but PDF and JPG format files before July 1, 2024, need to be viewed or downloaded through the original system.
Electronic reply materials for trademark opposition applications, registered trademark invalidation applications, and cancellation of non-use for three consecutive years applications for which the Trademark Office issued Answering Notice before October 20 need to be viewed and downloaded through the original system; for these applications where the Answering Notice is issued on or after October 20, the electronic reply materials should be viewed and downloaded through the new system.
Need Assistance?
The notice reminds trademark applicants, trademark agencies, and the public to arrange relevant business processing times reasonably according to the notice content and make switching preparations in advance.
