Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China

1983.03.01
STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
TRADEMARK LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
(Adopted¡¡at¡¡the 24th Session of the Standing Committee of¡¡the¡¡ Fifth
National¡¡People's Congress on August 23, 1982, Amended by the¡¡Decision
Regarding the Revision of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic¡¡of
China,¡¡Adopted¡¡at the 30th Session of the Standing¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡the
Seventh National People's Congress on February 22, 1993)
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ CONTENTS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II APPLICATION FOR TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
CHAPTER III EXAMINATION FOR AND APPROVAL OF TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
CHAPTER IV RENEWAL, ASSIGNMENT AND LICENSING OF REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
CHAPTER V ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES CONCERNING REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
CHAPTER VI ADMINISTRATION OF THE USE OF TRADEMARKS
CHAPTER¡¡VII¡¡PROTECTION¡¡OF¡¡THE EXCLUSIVE¡¡RIGHTS¡¡TO¡¡USE¡¡REGISTERED
TRADEMARKS
CHAPTER VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article¡¡1¡¡This¡¡Law¡¡is enacted for¡¡the¡¡purposes¡¡of¡¡improving¡¡the
administration¡¡of trademarks, protecting the exclusive right to¡¡use¡¡a
trademark,¡¡and¡¡of encouraging producers to guarantee¡¡the¡¡quality¡¡of
their goods and maintain the reputation of their trademarks, with a view
to¡¡protecting consumers' interests and to promoting the development¡¡of
socialist commodity economy.
Article¡¡2¡¡The¡¡Trademark Office of the¡¡administrative¡¡authority¡¡for
industry¡¡and commerce under the State Council shall be responsible¡¡for
the¡¡registration¡¡and¡¡administration¡¡of¡¡trademarks¡¡throughout¡¡ the
country.
Article¡¡3¡¡A¡¡registered¡¡trademark means a¡¡trademark¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been
approved¡¡ and¡¡registered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Trademark¡¡Office.¡¡The¡¡ trademark
registrant¡¡shall enjoy an exclusive right to use the¡¡trademark,¡¡which
shall be protected by law.
Article 4 Any enterprise, institution, or individual producer or trader,
intending¡¡to¡¡acquire the exclusive right to use a¡¡trademark¡¡for¡¡the
goods¡¡produced, manufactured, processed, selected or marketed by it¡¡or
him,¡¡shall¡¡file¡¡an¡¡application for the¡¡registration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goods
trademark with the Trademark Office.
Any enterprise, institution, or individual producer or trader, intending
to¡¡acquire the exclusive right to use a service mark for¡¡the¡¡services
provided by it or him, shall file an application for the registration of
the service mark with the Trademark Office.
The provisions made in this Law concerning goods trademarks shall¡¡apply
to service marks.
Article¡¡5¡¡As for any of such goods, as prescribed by the¡¡State,¡¡that
must¡¡bear¡¡a¡¡registered trademark, a trademark¡¡registration¡¡must¡¡be
applied¡¡for.¡¡Where no trademark registration has¡¡been¡¡granted,¡¡such
goods cannot be sold on the market.
Article¡¡6 Any user of a trademark shall be responsible for the¡¡quality
of¡¡ the¡¡goods¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡trademark¡¡is¡¡used.¡¡ The
administrative authorities for industry and commerce at different levels
shall,¡¡through the administration of trademarks,¡¡exercise¡¡supervision
over the quality of the goods and shall stop any practice that¡¡deceives
consumers.
Article¡¡7¡¡Any¡¡word, device or their combination that¡¡is¡¡used¡¡as¡¡a
trademark¡¡shall¡¡be so distinctive as to be¡¡distinguishable.¡¡Where¡¡a
registered¡¡trademark¡¡is¡¡used,¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡carry¡¡the¡¡indication¡¡ of
"Registered Trademark" or a sign indicating that it is registered.
Article¡¡8¡¡In trademarks, the following words or devices shall¡¡not¡¡be
used:
(1)¡¡those identical with or similar to the State name,¡¡national¡¡flag,
national emblem, military flag, or decorations, of the People's Republic
of China;
(2) those identical with or similar to the State names, national¡¡flags,
national emblems or military flags of foreign countries;
(3)¡¡those identical with or similar to the flags, emblems or names,¡¡of
international intergovernmental organizations;
(4) those identical with or similar to the symbols, or names, of the Red
Cross or the Red Crescent;
(5)¡¡those relating to generic names or designs of the goods in¡¡respect
of which the trademark is used;
(6)¡¡those having direct reference to the quality, main¡¡raw¡¡materials,
function,¡¡use,¡¡weight,¡¡quantity or other features¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goods¡¡in
respect of which the trademark is used;
(7) those having the nature of discrimination against any nationality;
(8)¡¡those having the nature of exaggeration and fraud¡¡in¡¡ advertising
goods; and
(9)¡¡those detrimental to socialist morals or customs, or¡¡having¡¡other
unhealthy influences.
The¡¡geographical names as the administrative divisions at or above¡¡the
country¡¡level¡¡and¡¡the foreign geographical names¡¡well-known¡¡to¡¡the
public¡¡shall not be used as trademarks, but such geographical names¡¡as
have otherwise meanings shall be exclusive. Where a trademark using¡¡any
of¡¡the¡¡above-mentioned¡¡geographical¡¡names¡¡has¡¡been¡¡approved¡¡ and
registered, it shall continue to be valid.
Article 9 Any foreigner or foreign enterprise intending to apply for the
registration¡¡of¡¡a¡¡trademark in China shall¡¡file¡¡an¡¡application¡¡in
accordance with any agreement concluded between the People's Republic of
China¡¡and the country to which the applicant belongs, or¡¡according¡¡to
the international treaty to which both countries are parties, or on¡¡the
basis of the principle of reciprocity.
Article¡¡10 Any foreigner or foreign enterprise intending to¡¡apply¡¡for
the¡¡registration of a trademark or for any other matters¡¡concerning¡¡a
trademark in China shall entrust any of such organizations as designated
by the State to act as his or its agent.
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ CHAPTER II APPLICATION FOR TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
Article 11 An applicant for the registration of a trademark shall, in¡¡a
form,¡¡indicate,¡¡in accordance with the¡¡prescribed¡¡classification¡¡of
goods,¡¡the¡¡class¡¡of the goods and the designation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goods¡¡in
respect of which the trademark is to be used.
Article¡¡12¡¡Where any applicant intends to use the same¡¡trademark¡¡for
goods¡¡in¡¡different classes, an application for registration¡¡shall¡¡be
filed¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡of each class of the¡¡prescribed¡¡classification¡¡of
goods.
Article¡¡13¡¡Where a registered trademark is to be used¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡of
other goods of the same class, a new application for registration¡¡shall
be filed.
Article¡¡14 Where any word or device of a registered trademark is to¡¡be
altered, a new registration shall be applied for.
Article¡¡15¡¡Where,¡¡after the registration of a¡¡trademark,¡¡the¡¡name,
address or other registered matters concerning the registrant change, an
application regarding the change shall be filed.
¡¡ CHAPTER III EXAMINATION FOR AND APPROVAL OF TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
Article 16 Where a trademark the registration of which has been¡¡applied
for¡¡is¡¡in¡¡conformity with the relevant provisions of¡¡this¡¡Law,¡¡the
Trademark¡¡Office¡¡shall, after examination, preliminarily¡¡approve¡¡the
trademark and publish it.
Article 17 Where a trademark the registration of which has been¡¡applied
for is not in conformity with the relevant provisions of this Law, or it
is¡¡identical¡¡with or similar to the trademark of another¡¡person¡¡that
has, in respect of the same or similar goods, been registered or,¡¡after
examination,¡¡preliminarily approved, the Trademark Office shall¡¡refuse
the application and shall not publish the said trademark.
Article¡¡18 Where two or more applicants apply for the¡¡registration¡¡of
identical¡¡or¡¡similar¡¡trademarks for the same or¡¡similar¡¡goods,¡¡the
preliminary¡¡approval, after examination, and the publication¡¡shall¡¡be
made¡¡for¡¡the trademark which was first filed. Where¡¡applications¡¡are
filed on the same day, the preliminary approval, after examination,¡¡and
the¡¡publication shall be made for the trademark which was the¡¡earliest
used,¡¡and¡¡the applications of the others shall be¡¡refused¡¡and¡¡their
trademarks shall not be published.
Article¡¡19¡¡Any person may, within three months from the¡¡date¡¡of¡¡the
publication,¡¡file an opposition against the trademark that¡¡has,¡¡after
examination,¡¡been¡¡preliminarily approved. If no¡¡opposition¡¡has¡¡been
filed,¡¡or¡¡if it is decided that the opposition is not¡¡justified,¡¡the
registration shall be approved, a certificate of trademark¡¡registration
shall¡¡be issued and the trademark shall be published. If it is¡¡decided
that the opposition is justified, no registration shall be approved.
Article¡¡20¡¡The Trademark Review and¡¡Adjudication¡¡Board,¡¡established
under¡¡the administrative authority for industry and commerce under¡¡the
State Council, shall be responsible for handling trademark disputes.
Article¡¡21¡¡Where the application for registration of¡¡a¡¡trademark¡¡is
refused¡¡and¡¡no¡¡publication of the trademark is¡¡made,¡¡the¡¡Trademark
Office¡¡shall¡¡notify the applicant of the same in¡¡writing.¡¡Where¡¡the
applicant¡¡is dissatisfied, he may, within fifteen days from receipt¡¡of
the¡¡notification,¡¡apply¡¡for¡¡a¡¡review.¡¡The¡¡Trademark¡¡Review¡¡ and
Adjudication Board shall make a final decision and notify the¡¡applicant
in writing.
Article 22 Where an opposition is filed against the trademark that¡¡has,
after¡¡examination,¡¡been¡¡preliminarily¡¡approved¡¡and¡¡published,¡¡the
Trademark Office shall hear both the opponent and applicant state¡¡facts
and¡¡grounds¡¡and shall, after investigation and¡¡verification,¡¡make¡¡a
decision.¡¡Where any party is dissatisfied, he may, within fifteen¡¡days
from¡¡receipt of the notification apply for a review, and the¡¡Trademark
Review¡¡and¡¡Adjudication Board shall make a final decision¡¡and¡¡notify
both the opponent and applicant in writing.
CHAPTER IV RENEWAL, ASSIGNMENT AND LICENSING OF REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
Article 23 The period of validity of a registered trademark shall be ten
years, counted from the date of approval of the registration.
Article¡¡24¡¡Where¡¡the¡¡registrant¡¡intends¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the
registered trademark beyond the expiration of the period of validity, an
application¡¡for¡¡renewal of the registration shall be made¡¡within¡¡six
months¡¡before¡¡the said expiration. Where no application¡¡therefor¡¡has
been¡¡filed within the said period, a grace period of six months may¡¡be
allowed. If no application has been filed at the expiration of the grace
period, the registered trademark shall be cancelled.
The¡¡period¡¡of validity of each renewal of registration shall¡¡be¡¡ ten
years.
Any¡¡renewal¡¡of¡¡registration¡¡shall be published¡¡after¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been
approved.

Article¡¡25 Where a registered trademark is assigned, both the¡¡assignor
and¡¡assignee¡¡shall¡¡jointly file an¡¡application¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Trademark
Office. The assignee shall guarantee the quality of the goods in respect
of which the registered trademark is used.
The assignment of a registered trademark shall be published after it has
been approved.
Article 26 Any trademark registrant may, by signing a trademark¡¡license
contract, authorize other persons to use his registered trademark,¡¡ The
licensor¡¡shall supervise the quality of the goods in respect¡¡of¡¡which
the¡¡licensee¡¡uses his registered trademark, and¡¡the¡¡licensee¡¡ shall
guarantee¡¡the quality of the goods in respect of which¡¡the¡¡registered
trademark is used.
Where¡¡any party is authorized to use a registered trademark of¡¡another
person,¡¡the¡¡name of the licensee and the origin of the goods¡¡must¡¡be
indicated on the goods that bear the registered trademark.
The¡¡trademark¡¡license¡¡contract shall be submitted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Trademark
Office for record.
¡¡ CHAPTER V ADJUDICATION OF DISPUTES CONCERNING REGISTERED TRADEMARKS
Article¡¡27¡¡Where a registered trademark stands in¡¡violation¡¡of¡¡ the
provisions of Article 8 of this Law, or the registration of a¡¡trademark
was¡¡acquired by fraud or any other unfair means, the¡¡Trademark¡¡Office
shall¡¡cancel¡¡the¡¡registered¡¡trademark in¡¡question;¡¡and¡¡any¡¡other
organization¡¡or¡¡individual¡¡may¡¡request¡¡the¡¡Trademark¡¡Review¡¡ and
Adjudication¡¡Board to make an adjudication to cancel such a¡¡registered
trademark.
In¡¡addition to those cases as provided for in the preceding¡¡paragraph,
any¡¡person disputing a registered trademark may, within one¡¡year¡¡from
the¡¡date¡¡of¡¡approval¡¡of the trademark¡¡registration,¡¡apply¡¡to¡¡the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board for adjudication.
The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall, after receipt of¡¡the
application for adjudication, notify the interested parties and¡¡request
them to respond with arguments within a specified period.
Article¡¡ 28¡¡ Where¡¡a¡¡trademark,¡¡before¡¡its¡¡being¡¡ approved¡¡ for
registration,¡¡has¡¡been¡¡the¡¡object of¡¡opposition¡¡and¡¡decision,¡¡no
application¡¡for adjudication may be filed based on the same¡¡facts¡¡and
grounds.
Article 29 After the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board has made¡¡a
final¡¡adjudication¡¡either¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡or¡¡to¡¡cancel¡¡a¡¡registered
trademark,¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡notify¡¡the interested parties¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡in
writing.
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ CHAPTER VI ADMINISTRATION OF THE USE OF TRADEMARKS
Article¡¡30¡¡Where¡¡any¡¡person who¡¡uses¡¡a¡¡registered¡¡trademark¡¡has
committed any of the following, the Trademark Office shall order him¡¡to
rectify¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡within a specified period or¡¡even¡¡cancel¡¡the
registered trademark:
(1)¡¡where¡¡any¡¡word,¡¡device or¡¡their¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡a¡¡registered
trademark¡¡is¡¡altered¡¡unilaterally¡¡(that¡¡is,¡¡without¡¡the¡¡required
registration);
(2)¡¡where the name, address or other registered matters concerning¡¡the
registrant of a registered trademark are changed unilaterally (that¡¡is,
without the required application);
(3)¡¡where the registered trademark is assigned unilaterally¡¡(that¡¡is,
without the required approval); and
(4)¡¡where¡¡the¡¡registered trademark has ceased to be¡¡used¡¡for¡¡three
consecutive years.
Article 31 Where a registered trademark is used in respect of the¡¡goods
that have been roughly or poorly manufactured, or whose superior quality
has¡¡been replaced by inferior quality, so that consumers are¡¡deceived,
the¡¡administrative authorities for industry and commerce¡¡at¡¡different
levels shall, according to the circumstances, order rectification of the
situation¡¡within a specified period, and may, in addition, circulate¡¡a
notice of criticism or impose a fine, and the Trademark Office may¡¡even
cancel the registered trademark.
Article¡¡32 Where a registered trademark has been cancelled or¡¡has¡¡not
been¡¡renewed at the expiration, the Trademark Office shall, during¡¡one
year¡¡from the date of the cancellation or removal thereof,¡¡approve¡¡no
application¡¡for the registration of a trademark that is identical¡¡with
or similar to the said trademark.
Article 33 Where any person violates the provisions of Article 5 of this
Law, the local administrative authority for industry and commerce¡¡shall
order him to file an application for the registration within a specified
period, and may, in addition, impose a fine.
Article¡¡34¡¡Where¡¡any person who uses an¡¡unregistered¡¡trademark¡¡has
committed¡¡any of the following, the local administrative authority¡¡for
industry and commerce shall stop the use of the trademark, order him¡¡to
rectify the situation within a specified period, and may, in¡¡ addition,
circulate a notice of criticism or impose a fine:
(1) where the trademark is falsely represented as registered;¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
(2) where any provision of Article 8 of this Law is violated; and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
(3) where the manufacture is rough or poor, or where superior quality is
replaced by inferior quality, so that consumers are deceived.
Article¡¡35¡¡Any party dissatisfied with the decision of¡¡the¡¡Trademark
Office¡¡to cancel a registered trademark may, within fifteen¡¡days¡¡from
receipt¡¡of the corresponding notice, apply for a review. The¡¡Trademark
Review and Adjudication Board shall make a final decision and notify the
applicant in writing.
Article¡¡ 36¡¡ Any¡¡party¡¡dissatisfied¡¡with¡¡the¡¡decision¡¡ of¡¡¡¡the
administrative authority¡¡for industry and commerce to¡¡impose¡¡a¡¡ fine
under¡¡ the¡¡provisions¡¡of Article 31, Article 33 or¡¡Article¡¡34¡¡may,
within fifteen days from receipt of the corresponding notice,¡¡institute
legal proceedings with the people's court. If there have been instituted
no legal¡¡proceedings¡¡or made no performance of the¡¡decision¡¡at¡¡ the
expiration of the said period, the administrative authority for industry
and¡¡commerce¡¡may request the people's court for¡¡compulsory¡¡execution
thereof.
VII¡¡ PROTECTION¡¡ OF¡¡ THE¡¡EXCLUSIVE¡¡ RIGHTS¡¡ TO¡¡ USE¡¡¡¡REGISTERED
TRADEMARKS
Article 37 The exclusive right to use a registered trademark is¡¡limited
to¡¡the¡¡trademark which has been approved for registration and¡¡to¡¡the
goods in respect of which the use of the trademark has been approved.
Article¡¡38¡¡Any of the following acts shall be an infringement¡¡of¡¡the
exclusive right to use a registered trademark:
(1) to use a trademark that is identical with or similar to a registered
trademark¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡or¡¡similar¡¡goods¡¡without¡¡ the
authorization of the proprietor of the registered trademark;
(2)¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡goods¡¡that he¡¡knows¡¡bear¡¡a¡¡counterfeited¡¡registered
trademark;
(3)¡¡to counterfeit, or to make, without authorization,¡¡representations
of¡¡ a¡¡registered¡¡trademark¡¡of¡¡another¡¡person,¡¡or¡¡to¡¡sell¡¡ such
representations¡¡of¡¡a registered trademark as were¡¡counterfeited,¡¡ or
made without authorization;
(4)¡¡to¡¡cause, in other respects, prejudice to the exclusive¡¡right¡¡of
another person to use a registered trademark.
Article¡¡39 Where any party has committed any of such acts¡¡to¡¡infringe
the¡¡exclusive¡¡right to use a registered trademark as provided¡¡for¡¡in
Article¡¡ 38 of this Law, the infringe may request¡¡the¡¡ administrative
authority¡¡for¡¡industry and commerce at or above the county¡¡level¡¡for
actions.¡¡The administrative authority for industry and¡¡commerce¡¡shall
have the power to order the infringer to immediately stop the infringing
act¡¡and¡¡to compensate the infringee for the damages¡¡suffered¡¡by¡¡the
latter.¡¡The¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡compensation shall¡¡be¡¡the¡¡profit¡¡that¡¡the
infringer¡¡has earned through the infringement during the period of¡¡the
infringement or the damages that the infringee has suffered through¡¡the
infringement¡¡ during¡¡the¡¡period¡¡of¡¡the¡¡infringement.¡¡ Where¡¡ the
infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark is not
serious¡¡enough to constitute a crime, the administrative authority¡¡for
industry¡¡and commerce may impose a fine. Where any interested party¡¡is
dissatisfied¡¡with the decision of handling made by¡¡the¡¡administrative
authority for industry and commerce to order him to stop the¡¡infringing
act or to impose a fine, he may, within fifteen days from receipt of the
notice, institute legal proceedings with the people's court.¡¡If¡¡ there
have been instituted no legal proceedings or made no performance of¡¡the
decision (to impose a fine) at the expiration of the said¡¡period,¡¡ the
administrative¡¡authority¡¡for industry and commerce shall¡¡request¡¡the
people's court for compulsory execution thereof.
Where¡¡the¡¡exclusive¡¡right¡¡to use a¡¡registered¡¡trademark¡¡has¡¡been
infringed,¡¡the infringee may institute legal proceedings directly¡¡with
the people's court.
Article 40 Where any party passes off a registered trademark of¡¡another
person, and the case is so serious as to constitute a crime, he shall be
prosecuted, a according to law, for his criminal liabilities in addition
to his compensation for the damages suffered by the infringee.
Where¡¡ any¡¡party¡¡counterfeits,¡¡or¡¡makes,¡¡ without¡¡ authorization,
representations¡¡of a registered trademark of another person,¡¡or¡¡sells
such representations of a registered trademark as were counterfeited, or
made without authorization, and the case is so serious as to¡¡constitute
a¡¡crime, he shall be prosecuted, according to law,¡¡for¡¡ his¡¡criminal
liabilities in addition to his compensation for the damages suffered¡¡by
the infringee.
Where¡¡any¡¡party¡¡sells¡¡goods¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knows¡¡bear¡¡a¡¡counterfeited
registered¡¡trademark,¡¡and the case is so serious as¡¡to¡¡constitute¡¡a
crime,¡¡he¡¡shall¡¡be prosecuted, according to¡¡law,¡¡for¡¡his¡¡criminal
liabilities in addition to his compensation for the damages suffered¡¡by
the infringee.
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ CHAPTER VIII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
Article¡¡41 Any application for a trademark registration and¡¡for¡¡other
matters concerning a trademark shall be subject to payment of the fee as
prescribed. The schedule of fees shall be prescribed separately.
Article 42 The Implementing Regulations under this Law shall be drawn up
by¡¡the¡¡administrative authority for industry and¡¡commerce¡¡under¡¡the
State¡¡Council.¡¡They¡¡shall¡¡enter into¡¡force¡¡after¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been
submitted to and approved by the State Council.
Article¡¡43¡¡This¡¡Law¡¡shall enter into force on¡¡March¡¡1,¡¡1983.¡¡The
"Regulations¡¡Governing Trademarks" promulgated by the State Council¡¡on
April¡¡10,¡¡1963¡¡shall be abrogated on the same¡¡date,¡¡and¡¡any¡¡other
provisions concerning trademarks contrary to this Law shall cease to¡¡be
effective at the same time.
Trademarks¡¡registered before this Law enters into force shall¡¡continue
to be valid.