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Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law
of the People's Republic of China
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(This is a
non-official translation.)
(Approved
by the State Council on 3 August 2002)
Chapter I.
General Provisions
Chapter
II. Application for Trademark Registration
Chapter
III. Examination of Application for Trademark Registration
Chapter
IV. Modification, Assignment and Renewal of Registered
Trademarks
Chapter V.
Trademark Review and Adjudication
Chapter
VI. Administration of the Use of Trademarks
Chapter
VII. Protection of the Exclusive Right to Use Registered
Trademark
Chapter
VIII. Supplementary Provisions
Chapter
I. General Provisions
Rule 1. These Implementing Regulations are drawn up in
accordance with the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of
China (hereinafter referred to as the "Trademark Law").
Rule 2. The provisions made in these Implementing Regulations
concerning trademarks used on goods shall also apply to
service marks.
Rule 3. The use of trademarks referred to in the Trademark
Law and these Regulations include the use of trademarks on
goods, packages or containers thereof and in commodity trading
documents, or use of trademarks in advertisements, exhibitions
and other commercial activities.
Rule 4. Goods required to bear registered trademarks as
prescribed by the State mentioned in Article 6 of the
Trademark Law refer to goods in respect of which registered
trademarks must be used as prescribed by laws and
administrative regulations.
Rule 5. Under the Trademark Law and these Regulations, where
any party believes his trademark is a well-known trademark
when a dispute arises in the course of trademark registration
or trademark review and adjudication, he may file a request
with the Trademark Office or the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board to recognize it as a well-known trademark,
to reject the trademark registration application contrary to
the provision of Article 13 of the Trademark Law, or to cancel
the trademark registration contrary to the provision of
Article 13 of the Trademark Law. When filing such a request,
he shall submit proofs to prove that his trademark is a
well-known trademark.
At the request of the party, the Trademark Office or the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall, on the basis of
ascertained facts, recognize whether his trademark is a
well-known trademark pursuant to the provision of Article 14
of the Trademark Law.
Rule 6. Applications may be filed for the registration of
geographic indications provided for in Article 16 of the
Trademark Law as certification marks or collective marks in
accordance with the provisions of the Trademark Law and these
Regulations.
Where a geographic indication is registered as a
certification mark, the natural persons, legal entities or
other organizations whose goods are qualified to use the
geographic indications may request for the use of it, which
shall be allowed by the organization having control thereon.
Where a geographic indication is registered as a collective
mark, the natural persons, legal entities or other
organizations whose goods are qualified to use the geographic
indications may request for the membership of the body,
association or other organization having the geographic
indication as its collective mark. The body, association or
other organization shall accept him or it as its member
according to the Rules of constitution thereof. Any person who
does not ask to join the body, association or other
organization having the geographic indication as its
collective mark may also duly use the geographic indication,
and the body, association or other organization does not have
the right to prohibit the use.
Rule 7. Where any party entrusts a trademark agency in filing
an application for trademark registration or other trademark
related matters, he shall submit a Power of Attorney. The
Power of Attorney shall indicate such contents and competence
as authorized. The Power of Attorney from a foreign person or
foreign enterprise shall, in addition, indicate the
nationality of the entruster.
Notarization and legalization of the Power of Attorney and
other relevant certificates from a foreign person or foreign
enterprise shall be done based on the principle of
reciprocity.
The foreign person or foreign enterprise mentioned in Article
18 of the Trademark Law refers to the foreign person who or
foreign enterprise which does not have its habitual residence
or place of business in China.
Rule 8. Chinese language shall be used in applying for
trademark registration or for any other trademark related
matters.
here the various certificates, certifying documents and
proofs submitted under the Trademark Law and these Regulations
are in a foreign language, Chinese translations thereof shall
be attached thereto. If the Chinese translations are not
attached, the certificates, certifying documents and proofs
shall be deemed not to have been submitted.
Rule 9. In any one of the following circumstances, any staff
member of the Trademark Office and the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall withdraw, or any party or interested
party may request him to withdraw:
(1) he is a party or a close relative to a party or agent;
(2) he is related in such ways with a party or the agent
thereof insofar as the relation would affect impartiality; or
(3) he has interests in an application for trademark
registration or any other trademark related matters.
Rule 10. Unless otherwise provided for in these Regulations,
where any document is sent to the Trademark Office or the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, the date of receipt
shall be the date of delivery where it is delivered
personally, or the date of posting indicated by the postmark
where it is sent by post. If the date of posting indicated by
the postmark is illegible, or there is no postmark, the date
of receipt shall be the date on which the Trademark Office or
the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board actually receives
the document, unless the sender is able to present evidence as
to the actual date of posting indicated by the postmark.
Rule 11. Any document of the Trademark Office or the Trademark
Review and Adjudication Board may be served by post, by
personal delivery or by other means. Where any party concerned
appoints a trademark agency, delivery of the document to the
trademark agency shall be deemed delivery thereof to the
party.
Where any document is sent to any party by the Trademark
Office or the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, the
date of receipt shall be the date indicated by the postmark on
which the party receives it where it is sent by post. If the
date of posting indicated by the postmark is illegible, or
there is no postmark, the document shall be deemed to have
been delivered to the interested party on the sixteen day from
the date of posting the document. The date of receipt shall be
the date of delivery if it is delivered personally. Where any
document cannot be sent by post or by personal delivery, the
document may be served by making an announcement. At the
expiration of the thirty days from the date of the
announcement, the document shall be deemed to have been
served.
Rule 12. Where an application for international registration
is filed, it shall be done in accordance with relevant
international treaties to which China has acceded. The
specific measures shall be prescribed by the administrative
authority for industry and commerce under the State Council.
Chapter II. Application for Trademark Registration
Rule 13. When applying for the registration of a trademark,
the applicant shall file one application in respect of each
class of goods or services according to the Classification of
Goods and Services as published. For each filing, an
"Application for Trademark Registration" shall be filed with
the Trademark Office, accompanied by five copies of the
reproduction of the trademark. If color is claimed, five
copies of the color reproductions and one copy of the black
and white design of the trademark shall be attached.
The reproductions of a trademark must be clear and easy to be
pasted up and shall be printed on smooth and clean durable
paper or substituted by photographs, each of the length and
the breadth of which shall not be more than 10 cm but not less
than 5 cm.
Where an application is filed for the registration of a
three-dimensional sign as a trademark, an indication shall be
made in the application, and the reproduction capable of
defining the three-dimensional shape shall be submitted.
Where an application is filed for the registration of a
combination of colors as a trademark, an indication shall be
made in the application, and an explanation thereof shall be
submitted in writing.
Where an application is filed for the registration of a
certification mark or collective mark, a statement shall be
made in the application, and the certificates of the
qualification of the applicant and regulations for the
administration of the use thereof shall be submitted.
Where a trademark is in a foreign language or contains
lexical elements in a foreign language, explanations of its
meaning shall be made.
Rule 14. When filing an application for the registration of a
trademark, the applicant shall submit a copy of the
certificate capable of proving his identification. The name of
the applicant for trademark registration shall be in
consistency with that provided in the certificate submitted.
Rule 15. The goods or services shall be listed in the
application according to the Classification of Goods and
Services. If the goods or services are not listed in the
Classification of Goods and Services, a description of the
said goods or services shall be attached.
The documents relating to an application for the registration
of a trademark shall be typewritten or printed.
Rule 16. If an application for the registration of a
trademark is filed jointly by more than one applicant, a
representative shall be designated in the application. If such
representative is not designated, the first person listed in
the application form shall be the representative.
Rule 17. If an applicant changes his name, address, agent, or
deletes designated goods, he may go through the formalities
for the change with the Trademark Office.
An applicant who assigns his application for the registration
of a trademark shall go through the formalities for the
assignment with the Trademark Office.
Rule 18. The filing date of an application for the
registration of a trademark shall be the date on which the
Trademark Office receives the application documents. Where the
formal requirements of the application are fulfilled and the
application form is filled out according to the relevant
rules, the Trademark Office shall accept the application and
notify the applicant in writing. Where the formal requirements
are not fulfilled or the application form is filled out not
according to the relevant rules, the Trademark Office shall
not accept it, but notify the applicant in writing and explain
the reason.
Where the formal requirements are basically fulfilled or the
application form filled out basically according to the
relevant rules, but amendments are required, the Trademark
Office shall notify the applicant to make the amendments and
require him to do so according to the contents prescribed and
re-submit it to the Trademark Office within thirty days from
the date of receipt of the notification. Where the application
is amended and re-submitted to the Trademark Office within the
time limit, the date of filing shall be retained. Where the
application is not amended within the time limit, the
application shall be deemed to have been abandoned, and the
Trademark Office shall notify the applicant in writing.
Rule 19. Where two or more applicants respectively apply for
the registration of the identical or similar trademarks in
respect of the identical or similar goods on the same day,
each applicant shall, within thirty days from the date of
receipt of the notification of the Trademark Office, submit
the proof of his prior use of the said trademark. Where the
applicants used the said trademark for the first time on the
same day or where none of them has ever used the said
trademark, they shall hold consultations among themselves, and
submit a written agreement to the Trademark Office within
thirty days from the date of receipt of the notification from
the Trademark Office. If the applicants are reluctant to hold
consultations or no agreement has been reached, the Trademark
Office shall notify the applicants that one applicant will be
singled out by lot, and reject the registration applications
filed by other applicants. Where the Trademark Office notifies
an applicant, but the applicant does not participate in the
lot, his application shall be deemed to have been abandoned,
and the Trademark Office shall notify in writing the applicant
not having attended the lot.
Rule 20. Where an applicant claims a right of priority
according to Article 24 of the Trademark Law, the copy of the
application document which he first filed for the registration
of the trademark shall be certified by the competent trademark
authority accepting the application, with the date of filing
and the application number indicated.
Where an applicant claims a right of priority according to
Article 25 of the Trademark Law, the certification documents
submitted by him shall be certified by the organization
designated by administrative authority for industry and
commerce under the State Council, except that the
international exhibition on which the goods are put on display
is held inside the territory of China.
Chapter III. Examination of Application for Trademark
Registration
Rule 21. The Trademark Office shall, in accordance with the
Trademark Law and these Regulations, examine the applications
for the registration of trademark it has accepted.
Applications, which conform to the relevant provisions, or
those for the registration of trademarks in respect of a part
of the designated goods, which conform to the relevant
provisions, shall be preliminarily approved and published.
Applications, which do not conform to the relevant provisions,
shall be rejected, or those for the registration of trademarks
in respect of a part of the designated goods, which do not
conform to the relevant provisions, shall be rejected
partially. The Trademark Office shall notify the applicant in
writing and explain the reason for the rejection.
Where the Trademark Office has preliminarily approved
applications for the registration of trademarks on a part of
the designated goods, the applicant may apply for the
abandonment thereof before the date of expiration of the
opposition period; where the applicant abandons the
registration of trademarks in respect of a part of the
designated goods, the Trademark Office shall withdraw the
preliminary approval, terminate the examination procedure, and
re-publish it.
Rule 22. Where an opposition is filed against a trademark,
which has, after examination, been preliminarily approved and
published by the Trademark Office, the opponent shall submit
two copies of the "Application for Trademark Opposition" to
the Trademark Office. The "Application for Trademark
Opposition" shall indicate the issue number of the Trademark
Gazette in which the opposed trademark was published, and the
number of preliminary approval of the opposed trademark. The
Application for Trademark Opposition shall contain the
specific requests and facts, with relevant proofs attached.
The Trademark Office shall send a copy of the Application for
Trademark Opposition to the opposed party and require him to
make a reply within thirty days from the date of his receipt
of the copy. His failure to make a reply shall not affect the
adjudication by the Trademark Office on the opposition.
Where any party needs to supplement relevant proofs after he
files the opposition or makes a reply, he shall make an
announcement in the opposition or reply, and submit the proofs
and certificates within three months from the date of
submission of the opposition or reply. If he fails to submit
them upon expiration of the time limit, the party shall be
deemed to have given up supplementing the relevant proofs.
Rule 23. The justification of the opposition mentioned in
Article 34, paragraph two, of the Trademark Law shall include
the justification of the opposition to a registration in
respect of a part of the designated goods. Where such an
opposition is justified, the application for the registration
of trademarks in respect of that part of the designated goods
shall not be approved.
Where an opposed trademark has, prior to the decision of the
adjudication on the opposition is made, been announced as a
registered trademark in the Trademark Gazette, the
registration announcement shall be cancelled. The trademark
that has been approved for registration upon the adjudication
on the opposition shall be re-published.
The trademark approved for registration upon the adjudication
on the opposition shall not have the retroactive effect on
another person's act to use a sign identical with or similar
to the trademark on the same or similar goods from the date on
which the period for trademark opposition expires and before
the adjudication on the opposition takes effect; however, the
losses inflicted to the trademark registrant due to the bad
faith of said user shall be compensated.
The time limit for the application for review and adjudication
of the trademark approved for registration upon the
adjudication on the opposition shall be calculated from the
date of publication of the adjudication on the trademark
opposition.
Chapter IV. Modification, Assignment and Renewal of Trademark
Registration
Rule 24. When applying for change of name, address or other
registration matters, the registrant shall file an Application
for Modification with the Trademark Office. The Trademark
Office shall, upon examination and approval, issue the
trademark registrant the relevant certificates, and make an
announcement. Where the application is not approved, the
Trademark Office shall notify the applicant in writing and
explain the reason.
When applying for modification of his name, the registrant
shall submit relevant certificate issued by the relevant
registry. An applicant who has not submitted the certificate
may do so within thirty days from the date of filing the
application. Where the submission is not made within the time
limit, the application for the modification shall be deemed to
have been abandoned, and the Trademark Office shall notify the
applicant in writing.
When applying for change of name or address, the trademark
registrant shall make the same change in respect of all his
registered trademarks. If he fails to do so, the application
for the change shall be deemed to have been abandoned, and the
Trademark Office shall notify the applicant in writing.
Rule 25. When applying for the assignment of a registered
trademark, the assignor and assignee shall file with the
Trademark Office an Application for Assignment of Registered
Trademark. The formalities of applying for the assignment of
the registered trademark shall be gone through by the
assignee. The Trademark Office, upon examination and approval
of the application, shall issue the relevant certificate to
the assignee and make an announcement.
When applying for the assignment of a registered trademark,
the trademark registrant shall, at the same time, do the same
assignment in respect of all his other registered trademarks
that are identical with or similar to the said registered
trademarks in respect of the same or similar goods. If the
registrant fails to do so, the Trademark Office shall notify
him to make corrections within a time limit. If the correction
is not made within the time limit, the application for the
assignment of the registered trademark shall be deemed to have
been abandoned, and the Trademark Office shall notify the
applicant in writing.
Any application for the assignment of a registered trademark
that may mislead the public or cause confusion or exert any
other adverse effects shall not be approved by the Trademark
Office. The Trademark Office shall notify the applicant in
writing and explain the reason.
Rule 26. If the exclusive right to use a registered trademark
is transferred for reasons other than assignment, the party
receiving the transferred exclusive right to use the
registered trademark shall go to the Trademark Office with
relevant certificates or legal instruments to go through the
formalities for the transfer of the exclusive right to use the
registered trademark.
When applying for the transfer of the exclusive right to use
a registered trademark, the exclusive right holder of the
registered trademark shall, at the same time, do the same
transfer in respect of all his other registered trademarks
that are identical with or similar to the said registered
trademarks in respect of the same or similar goods. If the
exclusive right holder fails to do so, the Trademark Office
shall notify him to make corrections within a time limit. If
the correction is not made within the time limit, the
application for the transfer of the registered trademark shall
be deemed to have been abandoned, and the Trademark Office
shall notify the applicant in writing.
Rule 27. When applying for the renewal of a trademark
registration, the applicant shall file with the Trademark
Office an Application for Renewal of Trademark Registration.
After examination and approval of the application for the
renewal of a trademark registration, the Trademark Office
shall issue the relevant certificate and announce it.
The period of validity of a renewed trademark shall be so
calculated as from the next day to the date of expiration of
the previous period of validity of the said trademark.
Chapter V. Trademark Review and Adjudication
Rule 28. The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall
accept applications for trademark review and adjudication
filed according to the provisions of Articles 32, 33, 41 and
49 of the Trademark Law, and conduct, according to law, the
review and adjudication on the basis of facts.
Rule 29. The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall
accept applications for trademark review and adjudication
filed according to the provisions of Articles 32, 33, 41 and
49 of the Trademark Law, and conduct the review and
adjudication based on the facts and in compliance with the
law.
Rule 30. When applying for the trademark review and
adjudication, the applicant shall file an application with the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, and submit the same
number of copies thereof as that of the other parties. When
filing the application for reexamination based on the Decision
or Adjudication made by the Trademark Office, the applicant
shall meantime submit a copy of the Decision or Adjudication
made by the Trademark Office.
After receipt of the application, the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall accept the application found to have
met the requirements for acceptance upon examination. The
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall not accept the
application if it does not meet the requirements, and notify
the applicant in writing and explain the reason. Where
rectification is required, the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall notify the applicant to make the
rectification within thirty days from the date of receipt of
the notification. If an application still fails to meet the
requirements after the rectification, the Trademark Review and
Adjudication Board shall not accept it, and notify the
applicant in writing and explain the reason. If the
rectification is not made within the time limit, the
application shall be deemed to have been withdrawn, and the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall notify the
applicant in writing.
Where it finds that an application for the trademark review
and adjudication does not meet the requirements for acceptance
after accepting it, the Trademark Review and Adjudication
Board shall reject the application and notify the applicant in
writing and explain the reason.
Rule 31. After accepting an application for the trademark
review and adjudication, the Trademark Review and Adjudication
Board shall send, in a timely manner, a copy of the
application to the other party, and require him to reply
within thirty days from the date of receipt of the copy of the
application; failure to make a reply at the expiration of the
time limit shall not affect the review and adjudication of the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board.
Rule 32. Where any party needs to supplement relevant proofs
after he files an application for trademark review and
adjudication or makes a reply, he shall make a statement to
this effect in the application or reply, and submit the proofs
within three months from the date of filing the application or
making the reply. If the proofs are not submitted at the
expiration of the time limit, the supplementation thereof
shall be deemed to have be abandoned.
Rule 33. The Trademark Review and Adjudication Board may, at
the request of any party or according to practical needs,
decide to conduct a public review and adjudication of the
application thereof.
Where it is to conduct a public review and adjudication of an
application thereof, the Trademark Review and Adjudication
Board shall notify the parties concerned, within fifteen days
before the public review and adjudication, of the date and
place thereof, and the persons conducting the public review
and adjudication. The parties shall make a reply within the
time limit designated in the notification.
Where the applicant neither replies nor attends the public
review and adjudication, his application for the trademark
review and adjudication shall be deemed to have been
withdrawn, and the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board
shall notify him in writing. Where the respondent neither
responds nor attends the public review and adjudication, the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board may conduct a default
review and adjudication.
Rule 34. Where an applicant requests for the withdrawal of
his application before the Trademark Review and Adjudication
Board makes its decision or adjudication, he may withdraw his
application after he explains the reason in writing to the
Trademark Review and Adjudication. Where the application is
withdrawn, the review and adjudication procedure terminates.
Rule 35. Where an applicant withdraws his application for
review and adjudication, he shall not file another application
for the review and adjudication on the basis of the same facts
and grounds. Where the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board
has made the adjudication or decision as regards an
application for trademark review and adjudication, any person
shall not file another application for the review and
adjudication on the basis of the same facts and grounds.
Rule 36. In respect of a trademark the registration of which
is cancelled in accordance with Article 41 of the Trademark
Law, the exclusive right to use the trademark shall be deemed
to be non-existent from the beginning. The decision or
adjudication on the cancellation of the registered trademark
has no retroactive effect on any judgment or decision on any
trademark infringement case as made and enforced by the
People's Court or on any such decision as made and enforced by
the administrative authority for industry and commerce and in
any such trademark assignment or trademark license contract as
performed prior to the said cancellation. However, the damages
caused to any other party in bad faith on the part of the
trademark registrant shall be compensated.
Chapter VI. Administration of the Use of Trademarks
Rule 37. Where a registered trademark is used, it may carry
the indication of "" ("Registered Trademark") or the
registration signs on the goods, packaging or descriptions of
or other attachments to the goods.
The registration signs include"()" and "(R)". When used, the
registration signs shall be marked or indicated on the upper
or lower right hand corner of the trademark.
Rule 38. Where a Certificate of Trademark Registration is
lost or damaged, it is necessary to apply to the Trademark
Office for re-issuance of the Certificate. Where the
Certificate is lost, the registrant shall declare the loss of
the Certificate in the Trademark Gazette. The damaged
Certificate shall be returned to the Trademark Office when an
application for re-issuance is filed.
Where a Certificate of Trademark Registration is forged or
falsified, criminal liability shall be imposed according to
the Criminal Law based on the provisions governing the crimes
of forging and falsifying certificates issued by the state
administrative authority or other crimes.
Rule 39. In respect of any of the acts referred to in Article
44 (1), (2) and (3) of the Trademark Law, the administrative
authority for industry and commerce shall order the trademark
registrant to rectify the situation within a time limit. If
the registrant refuses to comply, the case shall be submitted
to the Trademark Office for cancellation of the registered
trademark.
In respect of the act referred to in Article 44 (4) of the
Trademark Law, any person may apply to the Trademark Office
for cancellation of the said registered trademark and explain
the circumstances. The Trademark Office shall notify the
trademark registrant and require him to furnish, within two
months from the date of receipt of the notification, proofs of
use of the trademark before the date on which the application
for cancellation is filed, or a justifiable reason for its
non-use. If neither any proof of use, nor a justifiable reason
for the non-use of the trademark concerned is furnished at the
expiration of the time limit, or the proof is invalid, the
Trademark Office shall cancel the registered trademark.
The proof of use of a trademark referred to in the preceding
paragraph includes the proofs of the registrant's use of the
registered trademark and his licensing any other person to use
the registered trademark.
Rule 40. The cancellation of registered trademarks according
to the provisions of Articles 44 and 45 of the Trademark Law
shall be published by the Trademark Office. The exclusive
right to use the registered trademarks shall terminate on the
date when the cancellation decision is made by the Trademark
Office.
Rule 41. Where the Trademark Office or the Trademark Review
and Adjudication Board cancels a registered trademark for
reasons relating only to a part of the designated goods, the
trademark registration in respect of this part of the
designated goods shall be cancelled.
Rule 42. The amount of the fine imposed in accordance with the
provisions of Articles 45 and 48 of the Trademark Law shall be
less than 20% of the illegal business turnover or less than
two times of the illegal profits.
The amount of the fine imposed in accordance with the
provision of Article 47 of the Trademark Law shall be less
than 10% of the illegal business turnover.
Rule 43. Where he licenses another person to use his
registered trademark, the licensor shall submit a copy of the
trademark licensing contract to the Trademark Office for
record within three months from the date on which the contract
is concluded.
Rule 44. Where any person contravening the provisions of
Article 40, paragraph two, of the Trademark Law, the
administrative authority for industry and commerce shall order
the offender to rectify the situation within a prescribed time
limit. Where the offender refuses to comply, the
administrative authority for industry and commerce shall
confiscate the representations of his trademark. If it is
difficult to detach the representations of the trademark from
the goods, both the representations and goods shall be
confiscated and destroyed.
Rule 45. Where a trademark is used in contravention of the
provision of Article 13 of the Trademark Law, an interested
party may request the administrative authority for industry
and commerce for prohibition of the use. When filing the
request, the interested party shall submit proofs proving that
his trademark is a well-known trademark. If the Trademark
Office establishes it as a well-known trademark according to
the provision of Article 14 of the Trademark Law, the
administrative authority for industry and commerce shall order
the infringer to cease the act of using the well-known
trademark in contravention with the provision of Article 13 of
the Trademark Law, confiscate and destroy the representations
of the trademark. If it is difficult to detach the
representations of the trademark from the goods, both the
representations and goods shall be confiscated and destroyed.
Rule 46. Where a trademark registrant applies for the removal,
from the Register, of his registered trademark or the
registration of his trademark in respect of a part of the
designated goods, he shall send an Application for Trademark
Removal and return the original Certificate of Trademark
Registration to the Trademark Office.
Where a trademark registrant applies for the removal, from
the Register, of his registered trademark or the registration
of his trademark in respect of a part of the designated goods,
the exclusive right to use the registered trademark or the
effect thereof on the part of designated goods shall terminate
on the date of receipt by the Trademark Office of the
Application for Trademark Removal.
Rule 47. Where the registrant of a trademark dies or ceases,
and no formalities have been gone through for transfer of the
registered trademark at the expiration of one year from the
date of the death or cessation, any person is entitled to
apply to the Trademark Office for the removal, from the
Register, of the registered trademark. When filing an
application for the removal, he shall submit the proofs of the
death or cessation of the trademark registrant.
Where a registered trademark is removed from the Register
owing to the death or cessation of the trademark registrant,
the exclusive right to use the registered trademark terminates
from the date of the death or cessation of the trademark
registrant.
Rule 48. Where a registered trademark is cancelled or removed
from the Register according to the provisions of Rules 46 and
47 of these Regulations, the original Certificate of Trademark
Registration shall become invalid. Where the registration of
the trademark in respect of a part of the designated goods is
cancelled, or where the trademark registrant applies for
removal, from the Register, the registration of the trademark
in respect of a part of designated goods, the Trademark Office
shall return, to the registrant, the original Certificate of
Trademark Registration on which the approval of the
cancellation or removal has been marked, or re-issue the
Certificate of Trademark Registration and publish the
re-issuance.
Chapter VII. Protection of the Exclusive Right to Use
Registered Trademark
Rule 49. Where a registered trademark contains the generic
name, shape or model of the goods in respect of which it is
used, or directly indicates the quality, main raw material,
function, use, weight, quantity and other features of the
goods, or contains a place name, the holder of the exclusive
right to use the registered trademark has no right to prohibit
others from duly use.
Rule 50. Any of the following acts shall constitute an
infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered
trademark as provided for in Article 52 (5) of the Trademark
Law:
(1) to use any design which is identical with or similar to
the registered trademark of another person on the same or
similar goods, as the designation or decoration of the goods,
which misleads the public; or
(2) to intentionally provide any other person with such
facilities as of storage, transportation, postal service, and
concealment in his infringement of the exclusive right of
another person to use a registered trademark.
Rule 51. Where the exclusive right to use a registered
trademark has been infringed, any person may lodge a
complaint, or file a report on the case of infringement to the
administrative authority for industry and commerce.
Rule 52. An act of infringement of the exclusive right to use
a registered trademark shall be subject to a fine of not
exceeding three times the amount of the illegal business
turnover. Where it is impossible to calculate the amount of
the illegal business turnover, the fine shall be no more than
100,000 yuan.
Rule 53. Where a trademark proprietor believes that another
person has registered his well-known trademark as an
enterprise name, which is likely to deceive or mislead the
public, he may file an application with the competent
authority for the registration of enterprise names for
cancellation of the registration of the enterprise name. The
competent authority for the registration of enterprise names
shall handle the matter pursuant to the Regulations for the
Administration of Registration of Enterprise Names.
Chapter VIII. Supplementary Provisions
Rule 54. Where a service mark has ever been used since before
July 1, 1993, which is identical with or similar to the
service mark of another person already registered in respect
of the same or similar services, it may continue to be used.
However, a service mark not in use for at least three
consecutive years after July 1, 1993 shall not continue to be
used.
Rule 55. The specific measures for the administration of
trademark agency shall be provided for by the State Council.
Rule 56. The classification of goods and services for the
purpose of trademark registration shall be formulated and
published by the administrative authority for industry and
commerce under the State Council.
The documents or forms for filing applications for the
registration of trademarks or for attending to other trademark
related matters shall be formulated and published by the
administrative authority for industry and commerce under the
State Council.
The rules for trademark review and adjudication of the
Trademark Review and Adjudication Board shall be formulated
and published by the administrative authority for industry and
commerce under the State Council.
Rule 57. The Trademark Office shall set up the Register of
Trademark Registration for the documentation of registered
trademarks and matters relating to the registration.
The Trademark Office shall compile, print and distribute the
Trademark Gazette to publish trademark registrations and other
related matters.
Rule 58. Fees shall be paid for applying for the registration
of trademarks or for handling other trademark matters. The
items and schedule of the fees shall be provided for and
published by the administrative authority for industry and
commerce under the State Council in conjunction with the
competent price administrative authority under the State
Council.
Rule 59. These Regulations shall enter into force on 15
September 2002. The Implementing Regulations of the Trademark
Law of the People's Republic of China promulgated by the State
Council on 10 March 1983, revised for the first time with the
approval by the State Council on 3 January 1988, and revised
for the second time with the approval by the State Council on
15 July 1993 and the Answers by the State Council to Issues
Relating to the Attachment of Certificates for the Purpose of
Trademark Registration shall simultaneously be abrogated.
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