Tag: trademark

When helping SMEs register trademarks, Lao Yang (Putui IP) frequently encounters these naming pitfalls: ⚠️ Mistake 1: Ignoring Visually Similar CharactersAssuming “slightly different” names avoid conflict is risky.Examples: Sprite vs. Rayprite (雪碧 vs. 雷碧) Wusu Beer vs. Niaosu Beer (乌苏 vs. 鸟苏)Names with minimal visual/meaning differences risk rejection or opposition—even if initially approved. ⚠️ Mistake…

A local client’s brother recently passed away unexpectedly—a reminder of life’s fragility. Below are critical trademark procedures: 🏢 Trademarks Registered Under a Company 👤 Trademarks Registered by an Individual ⚠️ Critical Reminder Delaying inheritance/transfer beyond 1 year risks trademark invalidation, affecting future use or sale. Lao Yang (Putui IP) reminds everyone: Prioritize health amidst busy work.

Recently, a colleague asked Lao Yang (Putui Intellectual Property) for a paper trademark registration certificate—despite China’s National Intellectual Property Administration discontinuing all paper certificates since 2022, issuing only electronic certificates. Scammers exploit this by: Printing publicly available trademark records (e-registration certificates, preliminary announcements). Mailing them to businesses via collect-on-delivery postage fees. Charging high fees for…

Recently, Lao Yang from Putui Intellectual Property encountered a case where a foreign client’s trademark was preemptively registered by a domestic Chinese company. Searches confirmed the hijacked mark falls exactly within the foreign company’s core subclass. The hijacked trademark is currently in its announcement period. If the Chinese registrant has a distribution or agency relationship…

Recently, a client received a final decision approving their trademark registration after an opposition—delaying issuance by over a year. Lao Yang from Putui Intellectual Property views this outcome positively, as registration was ultimately secured. Normally, if no opposition is filed during the three-month preliminary announcement period, registration certificates are issued within one month. Oppositions prolong…

Trademark rejection analysis is critical during the application process. Professionals assess rejection reasons to determine whether to appeal and evaluate success probabilities. Rejections typically fall into two categories: Absolute GroundsIssues with the trademark itself (e.g., lack of distinctiveness, violation of public order/morality, or legal non-compliance). Appeal success rates are generally low. Relative GroundsConflicts with existing…

Recently, a client of Lao Yang from Putui Intellectual Property successfully passed the preliminary approval stage for a trademark application filed last year—a three-character name. The preliminary announcement period lasts three months, and the registration certificate is typically issued within one month after its conclusion. Initially, the client proposed several similar or potentially conflicting names.…

With the Trademark Office’s system reopening after the holiday, Lao Yang from Putui Intellectual Property received confirmation of a successful trademark transfer. Despite the extended break, processing was unaffected: the transfer, submitted in mid-November last year, completed in approximately two and a half months. Key considerations for transfers: Similar trademarks must be transferred together to…