Source: China IP News

According to the Trademark Office (TMO) of China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) recently, China's self-developed electronic document-sending system for the post-registration formalities of the Madrid Trademark International Registrations is now comfortably transmitting during its first-month operation, having successfully delivered 124 documents to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as of now. The IT system is another key milestone in electronic communication between China and the Madrid system since the online debut of the Madrid filing system  on June 21, 2018.

In recent years, CNIPA has been highly valuing international exchanges and cooperation in the trademark field and actively fulfilling its obligations in IP protection, providing a fair and equal IP environment for enterprises from both home and abroad. With its ever-improving business environment, China has been the most desired destination for international trademark applications for territorial extension. In a bid to further optimize the environment for doing business and serve Chinese and foreign applicants, CNIPA works closely with WIPO, vigorously promote reform to facilitate international registration of trademarks, constantly strengthen communication and coordination with WIPO. The TMO launches the Madrid Trademark International Registration online application system, helping Chinese businesses implement the trademark strategy of going global. In the first five months of the year, the Madrid international trademark applications from China were 2,259, ranking the third among Madrid Union members. Online applications logged at 1,885, accounting for 83.44%. The international notice time for foreign enterprises to handle post-registration formalities including trademark transfer, cuts and partial cancellation is reduced by more than a month since the operation of electronic document-sending system of Madrid Trademark International Registration follow-up business. In the first five months of the year, China received 19,023 follow-up business applications from foreign companies, with the examination pendency for trademark transfer shortened to three months and that for trademark modification and renewal to one month.

CNIPA will intensify the efforts to enhance international cooperation in IP protection, deepen international exchanges and cooperation in the trademark field, continuously promote the Madrid International Trademark Registration System and take the activity of improving trademark examination quality as an opportunity, further upgrading the examination quality and efficiency of Madrid international trademark registration, constantly reducing the examination pendency and enthusiastically contributing to China's opening-up and economic and social development.