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Trademark / 商标

Trademark registration for foreign brands

  • China is a first-to-file jurisdiction: trademark rights are generally acquired by registration, not prior use, so file before any public launch, import, or e-commerce listing.
    中国实行先申请原则：商标权一般通过注册取得而非通过使用，因此应在任何公开上市、进口或电商上架前提交申请。
  • Foreign applicants without a business domicile or habitual residence in China must appoint a CNIPA-recorded trademark agency to file.
    在中国无营业场所或经常居所的外国申请人，须委托在商标局备案的商标代理机构提交申请。
  • There are two routes to a Chinese registration: direct national filing via CNIPA (typically 7–12 months) or the Madrid Protocol for multi-country portfolios.
    取得中国注册有两条路径：经 CNIPA 直接国家申请（通常 7–12 个月）或适用于多国布局的马德里体系。
  • Register the core mark together with its Chinese character form, pinyin, and common misspellings across the strategically relevant Nice classes.
    应将核心商标连同其中文形式、拼音及常见拼写变体，在策略相关的尼斯类别上一并注册。
  • After publication there is a three-month opposition window; monitoring the Trademark Gazette and opposing early is far cheaper than post-registration litigation.
    初步审定公告后有三个月的异议期；监控《商标公告》并尽早异议，成本远低于注册后的诉讼。
  • Non-use for three consecutive years (“撤三”) can cancel a registration, so keep proof of use and record marks with Customs for border enforcement.
    连续三年不使用（”撤三”）可使注册被撤销，故应保留使用证据并向海关备案商标以在边境维权。
  • Enforcement runs through four parallel channels — administrative, civil, criminal, and Customs — and a coherent strategy combines registration, surveillance, and graduated response.
    维权有行政、民事、刑事与海关四条并行渠道，连贯策略应结合注册、监测与阶梯式应对。

Trademark registration for foreign brands | 外国品牌的商标注册

Overview

For a foreign business entering China, the brand name and logo are often the most valuable intangible assets it brings. China operates a first-to-file trademark system: in principle, rights are acquired by registration, not by prior use. A competitor or squatter who files first can therefore lawfully obtain, and even license back to you, a mark that you have used elsewhere for years. Early, strategic filing is therefore the single most important step a foreign brand can take before any public launch, import, or e-commerce listing in mainland China.

This article explains, in practical terms, how foreign applicants register trademarks in China, the two available routes (direct national filing and the Madrid Protocol), how goods and services are classified, and what to do when a mark is opposed, rejected, or infringed. It is informational only and not a substitute for advice from a qualified Chinese trademark attorney.

First-to-file and why it matters

China’s *Trademark Law* follows the principle of “application first, registration first” (申请在先、注册在先). While the law recognises certain limited defences for prior users of “a mark that has been used and has acquired a certain influence”, these are narrow and require proof of reputation in China — something most newly entering foreign brands cannot easily show. The practical consequence is blunt: file before you use, or at least before you are visible.

A related risk is “bad-faith” or squatting registration. China has strengthened its law to combat this — *Trademark Law* Article 4 now expressly prohibits malicious applications filed without intent to use, and Article 44 permits invalidation of marks registered by improper means. In practice, however, the fastest and cheapest remedy is still to have filed your own application first. Many foreign brands adopt a “defensive” strategy: registering the core mark, the Chinese transliteration (if any), the拼音 (pinyin) form, and common misspellings across the classes where they operate or may operate.

Who can file: A foreign applicant without a business domicile or habitual residence in China must appoint a trademark agency lawfully established in China (recorded on the CNIPA agency list). A foreign national with habitual residence in China may file in person or online. A wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary of a foreign company is treated as a domestic enterprise and may file directly.

Two routes: direct filing and the Madrid Protocol

Foreign brand owners have two principal routes to a Chinese registration:

1. Direct national filing via CNIPA. Applications are filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) Trademark Office, either online through the trademark e-filing system or at a trademark acceptance window. The application specifies the mark, the applicant, and the goods/services by class and item. CNIPA examines first on formal grounds, then on substantive grounds (absolute grounds such as distinctiveness, and relative grounds such as conflict with earlier marks). If approved, the mark is published in the *Trademark Gazette* for a three-month opposition period; if no opposition succeeds, a certificate issues. Absent opposition, a straightforward registration commonly takes roughly 7–12 months.

2. Madrid Protocol (international registration). Where the brand owner has a “home” connection to a Madrid member (e.g., a registered mark or pending application in its own country, or domicile/nationality in a member state), it may file a single international application through its national IP office designating China (and other members). WIPO administers the international phase; CNIPA examines the China designation under Chinese law. A Madrid designation that is approved results in a Statement of Grant of Protection rather than a separate Chinese certificate, and any refusal, opposition, or invalidation is handled under Chinese procedure. The Madrid route is attractive for multi-country portfolios because one filing, one set of fees, and one renewal cover many jurisdictions — but the Chinese substantive outcome is the same standard as a direct filing.

RouteBest forFiling bodyCertificate
Direct national filingChina-only or China-first strategyCNIPA Trademark OfficeChinese registration certificate
Madrid ProtocolMulti-country portfoliosHome IP office → WIPO → CNIPAStatement of Grant of Protection

Nice classes and specification drafting

China uses the international Nice Classification of goods and services, currently 45 classes (Classes 1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services), and applies its own *Similar Goods and Services Classification Table* (based on Nice) to assess whether marks in different classes are “similar”. Class selection is strategic, not automatic:

  • A brand selling consumer products usually needs Classes covering the physical goods and the retail/online sales channel (Class 35 for retail services, and e-commerce platforms often expect coverage there).
  • Software and apps commonly span Class 9 (downloadable software), Class 42 (software development/services), and sometimes Class 35 or 38.
  • Food, cosmetics, apparel, and electronics each sit in distinct classes; covering only the product class can leave the brand exposed on marketplaces that list under service classes.

Specification drafting matters. Overly broad lists can draw oppositions or refusals; overly narrow lists leave gaps. A common practice is to combine standard items from the classification table with a few precisely drafted items. Note also that China requires use of the mark as registered; non-use for three consecutive years can expose a registration to a “cancellation for non-use” (撤三) action by a third party — a risk both for squatters (good for brand owners) and for over-filers (a caution for applicants who register defensively without use intent).

Opposition, invalidation and enforcement

Opposition. After acceptance, the mark is published for a three-month opposition window. Any party may oppose on grounds such as prior rights, lack of distinctiveness, or bad faith. Foreign brand owners should monitor the *Trademark Gazette* (or use watch services) during this window; opposition is far cheaper than litigation after registration.

Invalidation and cancellation. A prior-rights holder may request invalidation within five years of registration (absolute-grounds invalidation, e.g., lack of distinctiveness or bad faith, can be pursued at any time). Third parties may also seek cancellation for three years of non-use.

Enforcement. China offers three overlapping channels:

  • *Administrative:* market regulation authorities (SAMR and local equivalents) can investigate infringement, order cessation, confiscate and destroy infringing goods, and impose fines.
  • *Civil:* specialised intellectual property courts/tribunals hear infringement suits and can award damages, including statutory and, in serious cases, punitive damages.
  • *Criminal:* counterfeiting above certain thresholds is a crime, pursued by police and prosecutors.
  • *Customs:* rights holders may record trademarks with Customs to intercept infringing imports/exports at the border.

A coherent enforcement strategy typically combines registration (the precondition for all of the above), surveillance, and a graduated response from cease-and-desist letters through administrative complaints to litigation.

What to do next

  • File core marks before any public launch, import, or marketplace listing in China — do not rely on prior foreign use.
  • Cover the Chinese character form, pinyin, and Latin form of the brand, not just the original logo.
  • Select Nice classes strategically, including retail/e-commerce and software classes where relevant; avoid both over-broad and over-narrow specifications.
  • Appoint a CNIPA-recorded trademark agency if you have no Chinese domicile; consider the Madrid route only if you already manage a multi-country portfolio.
  • Set a *Trademark Gazette* watch during the three-month opposition period and act quickly if a conflicting mark appears.
  • Record registered marks with Customs and keep proof of use to defend against non-use cancellation.

Sources

  • China National Intellectual Property Administration — Trademark Office (official portal): https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/
  • CNIPA (English): “How can Foreign Applicants Apply for Trademark Registration?”: https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/3/17/art_2996_205374.html
  • CNIPA — Madrid international registration (China Trademark Website): https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/gjzc/201908/t20190829_1081.html
  • World Intellectual Property Organization — Madrid System (official portal): https://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/

Related reading

  • see also: Patent protection & IP enforcement / 专利保护与知识产权执法
  • see also: Copyright & trade secrets for foreign firms / 著作权与商业秘密

外国品牌的商标注册

概述

对进入中国的外资企业而言，品牌名称与标识往往是它带来最有价值的无形资产之一。中国实行先申请的商标制度：原则上，商标权通过注册取得，而非通过使用取得。因此，抢先一步提交的竞争对手或”抢注者”可能合法地获得你已在其他国家使用多年的商标，甚至反过来向你许可。在中国进行任何公开上市、进口或电商上架之前，尽早、策略性地提交注册，是外国品牌最应优先的一步。

本文以实务角度说明外国申请人如何在中国注册商标、可选择的两条路径（直接国家申请与马德里体系）、商品与服务如何分类，以及当商标被异议、驳回或侵权时如何应对。本文仅供信息参考，不构成中国执业律师的法律意见。

先申请原则及其影响

中国《商标法》遵循”申请在先、注册在先”原则。虽然法律对”已经使用并有一定影响的商标”规定了有限的在先使用抗辩（第五十九条），但该抗辩范围狭窄，且需证明在中国境内的知名度——多数刚进入中国的外国品牌难以举证。实务结论很直接：在使用之前、至少在你公开亮相之前就提交申请。

关联风险是”恶意”或”抢注”注册。中国已加强立法遏制此类行为——《商标法》第四条明确禁止”不以使用为目的的恶意商标注册申请”，第四十四条允许对以不正当手段取得的注册提起无效宣告。但实践中，最快、成本最低的救济仍是自己先提交申请。许多外国品牌采取”防御性”策略：在经营及可能经营的类别上，同时注册核心商标、中文译名（如有）、拼音形式及常见拼写变体。

谁可以提交：在中国没有营业场所或住所的外国申请人，必须委托依法设立并备案于中国商标局的商标代理机构；在中国有经常居所的外国自然人可本人或在线提交；外国公司的中国全资子公司被视为国内企业，可直接申请。

两条路径：直接申请与马德里体系

外国品牌所有者主要有两条路径取得中国注册：

1. 经 CNIPA 直接国家申请。 向国家知识产权局（CNIPA）商标局提交，可经商标网上服务系统或商标受理窗口办理。申请载明商标、申请人及按类别与项目指定的商品/服务。商标局先进行形式审查，再进行实质审查（绝对理由如显著性，以及相对理由如与在先商标冲突）。核准后刊登于《商标公告》，进入三个月异议期；无异议或异议不成立则核发注册证。无争议时，一件顺利的注册通常约需 7–12 个月。

2. 马德里体系（国际注册）。 当品牌所有者与某一马德里成员存在”本国的”连接（例如在本国已注册或已申请商标，或在该成员有住所/国籍）时，可通过其本国知识产权主管部门提交一件国际申请，指定中国（及其他成员）。WIPO 负责国际阶段，CNIPA 依中国法审查中国领土延伸。核准的中国领土延伸以”保护声明”形式体现，而非单独的中国证书；任何驳回、异议或无效均依中国程序处理。马德里路径对多国布局极具吸引力——一次申请、一套规费、一次续展覆盖多国——但中国境内的实质审查标准与直接申请一致。

路径适用情形受理机构证书形式
直接国家申请仅布局中国或中国优先国家知识产权局商标局中国商标注册证
马德里体系多国组合布局本国主管局 → WIPO → CNIPA保护声明

尼斯分类与商品描述

中国采用国际尼斯分类对商品与服务分类，现行共 45 个类别（第 1–34 类为商品，第 35–45 类为服务），并适用以尼斯为基础的《类似商品和服务区分表》来判断跨类是否”类似”。类别选择具有策略性，并非自然得出：

  • 销售消费品的企业通常既需覆盖实体商品类别，也需覆盖零售/线上销售渠道（第 35 类零售服务；电商平台常要求在该类有覆盖）。
  • 软件与 App 常横跨第 9 类（可下载软件）、第 42 类（软件开发/服务），有时还涉及第 35 或 38 类。
  • 食品、化妆品、服装、电子产品各有专属类别；仅覆盖产品类会使品牌在按服务类上架的平台暴露于风险。

商品描述（指定项目）的撰写至关重要。过于宽泛易招致异议或驳回；过于狭窄则留下空隙。常见做法是结合分类表中的标准项目与若干精确撰写的项目。另需注意，中国要求按核准注册使用；连续三年不使用可使注册面临他人提起的”撤三”（连续三年不使用撤销）风险——这既是对抢注者的威慑（对外国品牌有利），也是对过度防御申请者的警示。

异议、无效与维权

异议。 初步审定后刊登公告，进入三个月异议期。任何主体均可基于在先权利、缺乏显著性、恶意等理由提出异议。外国品牌所有者应在该窗口期监控《商标公告》（或使用监测服务）；异议的成本远低于注册后的诉讼。

无效与撤销。 在先权利人可自注册之日起五年内请求无效宣告（绝对理由如缺乏显著性、恶意的无效宣告不受五年限制）；第三人也可因连续三年不使用请求撤销。

维权。 中国提供三重并行的渠道：

  • *行政*：市场监管部门（SAMR 及地方对应机构）可查处侵权、责令停售、没收销毁侵权商品并处罚款。
  • *民事*：专门的知识产权法院/法庭审理侵权诉讼，可判赔，情节严重的可适用惩罚性赔偿。
  • *刑事*：达到特定门槛的假冒行为构成犯罪，由公安机关与检察机关追诉。
  • *海关*：权利人可向海关备案商标，在边境拦截侵权进出口货物。

连贯的维权策略通常以注册（上述一切的前提）、监测，以及从律师函、行政投诉到诉讼的阶梯式应对为基础。

下一步建议

  • 在中国任何公开上市、进口或平台入驻之前提交核心商标——切勿依赖境外的在先使用。
  • 同时覆盖品牌的中文形式、拼音与拉丁字母形式，而非仅原始标识。
  • 策略性选择尼斯类别，含零售/电商及软件相关类别；避免过宽或过窄的商品描述。
  • 若无中国营业场所，委托在商标局备案的代理机构；仅当你已管理多国组合时方考虑马德里路线。
  • 在三个月异议期内设置《商标公告》监测，出现冲突商标时迅速行动。
  • 将注册商标向海关备案，并保留使用证据以防御”不使用撤销”。

来源

  • 国家知识产权局商标局（官网）：https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/
  • 国家知识产权局（英文）：”How can Foreign Applicants Apply for Trademark Registration?”：https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/3/17/art_2996_205374.html
  • 国家知识产权局——马德里国际注册（中国商标网）：https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/gjzc/201908/t20190829_1081.html
  • 世界知识产权组织——马德里体系（官网）：https://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/

相关阅读

  • see also: 专利保护与知识产权执法 / Patent protection & IP enforcement
  • see also: 著作权与商业秘密 / Copyright & trade secrets for foreign firms
Trademark / 商标

Registering a Trademark in China for a Foreign Brand: CNIPA National Filing vs the Madrid Route (2026)

  • A foreign applicant without a business domicile in China must appoint a legally established Chinese trademark agency; only foreign nationals habitually resident in China may file directly.
    在中国无营业场所的外国申请人须委托依法设立的中国商标代理机构；仅经常居所在中国的外籍人士可自行办理。
  • China is first-to-file: filing both the Latin mark and a Chinese-character version early prevents squatter capture of the transliteration.
    中国实行申请在先：尽早同时注册拉丁商标与中文译名，可防止抢注者攫取音译名称。
  • Two routes exist — a direct CNIPA national filing (flexible subclasses, ~7–12 months) and a Madrid designation (centralised, but needs a local agent for refusals).
    两条路径并存——CNIPA单国直报（子类灵活、约7–12个月）与马德里指定（集中管理，但驳回须本地代理应对）。
  • CNIPA’s 17 March 2026 guidance tightened Madrid document-consistency checks and notification routing, raising the risk of missed refusal deadlines without a local monitor.
    商标局2026年3月17日指引收紧马德里文件一致性审查与通知送达，若无本地监测代理，易错过失权期限。
  • Since 1 January 2022 CNIPA issues electronic certificates only; record the mark with Customs for enforcement and takedowns.
    自2022年1月1日起CNIPA仅发电子注册证；为维权与下架应在中国海关做备案。
  • Practical step: clear the mark, file Latin + Chinese together via a Chinese agent, watch the Gazette, and record with Customs for enforcement.

实操建议：先检索，经中国代理同时提交拉丁与中文商标，监测公告，并向海关备案以维权。

Registering a Trademark in China for a Foreign Brand: CNIPA National Filing vs the Madrid Route (2026) | 外国品牌在华商标注册实务：CNIPA直报与马德里指定（2026路径）

For a foreign brand entering China, trademark protection is the single most litigation-prone gap. China follows a first-to-file system: the first to file generally wins, regardless of prior use abroad. The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Madrid System both offer valid routes, but they behave differently once examination begins.

Who can file, and how

A foreign applicant without a business domicile in China must entrust a legally established Chinese trademark agency to handle filing and other trademark matters — this is a hard gate under the *Trademark Law*. A foreign national with habitual residence in China may file in person or online at the trademark registration hall. CNIPA’s 2026 guidance for foreign applicants reiterates these rules and points to the approved agency list. A wholly-owned China branch of a foreign enterprise is treated as a Chinese enterprise, not the foreign parent’s domicile.

CNIPA national filing

A direct CNIPA filing lets the applicant pick exact goods/services under China’s Nice-based classification and tailor the specification to local subclass practice — usually more flexible than Madrid for must-win markets. Typical flow: clearance search → prepare the mark and specification → the Chinese agent files → formal examination (~1 month) → substantive examination (~6–8 months) → publication for three months → registration and an electronic certificate (paper certificates were abolished on 1 January 2022). Smooth cases often take about 7–12 months. Because China is first-to-file, filing both the Latin word mark and a Chinese-character version upfront avoids a squatter grabbing the transliteration.

The Madrid route

A Madrid designation of China is convenient for rolling out a global portfolio from a home application/registration, with centralised renewals. But two 2026 shifts matter. First, CNIPA’s 17 March 2026 guidance tightened documentary-consistency checks between the Madrid specification and the international registration, and adjusted how notifications (including provisional refusals) are served — increasing the risk that an applicant relying only on the WIPO chain misses a deadline. Second, transformation of a refused/cancelled designation into a direct CNIPA filing now demands stricter consistency proof. The practical safeguard: regardless of route, appoint a qualified Chinese agent to monitor CNIPA and answer refusals.

Enforcement and maintenance

After registration, record the mark with China Customs for border enforcement and platform takedowns. Renewals and use-evidence matter: non-use cancellation allows a third party to cancel a registered mark after three years of non-use, so keep evidence of genuine use in China. Foreign brands should also watch the Gazette during the three-month opposition window and be ready with evidence.

Practical steps

  1. Search first. Clear the Latin and Chinese versions in the CNIPA database before filing.
  2. Appoint a Chinese agent. Mandatory for foreign applicants without a China domicile.
  3. File both forms. Latin + Chinese-character mark together to pre-empt squatters.
  4. Pick the route by need. Must-win China market → national filing; global rollout → Madrid with a local monitor.
  5. Protect and maintain. Customs recordation, renewal discipline, and use evidence against non-use cancellation.

外国品牌在华商标注册实务：CNIPA直报与马德里指定（2026路径）

对外国品牌进入中国而言，商标保护是最易引发诉讼的缺口。中国实行申请在先原则：一般先申请者获胜，不论境外是否先使用。国家知识产权局（CNIPA）与马德里体系都提供有效路径，但进入审查后行为不同。

谁可申请、如何申请

在中国无营业场所的外国申请人须委托依法设立的中国商标代理机构办理申请及其他商标事务——这是《商标法》下的硬性门槛。经常居所在中国的外籍人士可亲自或在线到商标注册大厅办理。CNIPA 2026年外国申请人指引重申了这些规则并指向已公示的代理机构名单。外国企业的在华全资子公司被视为中国企业，而非外国母公司的营业场所。

CNIPA单国直报

CNIPA单国直报可让申请人按中国尼斯分类选定具体商品/服务，并贴合本地子类实践裁剪范围——对”必争市场”通常比马德里更灵活。典型流程：检索→准备图样与范围→中国代理提交→形式审查（约1个月）→实质审查（约6–8个月）→三个月初审公告→核准注册并下发电子注册证（2022年1月1日起废止纸质证）。顺畅案件通常约7–12个月。因中国申请在先，同时注册拉丁文字商标与中文译名可防止抢注者攫取音译名。

马德里路径

通过马德里指定中国，便于以本国基础申请/注册一次性铺开全球组合、集中续展。但2026年有两项变化值得注意。其一，CNIPA2026年3月17日指引收紧了马德里指定规格与国际注册的一致性审查，并调整了通知（含临时驳回）的送达方式，增加了仅依赖WIPO链路者错过失权期限的风险。其二，被驳回/注销的马德里指定转为CNIPA直报，现要求更严格的一致性证明。实务保障是：无论哪条路径，都委任合格中国代理监测CNIPA并应对驳回。

维权与维持

注册后应向中国海关备案，用于边境保护与平台下架。续展与使用证据很关键：连续三年不使用可被他人申请撤销，须保留在华真实使用证据。外国品牌还应在三个月异议期内监测商标公告，并备妥证据。

实操步骤

  1. 先检索。 提交前在CNIPA库检索拉丁与中文版本。
  2. 委任中国代理。 无中国住所的外国申请人强制要求。
  3. 双形态同报。 拉丁与中文商标一并提交，先发制人防抢注。
  4. 按需求选型。 必争中国市场→单国直报；全球铺开→马德里+本地监测。
  5. 保护与维持。 海关备案、续展纪律，以及应对不使用撤销的使用证据。

Practitioner Quick Reference

  • Agent is mandatory: no China domicile → appoint a Chinese trademark agency; only habitual residents file directly.
    代理强制：无中国住所须委中国商标代理；仅经常居所者自行办理。
  • File Latin + Chinese: first-to-file rewards early dual-form filing against squatters.
    拉丁与中文同报：申请在先，尽早双形态提交以防抢注。
  • CNIPA vs Madrid: national filing = flexible subclasses; Madrid = centralised but needs local agent for refusals.
    CNIPA对马德里：单国=子类灵活；马德里=集中但驳回须本地代理。
  • E-cert only since 2022: keep the electronic certificate for takedowns and court filings.
    2022年起仅电子证：留存电子注册证用于下架与诉讼。
  • Customs recordation: register the mark with China Customs for border enforcement.
    海关备案：向中国海关备案以边境维权。

Common Pitfalls

  • Skipping the Chinese mark: a squatter grabs the transliteration while you hold only the Latin mark.
    漏报中文商标：你只持拉丁商标时，抢注者攫取音译名。
  • Relying on WIPO only: Madrid notification routing changes (Mar 2026) risk missed refusal deadlines.
    只靠WIPO：马德里通知送达变化（2026年3月）易错过失权期限。
  • Ignoring use evidence: three years of non-use invites cancellation by a third party.
    忽视使用证据：连续三年不使用可被他人撤销。

2026 Watchlist

  • Madrid guidance enforcement: watch how CNIPA applies the 17 March 2026 document-consistency checks.
    马德里指引执行：关注CNIPA如何适用2026年3月17日文件一致性审查。
  • Examination standards: revised trademark examination/adjudication standards may publish.
    审查审理标准：修订的商标审查审理标准或出台。
  • Customs convenience: border recordation and takedown procedures may be streamlined.
    海关便利化：边境备案与下架流程或进一步简化。

Key Figures

  • First-to-file: China grants the mark to the first applicant, not the first user.
    申请在先：中国将商标授予先申请人，而非先使用人。
  • 3 months: the opposition window after publication.
    3个月：初审公告后的异议期。
  • 7–12 months: typical smooth timeframe for a national CNIPA registration.
    7–12个月：CNIPA单国注册顺畅案件的一般周期。
  • Since 2022: CNIPA issues electronic certificates only.
    2022年起：CNIPA仅发电子注册证。
  • Madrid in 2026: 116 members covering 132 economies make it a centralised global filing route.
    2026年马德里：116个成员覆盖132个经济体，是集中式全球申请路径。

Sources

Trademark / 商标

Madrid Protocol and Trademark Licensing in China: Protecting Foreign Brands

  • Under the Madrid System, a foreign brand with a Chinese base mark can file one international application designating many members, instead of filing separately in each jurisdiction.
    依马德里体系，在中国拥有基础商标的外国品牌可提交一件国际申请指定多个成员，无需在各法域分别申请。
  • The international application must be based on a China trademark that is already registered or at least applied for and accepted — and its scope cannot exceed the base mark’s goods and services.
    国际申请须以已注册或至少已申请并获受理的中国商标为基础，且范围不得超出基础商标的指定商品/服务。
  • The “central attack” rule means that if the Chinese base mark is cancelled, invalidated or not renewed within five years, the entire international registration fails across all designated members.
    “中心打击”原则意味着若中国基础商标在五年内被撤销、无效或未续展，其国际注册在所有指定成员一并失效。
  • Licensing a registered mark to a Chinese joint-venture partner or distributor requires a recordal with the trademark office to be enforceable against third parties.
    将注册商标许可给中国合资伙伴或分销商须向商标主管机关备案，方可对抗第三人。
  • China offers a 2025 fast-review channel for Madrid applications where overseas signing, exhibition, brand licensing or overseas hijacking creates urgent need.
    中国为因海外签约、参展、品牌授权或已遭海外抢注而确有急需的马德里申请提供 2025 年快速审查通道。

Madrid Protocol and Trademark Licensing in China: Protecting Foreign Brands | 马德里体系在华延伸与商标许可：外资品牌保护路径

Why this matters now

For a foreign brand entering China, trademark protection is the first line of defence against copycats, and increasingly against wholly-owned local imitators. Two instruments matter most: the Madrid System for building a multi-country portfolio efficiently, and the trademark licence recordal for controlling how a local partner uses the mark. Both are mediated in China by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), which administers the *Measures for the Implementation of Madrid International Registration of Marks* and the recordal of licence contracts. This article explains how a foreign brand should use each.

The Madrid System: one filing, many markets

The Madrid System — governed by the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol — lets a trademark owner in a member country file a single international application through its home IP office (in China, CNIPA) designating any number of member economies. For a foreign brand already operating in China, the practical route is usually the reverse: a China-incorporated entity uses its Chinese base mark as the foundation for an international registration that extends protection outward.

Key mechanics under CNIPA’s implementation measures:

  • Eligibility. The applicant must have a genuine effective business establishment, domicile, or nationality in China. A foreign brand typically qualifies through its China subsidiary.
  • Base-mark requirement. The international application must be based on a mark already registered with CNIPA or at least applied for and accepted. The goods/services of the international registration cannot exceed those of the base mark. If the base mark is cancelled within five years, the international registration is vulnerable — the “central attack” risk.
  • Filing channels. Applications are submitted electronically via CNIPA’s online service system, which interfaces with WIPO; paper filing remains available. The applicant uploads the Chinese application form plus the English/French MM2 form, proof of eligibility, and the mark specimen.
  • Substantive review by each member. Madrid streamlines the *filing*, not the *substance*: each designated member examines under its own law. A member has 12 months (Agreement) or 18 months (Protocol) to refuse; silence means protection is granted.

The central-attack risk and how to manage it

The “central attack” (中心打击) principle is the Madrid System’s defining weakness: if the base mark is cancelled, invalidated or not renewed within five years of the international registration, the international registration — and therefore protection in every designated member — lapses, unless converted into national applications in those members (possible within three months under the Protocol).

Mitigations for a foreign brand:

  • Stabilise the base mark first. File and secure the China registration, ideally use it in commerce, and renew on time, before leaning heavily on Madrid extensions.
  • Use the 2025 fast-review channel where there is urgent need — overseas signing, exhibition, brand licensing, or actual overseas hijacking. CNIPA’s *Guidance on Fast Review of Madrid International Registration Applications* lets the applicant file a paper request with evidence of the urgent reason.
  • Keep a parallel national filing in the most critical markets as a fallback, so a base-mark problem does not collapse the whole portfolio.

Trademark licensing in China

Beyond registration, a foreign brand often needs a Chinese partner — a joint venture, manufacturer or distributor — to use the mark. Chinese trademark law treats the licensor’s recordal of the licence contract with CNIPA as the step that makes the licence effective against third parties.

What to know:

  • Recordal is advisable, not optional in practice. An unrecorded licence is harder to enforce against infringers and complicates the licensee’s own defences. CNIPA maintains the recordal, and the *Measures* provide for it.
  • Quality control is the licence’s lifeblood. Chinese law requires the licensor to supervise the licensee’s product quality; failure to exercise control can, in egregious cases, lead to cancellation of the registered mark on the ground of becoming a generic or non-used mark. The licence contract should build in audit rights.
  • Scope and term. Define the licensed goods/services precisely (within the registration), the territory (typically mainland China), the term, royalties, and what happens on termination — including recall of labelled stock and destruction of tooling.
  • Cross-border dimension. Where the licensee will export goods bearing the mark, coordinate the Madrid/ national registrations in the export markets so the licensee’s shipments do not infringe a third party or lapse for non-use.

Putting the two together

A disciplined foreign brand approach:

  1. Secure a solid China registration as the base mark (and use it).
  2. Extend outward via Madrid where multi-country coverage is needed, watching the five-year central-attack window.
  3. Where a local partner uses the mark, execute and record the licence, with quality-control and termination clauses.
  4. Align the licence’s export plans with the overseas registrations so the supply chain is clean end to end.

马德里体系在华延伸与商标许可：外资品牌保护路径

为何此刻值得关注

对外国品牌进入中国，商标保护是防御仿冒的第一道防线，且日益针对全资本地仿冒者。两类工具最为关键：马德里体系用于高效搭建多国组合，商标许可备案用于管控本地伙伴如何使用商标。两者在中国均由国家级知识产权主管部门（CNIPA，国家知识产权局）经办，其施行《马德里商标国际注册实施办法》并办理许可合同备案。本文解释外国品牌应如何运用二者。

马德里体系：一次申请，多个市场

马德里体系——由《马德里协定》与《马德里议定书》规范——允许成员国的商标权人在其本国 IP office（在中国为 CNIPA）提交一件国际申请，指定任意数量的成员经济体。对已在中国运营的外国品牌，实务路径通常相反：中国法人以其中国基础商标为根基，通过国际注册将保护向外延伸。

依 CNIPA 实施办法的关键机制：

  • 资格。申请人须在中国有真实有效的工商营业场所、住所或国籍。外国品牌通常通过其在华子公司取得资格。
  • 基础商标要求。国际申请须以已向 CNIPA 注册或至少已申请并获受理的商标为基础。国际注册的指定商品/服务不得超出基础商标范围。若基础商标在五年内被撤销，国际注册即面临风险——即”中心打击”风险。
  • 申请渠道。申请经 CNIPA 网上服务系统提交，该系统与 WIPO 对接；仍可纸件申请。申请人上传中文申请书及英文/法文 MM2 表、资格证明与商标图样。
  • 各成员实质审查。马德里简化的是*申请*而非*实质*：每个指定成员依本国法律审查。成员有 12 个月（协定）或 18 个月（议定书）予以驳回；沉默即视为给予保护。

中心打击风险及应对

“中心打击”（中心打击）原则是马德里体系的特征性弱点：若基础商标在国际注册之日起五年内被撤销、无效或未续展，该国际注册——亦即每个指定成员的保护——一并失效，除非在这些成员转为国家申请（议定书下三个月内可行）。

对外国品牌的缓释措施：

  • 先稳定基础商标。在重度依赖马德里延伸前，先在中国注册并取得权利、尽量实际使用并按时续展。
  • 利用 2025 年快速审查通道。确有急需——海外签约、参展、品牌授权或已遭海外抢注——时可用。CNIPA《马德里商标国际注册申请快速审查办理指南》允许申请人提交纸件请求并附加快审查事由证据。
  • 在关键市场保留平行国家申请作为兜底，使基础商标问题不致拖垮整个组合。

中国的商标许可

除注册外，外国品牌常需中国伙伴——合资企业、制造方或分销商——使用其商标。中国商标法将许可人与商标主管机关备案许可合同视为使许可对抗第三人的步骤。

须知：

  • 备案实为必要而非可选。未备案许可难以对抗侵权人，并使被许可人自身抗辩复杂化。CNIPA 办理备案，《实施办法》予以规定。
  • 质量控制是许可的生命线。中国法律要求许可人监督被许可人产品质量；极端情况下疏于控制可致注册商标因泛化或未使用而被撤销。许可合同应嵌入审计权。
  • 范围与期限。精确界定许可的商品/服务（在注册范围内）、地域（通常中国大陆）、期限、许可费及终止后安排——包括带标库存回收与模具销毁。
  • 跨境维度。若被许可人将出口带标货物，须协调出口市场的马德里/国家注册，使被许可人出货不侵犯第三方或因不使用而失效。

二者结合

守纪的外国品牌路径：

  1. 取得稳固的中国注册作为基础商标（并实际使用）。
  2. 在需要多国覆盖时经马德里向外延伸，盯紧五年中心打击窗口。
  3. 本地伙伴使用商标时，签署并备案许可，含质量控制与终止条款。
  4. 将许可的出口计划与海外注册对齐，使供应链端到端干净。

Sources

  • 马德里商标国际注册实施办法（国家知识产权局商标局）：https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/zcwj/200904/t20090408_6471.html
  • 马德里商标国际注册（国家知识产权局商标局）：https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/gjzc/
  • WIPO Madrid System Information Notice no. 1/2025 — China collective/certification marks requirements：https://www.wipo.int/documents/d/madrid-system/information-notices-en-2025-madrid_2025_1_e.pdf
Trademark / 商标

Enforcing Your Trademark in China: From Administrative Complaints to Well-Known Mark Protection

  • Administrative complaints to local IP offices are the fastest and cheapest first strike against infringement.
    向地方知识产权局行政投诉，是对侵权最快、成本最低的第一击。
  • The 2027 Trademark Law extends cross-class well-known-mark protection to unregistered famous marks.
    2027年《商标法》将驰名商标跨类保护扩展至未注册的驰名商标。
  • Punitive damages of one to five times apply for intentional and serious infringement, with a statutory ceiling of RMB 5 million.
    故意且情节严重的侵权适用一至五倍惩罚性赔偿，法定上限为500万元。
  • Counterfeiting can trigger criminal liability, with imprisonment of up to ten years where thresholds are met.
    假冒行为可触发刑事责任，达到门槛者最高可处十年有期徒刑。
  • Customs recordal acts as the front door of the wider enforcement chain, feeding evidence to administrative and criminal tracks.
    海关备案是更广阔执法链条的前门，将证据输送至行政与刑事路径。
  • The revised law adds a public complaint channel and new penalties for misleading “trick” marks.
    修订法新增公众举报渠道，并对误导性”心机商标”设置处罚。
  • A coordinated playbook — monitor, administer, litigate, prosecute, and border-protect — maximizes leverage.
    监测、行政、诉讼、刑事、边境五位一体的协同组合拳，方能最大化维权效能。

Enforcing Your Trademark in China: From Administrative Complaints to Well-Known Mark Protection | 商标注册后的维权之路：从行政投诉到驰名商标保护

Overview

Securing a trademark registration with CNIPA is only the first half of brand protection. Once a foreign brand operates in China, it must defend that right against counterfeiters, parallel importers and local operators who free-ride on its reputation. China provides a layered enforcement toolkit: fast administrative action by market regulators, civil litigation with punitive damages, criminal prosecution for counterfeiting, and Customs border measures. The revised Trademark Law, adopted on 26 June 2026 and effective 1 January 2027, strengthens each route and is the key change foreign owners should understand. This article maps the post-registration landscape and the enforcement playbook.

Administrative enforcement

The quickest, lowest-cost route is an administrative complaint to the local market regulation administration (the IP office within the SAMR system). Under Article 60, where infringement is found the authority orders the infringer to stop and may confiscate and destroy infringing goods and the main tools used to make them.

Fines are substantial: illegal turnover above RMB 50,000 draws a fine up to five times that turnover; with no or sub-RMB 50,000 turnover, a fine up to RMB 250,000 applies. Repeat infringers within five years, or those with other serious circumstances, face heavier punishment. A seller who neither knew nor should have known, and who proves a lawful source, is merely ordered to stop selling.

Regulators act proactively: SAMR publishes representative cases. In early 2026, local offices handled SKF bearing counterfeits, Mercedes-Benz parts, and a clothing ring spanning Max Mara, Dior, LV and Chanel worth over RMB 60 million, several referred to police. A useful feature: any unit or person may now report misleading use of a registered mark, lowering the trigger threshold.

Well-known trademark protection

For a strong brand, the most powerful tool is cross-class protection of a well-known mark (驰名商标). Under Article 13(3), a mark well known to the relevant public can block registration and use of a copy, imitation or translation on dissimilar goods where this would mislead the public and risk harming the owner’s interests (anti-dilution).

The 2027 revision helps foreign brands directly: previously this defence applied only to marks registered in China. The revised Article 13 removes the “registered in China” limit, so an unregistered mark genuinely well known to the relevant Chinese public can also block preemptive registration or use on unrelated goods.

Well-known status is confirmed case-by-case and passively; the revised law even replaces “认定” (determination) with “确认” (confirmation) to curb trophy-seeking. CNIPA may confirm it in opposition, invalidation or enforcement proceedings, and a designated People’s Court may do so in unfair-competition cases. Evidence covers degree of recognition, duration and geography of use, promotion scale, prior protection records and economic indicators such as sales and market share.

Civil litigation & damages

When administration is insufficient, civil litigation recovers money. Under Article 63, damages follow this order: the right holder’s actual loss, the infringer’s unlawful gain, or a reasonable multiple of the licence fee; where none is provable, statutory damages apply.

Punitive damages of up to five times the base apply to “intentional” and “serious” infringement. The Supreme People’s Court’s 2026 interpretation (法释〔2026〕7号, effective 1 May 2026) clarifies the concepts: intent includes infringing after notice or settlement; serious circumstances include re-offending after penalties or infringing as a business. Statutory compensation cannot be the punitive base; the total is capped at five times the base, with reasonable costs (legal fees, notarisation) separate.

The 2027 Law raises the statutory ceiling to RMB 5 million and expressly includes reasonable enforcement costs, making litigation far more attractive.

Criminal enforcement

Serious counterfeiting is a crime. Article 213 of the Criminal Law punishes using an identical mark on identical goods without permission: illegal turnover of RMB 50,000 (or income RMB 30,000), or two-or-more marks with turnover RMB 30,000, is “serious” (up to three years); the “especially serious” threshold (turnover RMB 250,000 or income RMB 150,000) brings three to ten years. The 2020 Amendment XI raised the maximum from seven to ten years.

Foreign brands pursue this by reporting to the police, often using evidence from Customs or administrative raids. A conviction also supports civil damages and deters copycats.

Coordinating with customs

China Customs (GACC) runs an IP recordal system letting holders suspend infringing imports and exports. Recordal is free and online via the Customs service platform. A recorded mark is the precondition for Customs’ ex officio active protection; without it, a holder can only seek passive protection on discovering an imminent shipment.

Customs interception is the front door of the wider chain: a seized shipment yields evidence and a suspect supply chain that can go to regulators for penalties or to police for prosecution. Brands already in the administrative and civil tracks should keep a live Customs recordal so border seizures feed the playbook. (A separate article covers Customs interception; this piece focuses on the post-registration toolkit.)

2027 Trademark Law changes

The revised Law, passed 26 June 2026 and effective 1 January 2027, is the first comprehensive revision since 1983, growing from 8 chapters / 73 articles to 9 / 87. Enforcement highlights:

  • Higher punitive damages: one-to-five times for intentional and serious infringement; statutory ceiling RMB 5 million; reasonable costs recoverable.
  • Stronger well-known protection: cross-class anti-dilution now covers unregistered famous marks; confirmation replaces determination.
  • Tighter bad-faith control: “not for use and clearly exceeding normal needs” applications are refused; bad-faith applicants face warnings and fines up to RMB 100,000; complicit agencies are liable.
  • New “trick mark” penalties: misleading use draws a correction order, fines up to five times turnover (or RMB 250,000), and possible revocation; anyone may report it.
  • Agency supervision and faster procedure: agencies must file practitioner data; the opposition period shrinks from three to two months.

These shifts tilt the balance to rights holders and raise the expected cost of infringement.

Practical playbook

  1. Monitor early and continuously; the two-month opposition window demands speed.
  2. Keep proof of use — the new law allows ex officio revocation of three-year non-use marks.
  3. Start with administration: complain to the local IP office for fast seizure, confiscation and fines; use the public-report channel.
  4. Escalate to civil where value is high; claim loss or profit and plead punitive damages; recover costs.
  5. Refer counterfeiting to the police once thresholds are met.
  6. Build a well-known file so cross-class protection is ready when dilution appears.
  7. Keep Customs recordal live so border measures feed the chain.

Related reading

  • CNIPA guidance on the 2027 revision and well-known marks.
  • SAMR representative IP enforcement cases (2026).
  • SPC interpretation on punitive damages (法释〔2026〕7号).

商标注册后的维权之路：从行政投诉到驰名商标保护

概述

向国家知识产权局（CNIPA）成功注册商标，只是品牌保护的上半场，远非终点。外国品牌一旦进入中国市场开展运营，就必须准备就注册权利向各类侵权者主动维权——既包括制造、销售假冒商品的造假者，也包括未经授权转售的平行进口商，以及刻意攀附品牌商誉、制造混淆的本地经营者。中国为权利人提供了一套分层的执法救济工具箱：市场监管部门的快速行政查处、附带惩罚性赔偿的民事诉讼、针对假冒行为的刑事打击，以及海关在边境实施的扣留措施。四条路径各有侧重、相互衔接——行政重效率、民事重赔偿、刑事重惩戒、海关守国门，组合运用方能织密保护网。这种立体保护体系，正是外国品牌得以安心扎根中国市场的重要制度保障。2026年6月26日通过、2027年1月1日施行的全面修订《商标法》，强化了上述每一条路径，是外国品牌权利人最应当理解的一项关键变化。本文旨在梳理注册之后的执法格局，说明2027年修订如何系统性地提高侵权成本，并给出一套可落地的协同维权组合拳。需要强调的是，注册只是取得权利的起点，真正决定品牌价值的，是权利人能否在侵权发生时迅速、有力地作出反应——这一点对依赖商誉的外国品牌尤为关键。

行政查处

最快、成本最低的维权路线，是向地方市场监督管理部门提出行政投诉。在省市两级市场监管体系内部，设有承担知识产权执法职责的”知识产权局”。依据《商标法》第六十条，认定侵权成立的，主管机关责令侵权人立即停止，并可没收、销毁侵权商品以及主要用于制造侵权商品的工具。相比于诉讼，行政查处通常周期更短、举证负担更轻，特别适合需要迅速制止线下门店或仓储窝点售假的情形，权利人往往能在数周内见到查扣与处罚结果。

罚款力度相当可观：违法经营额五万元以上的，可处违法经营额五倍以下的罚款；没有违法经营额或不足五万元的，可处二十五万元以下的罚款。五年内实施两次以上侵权、或有其他严重情节的，应当依法从重处罚。值得注意的是，销售者如果既不知道、也不应知道所售商品侵权，且能够证明商品合法来源并说明提供者的，仅被责令停止销售，免予罚款——这体现了对善意销售者的合理保护。

行政机关还可应当事人请求，就赔偿数额进行调解；但调解协议没有强制约束力，当事人不服的仍可向人民法院起诉。这种行政调解省时省力，适合侵权规模较小、双方有和解意愿的情形，但对于恶意侵权或赔偿争议较大的案件，权利人往往仍需转向诉讼。实践中，市场监管部门主动作为：市场监管总局定期公布知识产权执法典型案例，既震慑违法者，也为同类案件提供执法尺度参考。2026年上半年，地方局办理了SKF轴承假货系列案、奔驰汽车配件案，以及横跨Max Mara、Dior、LV、Chanel、案值超过6000万元的服装售假链条，其中多起已移送公安机关刑事侦查。对外国品牌而言，另一项实用机制是：任何单位或个人现在均可就误导性使用注册商标的行为投诉、举报，这显著降低了启动行政调查的门槛起。

驰名商标保护

对于具有高知名度的强势品牌，最强武器是驰名商标的跨类保护。依据《商标法》第十三条第三款，为相关公众所熟知的商标，可以禁止他人在不相同、不相类似商品上注册、使用复制、摹仿或翻译该商标的标志，只要该使用会误导公众、并可能损害驰名商标权人的利益——此即反淡化保护。

2027年修订在对外国品牌直接有利的方向上改变了规则：在此之前，这一跨类防御仅适用于已经在中国注册的驰名商标。修订后的第十三条删除了”已在中国注册”的限制，使得即便未在中国注册、但确为相关中国公众所熟知的商标，也能阻止在不相类似商品上的抢注或使用。这使中国的保护水平更接近CPTPP等高标准国际经贸规则。

驰名商标采取”个案确认、被动保护”原则，并非一项可永久持有的称号；修订法更将”认定”改为”确认”，以抑制社会各界”求认定”的异化倾向。确认可由国家知识产权局在异议、无效宣告或执法程序中作出，也可由指定人民法院在不正当竞争案件中作出。权利人需准备的证据涵盖商标的知晓程度、使用的持续时间与地域范围、宣传的规模、既往受保护记录，以及销量、市场份额等经济指标。鉴于确认高度依赖历史使用与知名度积累，品牌应在日常经营中即系统归档广告投放、展会参与、销售数据与获奖情况，避免临时抱佛脚。

新法还增设机制：当中国企业的商标在境外被抢注时，应其请求，国家知识产权局可确认驰名状态以支援境外确权抗辩。这对管理全球商标组合的多国企业而言，同样是一项具互惠价值的安排——换言之，一家在华布局的外国企业，其中国境内的驰名证据亦可被运用于其他法域的维权，形成双向支撑。

民事诉讼与赔偿

行政手段不足以填补损失时，向人民法院提起民事诉讼是获得金钱救济的主要路径。依据第六十三条，赔偿数额按以下优先顺序计算：权利人的实际损失、侵权人的侵权获利、或许可使用费的合理倍数；三者均难以确定时，适用法定赔偿。

对于”故意”且”情节严重”的侵权，可判处最高达计算基数五倍的惩罚性赔偿。最高人民法院2026年出台的司法解释（法释〔2026〕7号，自2026年5月1日施行）细化了相关概念：故意情形包括经有效通知或达成和解后仍实施侵权、借关联公司隐匿实际控制关系等；情节严重包括受到行政或司法处罚后再犯、拒不履行保全裁定、以侵权为业等。权利人可在诉讼中灵活选择管辖法院，典型如侵权人住所地、侵权行为实施地或侵权商品储藏地法院，以便就近举证、降低跨国维权成本。该解释明确，法定赔偿不得作为惩罚性赔偿的基数；惩罚性总额上限为基数五倍，合理维权开支（如律师费、公证费）另行计算。2025年，全国法院在505件知识产权案件中适用惩罚性赔偿，判赔金额合计18亿元，彰显从严保护的取向。

2027年《商标法》进一步将法定赔偿上限提高至500万元，并明确将合理维权费用纳入赔偿框架，使民事诉讼对外国品牌更具吸引力。实务中，权利人还可请求法院责令侵权人提交与侵权相关的账簿、资料，以解决”获利难以查清”的举证难题，这对跨境企业尤为实用。

刑事打击

情节严重的假冒行为进入刑事领域。《刑法》第二百一十三条将未经许可在同一种商品上使用与其注册商标相同商标、情节严重的行为，规定为假冒注册商标罪：违法经营额达五万元（或违法所得三万元），或假冒两种以上商标且违法经营额达三万元的，属”情节严重”，处三年以下有期徒刑或者拘役，并处或单处罚金；达到”情节特别严重”门槛（违法经营额二十五万元或违法所得十五万元）的，刑期升至三年以上十年以下有期徒刑，并处罚金。2020年《刑法修正案（十一）》将最高刑期由七年提至十年。关联罪名还涵盖销售假冒注册商标的商品罪（第二百一十四条）与非法制造、销售非法制造的注册商标标识罪（第二百一十五条）。上述罪名与行政查处、海关扣留形成梯度：情节较轻的交由行政机关罚款没收，达到刑事门槛的则移送司法机关，构成完整的责任追究链条。

对外国品牌而言，刑事路径通过向公安机关报案推进，证据往往来源于海关查扣或行政查处所固定的材料。单位实施该罪的，对单位判处罚金，并对其直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员依法追究刑事责任，这显著提升了组织化制假售假的成本。刑事定罪不仅可支撑后续民事赔偿请求，也能对仿冒者形成有力威慑。

与海关的衔接

中国海关（海关总署）设有知识产权备案系统，权利人可据此申请海关中止侵权进出口货物。备案免费，通过海关政务服务一体化平台在线办理。已备案商标是海关”依职权”主动保护的前提条件；未备案的权利人，仅能在发现侵权货物即将进出口时，申请”依申请”的被动保护。

海关拦截最好理解为更广阔执法链条的”前门”：一次查扣所生成的实物证据与可疑供应链线索，可以移交市场监管部门转化为行政处罚，或移交公安机关启动刑事侦查。已在行政与民事路径上活跃的品牌，应当维持有效的海关备案，使边境查扣直接汇入前述组合拳。对于在海关总署核准总担保的权利人，请求扣留涉嫌侵权商标货物时无须逐案提交担保金，可进一步降低维权成本。（海关拦截另有专文详述，本文聚焦注册后的工具箱。）

2027年《商标法》的变化

全面修订《商标法》于2026年6月26日通过、2027年1月1日施行，是1983年施行以来首次全面修订，条文由8章73条扩至9章87条。与维权直接相关的要点如下：

  • 更高惩罚性赔偿：故意且情节严重的侵权，适用一至五倍惩罚性赔偿；法定赔偿上限提至500万元；合理维权费用可获偿。
  • 更强驰名商标保护：跨类反淡化扩展至未注册的驰名商标；”确认”取代”认定”。
  • 更严恶意注册规制：以”不以使用为目的且明显超出正常生产经营需要”申请的，不予注册；恶意申请人面临警告及最高十万元罚款；协助恶意申请的商标代理机构依法担责。
  • 新增”心机商标”处罚：以误导公众方式使用注册商标的，可被责令改正、处违法经营额五倍或二十五万元罚款，并可能撤销；任何单位或个人均可举报。
  • 代理监管与程序提速：商标代理机构须报备从业人员信息；异议期由三个月缩至两个月，倒逼权利人更快监控。

这些变化整体上向权利人倾斜，实质性抬升了侵权的预期成本。对外国品牌而言，最值得关注的，是惩罚性赔偿上限与驰名商标跨类保护范围的同步扩展，以及行政查处门槛的降低——三者叠加，使”注册后维权”从被动应对转向主动布局成为可能。

实战要点

  1. 早监测、持续监测：盯紧国家知识产权局公告与市场动态；两个月的异议窗口对响应速度提出更高要求。
  2. 留存使用证据：新法赋予主管机关依职权撤销三年不使用商标的权力，企业须系统保存销售、广告与出口证据。
  3. 行政先行：向地方知识产权局投诉，争取快速查扣、没收与罚款；善用新增的公众举报渠道。
  4. 高价值案件升级至民事：主张实际损失或侵权人获利，并就故意或严重情形请求惩罚性赔偿；一并追偿维权成本。
  5. 假冒达门槛即刑事移送：海关或行政证据满足门槛时，及时转交公安机关。
  6. 构建驰名档案：平时汇集知名度证据，使淡化威胁出现时即可启动跨类保护。
  7. 维持海关备案有效：确保边境措施能够顺畅汇入更广阔的执法链条。

上述七步并非孤立动作，而应被视为一条闭环：监测发现线索，行政快速止损，民事与刑事追索赔偿与刑事责任，海关守住边境，驰名商标档案则提供跨类兜底。外国品牌宜在入境之初即建立专门的知识产权维权台账，明确各项措施的触发条件与责任部门，方能在侵权来袭时从容打出组合拳。

相关阅读

  • 国家知识产权局关于2027年《商标法》修订及驰名商标规则的指引。
  • 市场监管总局知识产权执法典型案例（2026）。
  • 最高人民法院惩罚性赔偿司法解释（法释〔2026〕7号）。
  • 海关总署知识产权海关保护备案办事指南（衔接边境维权）。

Sources

Trademark / 商标

China’s fully revised Trademark Law (effective 1 January 2027): what foreign brand owners should do now

  • China’s Trademark Law has been fully revised for the first time since 1983, adopted on 26 June 2026 (Presidential Order No. 77) and effective 1 January 2027.
    中国《商标法》自1983年施行以来首次全面修订，于2026年6月26日修订通过（主席令第七十七号），自2027年1月1日起施行。
  • The statute grows from 8 chapters / 73 articles to 9 chapters / 87 articles, with a new dedicated chapter on registration conditions.
    法律体例由原8章73条扩为9章87条，新增专章集中规定商标注册条件。
  • Dynamic marks and their combinations are newly registrable, and internet-based use now counts as trademark use.
    可注册要素新增动态标志及其组合，通过互联网等信息网络实施的使用行为明确属于商标的使用。
  • Foreign applicants with no domicile or business presence in China must file through a duly established trademark agent.
    在中国没有经常居所或营业所的外国人、外国企业，申请商标注册和办理其他商标事宜应当委托依法设立的商标代理机构。
  • Bad-faith filing is pushed forward in the enforcement chain: a warning plus a fine up to RMB 100,000 for malicious applications causing adverse impact.
    恶意申请惩戒关口前移：存在恶意申请注册行为造成不良影响的，由负责商标执法的部门给予警告，可以并处10万元以下罚款。
  • Core timelines are codified: 9-month examination, 2-month opposition, 9+3-month review, 10-year term, 12-month renewal window plus 6-month grace.
    关键时限入法：审查9个月、异议期2个月、复审9个月可延长3个月、有效期10年、续展期12个月并设6个月宽展期。
  • Foreign brand owners should audit portfolios, tighten agent and distributor contracts, and plan refilings before the 1 January 2027 transition.
    外资品牌方应审计商标组合、收紧代理与经销商合同条款，并在2027年1月1日过渡前规划重新布局与补充申请。

China’s fully revised Trademark Law (effective 1 January 2027): what foreign brand owners should do now | 中国《商标法》首次全面修订（2027年1月1日施行）：外资品牌方现在应当做什么

Overview: A Once-in-a-Generation Rewrite

For any foreign enterprise building or defending a brand in China, the Trademark Law is the backbone statute. On 26 June 2026, the 23rd Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress adopted a comprehensive revision by Presidential Order No. 77, effective 1 January 2027. The law was first enacted in 1983; the four prior changes (1993, 2001, 2013, 2019) were partial corrections. The 2026 revision is the first full revision in over four decades, expanding from 8 chapters / 73 articles to 9 chapters / 87 articles and adding a dedicated chapter on registration conditions.

The Legal Basis and the Three Significances

The operative instrument is the Trademark Law of the PRC (2026 Revision), revised and adopted on 26 June 2026, promulgated by Presidential Order No. 77, effective 1 January 2027. The NPC frames the revision around three points: implementing the Party and state IP strategy; answering real-world pathologies — bad-faith filing, hoarding of idle marks, improper use, weak penalties, over-enforcement, agency disorder; and systematising more than forty years of practice.

A New Structure: From 8/73 to 9/87

The statute moves from 8 chapters / 73 articles to 9 chapters / 87 articles. A new Chapter II, “Conditions for Trademark Registration,” consolidates absolute grounds, relative prior rights, distinctiveness and functionality exclusions into one chapter, separating substantive conditions from examination procedure. Institutional language is unified: “Trademark Office” and “Trademark Review and Adjudication Board” become the single “trademark administrative department of the State Council” (the CNIPA system); “administrative departments for industry and commerce” become “departments responsible for trademark enforcement.”

New Registrable Subject Matter and the Internet “Use” Rule

To keep pace with digital dissemination, the revision adds dynamic marks and their combinations as registrable subject matter. The functionality bar remains: a sign consisting solely of a shape, colour combination, sound or dynamic effect dictated by the nature of goods, needed for a technical effect, or giving substantial value shall not be registered (Article 18). Article 2 clarifies that use through the internet or other information networks is “use of a trademark” — grounding online presence on e-commerce and social platforms as genuine use for defence, non-use cancellation and opposition.

Good Faith, Foreign Agents and Madrid

Article 9 makes the good-faith principle explicit: filing and use shall not abuse rights to the detriment of national interest, public interest or others’ lawful rights. Article 11 requires foreigners or foreign enterprises with no habitual residence or business premises in China to entrust a duly established trademark agency for filing and other matters. Article 12 routes international registration through the Madrid system under China’s treaties, with rules set by the State Council. Choose agents carefully and define their mandate in writing.

Bad Faith, Well-Known Marks and Squatting

Article 19 refuses registration of applications not intended for use and clearly exceeding normal needs, and bars fraud or other improper means. The penalty gateway moves forward: malicious filing causing adverse impact draws a warning and a fine up to RMB 100,000 from the enforcement department. Article 21 refines well-known mark protection and shifts “recognising” to “confirming” a mark as well known, closer to international rules. Articles 22 and 24 target agent, representative and relationship-based squatting — opposable only if the owner proves prior use and the relationship. Article 25 bars agencies from registering any mark other than for their own services.

Multi-Class, Priority and Codified Timelines

Article 26 allows a single application covering multiple classes. Article 29 grants a 6-month foreign priority (written declaration plus copy within 3 months); Article 30 adds a 6-month exhibition priority. Core clocks are now statutory:

StagePeriod
Examination of an application9 months (Art. 32)
Opposition period2 months (Art. 36)
Refusal review9 months, +3 months (Art. 37)
Opposition decision12 months, +6 months (Art. 38)
Registration term10 years (Art. 43)
Renewal12 months before expiry; 6-month grace (Art. 44)

New Absolute Grounds and Division of Duties

Article 15 bars marks identical or similar to the name, flag, emblem or medals of the Communist Party of China, or to landmark elements of its theoretical achievements or historical events. Article 16 bars county-level or higher place names and public foreign place names (except other meaning or collective/certification marks; existing registrations survive). The trademark department of the State Council (CNIPA) handles nationwide registration; local trademark-administration and enforcement departments (market-supervision system) act locally, with statutory information sharing and coordination.

Implementation and the Transition Window

The revised statute takes effect 1 January 2027, but the enforcement machinery is being built now. The national IP administration is advancing the supporting revision of the Trademark Law Implementing Regulations to detail standards and procedure, updating the Trademark Examination and Adjudication Guidelines, and studying old-new law transitional rules covering applicable law during the switchover and filing conditions for dynamic marks. Foreign owners should treat the window before 1 January 2027 as the low-friction period to clean up portfolios, fix agent mandates and pre-file marks that may face the new absolute grounds.

What Foreign Brand Owners Should Do Now

  1. Audit the portfolio against new grounds (political, geographic, functional) before 1 January 2027.
  2. Confirm agent appointments in writing; the agent cannot register your marks for itself (Art. 11, 25).
  3. Tighten distributor and partner contracts with evidence clauses proving prior use and the relationship (Art. 22, 24).
  4. Calendar priority and renewal clocks; remind 12 months before expiry to avoid grace risk.
  5. Plan multi-class and dynamic-mark filings where distinctive (Art. 26, dynamic marks).
  6. Sequence Madrid and direct filings to preserve the 6-month priority.
  7. Expect two-track enforcement through both IP-administration and market-supervision systems.

Related Reading

Foreign-brand registration workflow and the dedicated anti-squatting playbook are covered in separate articles on this site; this piece is the revision briefing plus the action list.

中国《商标法》首次全面修订（2027年1月1日施行）：外资品牌方现在应当做什么

概览：一代人一次的系统性重写

对任何在中国创建或守护品牌的外国企业，《商标法》是基础性法律。2026年6月26日，第十四届全国人大常委会第二十三次会议以主席令第七十七号修订通过，自2027年1月1日起施行。该法1983年首次施行，此前四次变动（1993、2001、2013、2019）均为局部修正；2026年修订是四十多年来首次全面修订，文本由8章73条扩至9章87条，新增专章规定注册条件。

法律依据与三大意义

现行依据是《中华人民共和国商标法（2026年修订）》，2026年6月26日修订通过，主席令第七十七号公布，自2027年1月1日施行。全国人大将修订归纳为三点：贯彻党和国家知识产权战略；回应恶意申请、囤积闲置、不当使用、惩戒不足、过度维权、代理失序等现实病症；系统总结四十多年实践经验。

新结构：从8章73条到9章87条

法律由8章73条增至9章87条，新增”第二章 商标注册的条件”，将绝对禁止事由、相对在先权益、显著特征与功能性排除集中成章，使实体条件与审查程序分离。机构称谓统一：原”商标局””商标评审委员会”统称”国务院商标管理部门”（即国家知识产权局/CNIPA体系）；原”工商行政管理部门”改为”负责商标执法的部门”。

新增要素与互联网”使用”规则

为顺应数字化传播，修订新增”动态标志及其组合”作为可注册要素。功能性门槛保留：仅由商品性质决定、为技术效果所必需或使商品具实质性价值的形状、颜色组合、声音、动态效果，不得注册（第18条）。第2条明确，通过互联网等信息网络实施的使用属于商标的使用——使电商平台、社交媒体上的线上 presence 可作为抗辩、对抗三年不使用撤销及异议中的真实使用依据。

诚信、外国代理与马德里

第9条使诚信原则显性化：申请与使用不得滥用权利损害国家利益、公共利益或他人合法权益。第11条要求在中国没有经常居所或营业所的外国人、外国企业，应当委托依法设立的商标代理机构办理申请及其他事宜。第12条依我国缔结或参加的国际条约（马德里体系）办理商标国际注册，具体办法由国务院规定。应审慎选择代理机构并以书面界定权限。

恶意申请、驰名商标与抢注

第19条对不以使用为目的且明显超出正常需要、或以欺骗等不正当手段的申请不予注册。处罚关口前移：恶意申请注册造成不良影响的，由负责商标执法的部门给予警告，可以并处10万元以下罚款。第21条细化驰名商标保护，将”认定”调整为”确认”，更贴近国际规则。第22条、第24条针对代理人、代表人及关系型抢注——以自己名义抢注或明知在先使用仍抢注的，异议后不予注册，但前提是企业证明在先使用及关系。第25条禁止代理机构注册自身服务以外的商标。

多类申请、优先权与入法时限

第26条允许一份申请覆盖多个类别。第29条给予自外国首次申请起6个月优先权（须书面声明并于3个月内提交副本）；第30条新增展会优先权6个月。关键时限现已入法：

阶段期限
申请实质审查9个月（第32条）
异议期2个月（第36条）
驳回复审9个月，可延长3个月（第37条）
异议审查12个月，可延长6个月（第38条）
注册有效期10年（第43条）
续展期满前12个月；宽展6个月（第44条）

新增绝对禁注与职责分工

第15条禁止同中国共产党名称、党旗、党徽、勋章或重要理论成就、历史事件相关标志性要素相同近似的标志。第16条禁止县级以上行政区划名称及公众知晓的外国地名（有其他含义或作为集体/证明商标组成部分除外；已注册继续有效）。国务院商标管理部门（CNIPA）负责全国注册管理；地方商标管理与执法部门（市场监管体系）属地执法，并负法定信息共享与协调义务。

配套实施与过渡窗口

修订后法律自2027年1月1日施行，但执法机制正在当下搭建。国家知识产权体系正推进《商标法实施条例》配套修改以细化标准与程序，更新《商标审查审理指南》，并研究涵盖切换期法律适用与动态标志申请条件的旧法新法衔接规则。外国品牌方应将2027年1月1日前视为低摩擦窗口，清理组合、补正代理授权，并对可能触及新绝对禁注事由的商标提前申请。

外资品牌方现在应当做什么

  1. 按新禁注事由审计组合（政治、地理、功能性），在2027年1月1日前完成。
  2. 书面确认代理委托；代理机构不得自注你的商标（第11、25条）。
  3. 收紧经销商与伙伴合同，植入证明在先使用及关系的证据条款（第22、24条）。
  4. 对优先权与续展排期；期满前12个月提醒，规避宽展风险。
  5. 规划多类与动态标志申请（第26条及动态标志），在具显著性处布局。
  6. 安排马德里与直接申请次序，保全6个月优先权。
  7. 预期双线执法，知识产权行政与市场监管两线均可行动。

延伸阅读

外国品牌商标注册流程与恶意抢注专文攻略本站另有专文；本文为修订简报加行动清单。

Sources

Patent / 专利

Customs Recordal & Border IP Protection in China: how foreign rights holders stop fakes at the border

  • China Customs protects five types of IP at the border — trademarks, patents, copyright, Olympic marks, and World Expo marks — and a recordal with GACC is the prerequisite for Customs to act on its own initiative (ex-officio).
    中国海关在边境保护五类知识产权——商标权、专利权、著作权、奥林匹克标志与世界博览会标志；而向海关总署备案，是海关能够依职权主动查扣侵权货物的前提。
  • Recordal is free, valid for 10 years, nationwide, and decided within 30 working days of a complete application; it is not a precondition for a rights holder to request protection, but without it Customs cannot proactively intercept fakes.
    备案免费、一次备案有效期 10 年、全国海关通用，海关总署自收到齐备申请文件之日起 30 个工作日内作出决定；备案并非权利人请求保护的必要条件，但未备案时海关无权主动中止货物并调查处理。
  • Two enforcement modes exist: ex-application (依申请, initiated by the recorded rights holder) and ex-officio (依职权, where Customs proactively finds and detains suspected infringing goods based on the recordal).
    存在两种执法模式：依申请（由已备案权利人发起）与依职权（海关基于备案主动发现并扣留疑似侵权货物）。
  • A recordal materially lowers the rights holder’s cost: under ex-officio protection the per-case bond is capped at RMB 100,000, and a total-guarantee (总担保) can be filed with GACC — unrecorded holders must post a bond equal to the goods’ value.
    备案显著降低权利人成本：依职权程序下每件担保最高不超过人民币 10 万元，并可向海关总署申请总担保；未备案者须提供相当于货值的等额担保。
  • In 2025, China Customs took 53,400 IP-protection actions, detained 38,700 shipments (86.42 million items) of suspected infringing goods, and served rights holders from 57 countries and regions.
    2025 年，全国海关实施知识产权保护措施 5.34 万次，查扣侵权嫌疑货物 3.87 万批、8,642 万件，惠及 57 个国家和地区的权利人。
  • For a foreign brand sourcing or manufacturing in China, recordal builds a “whitelist” of authorized users so legitimate goods clear fast while counterfeits get flagged — a front-line control that complements court and administrative enforcement.
    对在华生产或采购的外国品牌而言，备案可建立授权用户的”白名单”，使正品快速通关、假冒被标记——这是与法院、行政保护并列的前沿防线。
  • Practical moves: record your core marks/patents/copyrights via the “Internet + Customs” IP system before volume production, keep the recordal current (renew within 6 months before expiry), and feed Customs your authentication “key points” for high-risk SKUs.
    操作建议：在大批量生产前经”互联网+海关”知识产权备案系统备案核心商标/专利/著作权，保持备案有效（期满前 6 个月内续展），并向海关提交高风险单品的确权要点。

Customs Recordal & Border IP Protection in China: how foreign rights holders stop fakes at the border | 中国知识产权海关保护：外国权利人如何在边境拦截仿冒

Overview

A foreign brand can win a trademark registration and still watch counterfeits sail through a Chinese port inside a contract manufacturer’s shipment. The reason is often simple: the IP was never recorded with Customs. China’s border-enforcement regime is powerful but, for proactive (“ex-officio”) action, it depends on a recordal held by the General Administration of Customs (GACC). For a foreign-invested enterprise that manufactures, licenses, or sources in China, understanding this system is as important as the underlying registration.

This article explains the legal basis, the two enforcement modes, the recordal procedure and its economics, the 2025 enforcement picture, and what foreign rights holders should do. It is informational; confirm current procedure with GACC and qualified PRC counsel.

The legal basis and the five protected rights

Border IP protection rests on the Regulations of the PRC on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (《知识产权海关保护条例》), issued by the State Council, supplemented by GACC’s implementation measures. Under these rules, Customs protects five types of IP in import and export:

  • trademark rights (商标权);
  • patent rights (专利权);
  • copyright and neighbouring rights (著作权);
  • Olympic marks (奥林匹克标志); and
  • World Expo marks (世界博览会标志).

Notably, Customs protects both inbound and outbound flows — China over-performs its TRIPS obligations by guarding exports as well as imports.

Two enforcement modes

There are two distinct ways Customs gets involved:

  1. Ex-application protection (依申请保护). Triggered when a rights holder — relying on a recorded right — applies to the port Customs to detain suspected infringing goods. This is the mode available even where the right is registered but not yet recorded.
  2. Ex-officio protection (依职权保护). Customs, in the ordinary course of supervising import/export goods, proactively identifies and detains suspected infringing goods. Crucially, under the Regulations, Customs may take ex-officio action only where the IP has been recorded with GACC. If the right is unrecorded, Customs has no authority to suspend the shipment or open an investigation on its own.

This distinction is the single most important takeaway for foreign rights holders: recordal is what converts a passive registration into an active border defense.

The recordal: procedure, cost, and validity

Recordal is deliberately low-friction:

  • Where: via the GACC IP Customs-Protection Recordal System, reached through the “Internet + Customs” (互联网+海关) portal → IP → IP Customs-Protection Recordal.
  • Who may apply: only the rights holder — the trademark registrant, patentee, copyright owner (and related-rights owner), or Olympic/Expo mark owner. For jointly held IP, one co-owner’s application suffices.
  • Timeline: GACC decides to approve or reject within 30 working days of receiving the complete application; if rejected, the applicant may amend and resubmit.
  • Validity: a recordal takes effect from GACC’s approval and lasts 10 years (or the remaining term of the underlying IP if shorter); it is free of charge and effective at all China Customs.
  • Renewal: within 6 months before expiry, the holder may apply to renew; on expiry without renewal the status flips to “invalid” the next day and nationwide protection stops.
  • Change/cancellation: within 30 working days of any change to the recorded right, the holder must file a change or cancellation with GACC.

The economics: why recordal pays for itself

Beyond enabling ex-officio action, recordal changes the cost math:

  • Lower bonds. Under ex-officio protection, the rights holder’s bond per case is capped at RMB 100,000, and a total guarantee (总担保) can be filed with GACC to cover many cases. Without a recordal, the holder must post a bond equal to the value of the goods it seeks to detain.
  • A “whitelist” of authorized users. Recordal lets the holder register legitimate licensees and goods, so authorized shipments clear quickly while unlisted ones get scrutinized.
  • A query channel for traders. The recordal database lets importers/exporters check whether goods they are processing or brokering might infringe — a due-diligence aid for foreign buyers (ties directly to our sourcing-due-diligence articles).
  • Deterrence. Because Customs confiscates infringing goods and imposes administrative penalties on the infringer, an early recordal warns and deters bad actors.

The 2025 enforcement picture

GACC’s 2025 IP-protection status report (published April 2026) shows a busy, intensifying regime:

  • 53,400 IP-protection actions nationwide; 38,700 shipments (86.42 million items) of suspected infringing goods detained.
  • Rights holders from 57 countries and regions protected.
  • 5,431 new recordal-user registrations (+20.26% YoY); 35,220 recordal applications received (first time above 30,000); 27,553 approved.
  • Targeted campaigns: “Longteng 2025” (龙腾2025, the 9th consecutive year), a cross-border-ecommerce channel campaign (290.21 million items detained via e-commerce), and a designer-toy (潮玩) industry campaign that seized millions of items mimicking brands such as Pop Mart.
  • Smart Customs tooling: an infringement-risk model deployed nationwide for second-level risk screening, plus an upgraded recordal subsystem with application-progress queries, automatic result push, and expiry early-warning.

For a foreign brand, this means Customs is both willing and increasingly capable of intercepting fakes — provided you have armed it with a recordal.

What to do next

  • Record before you produce at volume. File recordals for your core trademarks, key patents, and copyrights via “Internet + Customs” *before* contract manufacturers run large batches, so the border is defended from day one.
  • Maintain the recordal. Track expiry; renew within the 6-month window; update the record promptly on any assignment, license change, or right amendment.
  • Feed Customs your authentication intelligence. Use the system’s “key points for monitored goods” module to give Customs the look-alike tells and photo points for your high-risk SKUs — it reduces wrongful detentions of your own legit goods.
  • Pair border protection with the administrative fast track. Where a Chinese infringer operates domestically, the administrative IP-enforcement route (covered in our related article) complements Customs interception.
  • Build it into supplier contracts. Require contract manufacturers to warrant non-infringement and to notify you of any third-party IP claims, closing the loop with your Customs recordal.

Practical example

“NordToys,” a European toy brand, began OEM production in Guangdong. Before the first container, its counsel filed Customs recordals for its trademarks and copyrights and uploaded authentication key points for the top 10 SKUs. Months later, a port Customs risk model flagged a shipment of look-alike blind boxes; because the recordal existed, Customs acted ex-officio, detained the goods, and notified NordToys, which confirmed infringement. Legitimate NordToys shipments, meanwhile, cleared without friction thanks to the recorded authorized-user list. The brand’s competitor, which had skipped recordal, later discovered counterfeits only after they reached European shelves — by then the border door had already closed behind them.

Sources

  • General Administration of Customs — 2025 China Customs Intellectual Property Protection Status (published 23 April 2026): http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-04/23/article_2026042310424678950.html
  • GACC IP Customs-Protection Recordal System (“Internet + Customs” portal): https://online.customs.gov.cn
  • Regulations of the PRC on Customs Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (State Council): http://www.customs.gov.cn
  • China Customs policy briefing on IP recordal (official portal): http://www.customs.gov.cn

Related reading

  • see also: Administrative IP Protection in China (67-ip-administrative-enforcement)
  • see also: Trademark registration for foreign brands (29-trademark-registration-foreign-brands)
  • see also: Supplier Due Diligence in China (51-supplier-due-diligence)

中国知识产权海关保护：外国权利人如何在边境拦截仿冒

概述

一个外国品牌可以成功注册了商标，却仍眼看着仿冒品夹在代工厂的发货里溜过中国港口。原因往往很简单：该知识产权从未向海关备案。中国的边境执法体系威力不俗，但要主动（依职权）行动，取决于海关总署是否持有该项备案。对在华生产、许可或采购的外商投资企业而言，理解这套制度与理解底层注册本身同样重要。

本文说明其法律依据、两种执法模式、备案程序及其成本经济、2025 年执法图景，以及外国权利人应当怎么做。本文仅为信息参考，具体程序请以海关总署及合格中国法律顾问为准。

法律依据与受保护的五类权利

边境知识产权保护建立在《中华人民共和国知识产权海关保护条例》（国务院颁布）及其实施办法之上。依此，海关在进出口环节保护五类知识产权：

  • 商标权；
  • 专利权；
  • 著作权及与著作权有关的权利；
  • 奥林匹克标志；以及
  • 世界博览会标志。

值得注意的是，海关对进口与出口双向保护——中国在履行 TRIPS 义务上，对出口环节也予以保护，超出了最低要求。

两种执法模式

海关介入有两种路径：

  1. 依申请保护。 由权利人凭已备案的权利，向进出境地海关申请扣留侵权嫌疑货物。即便权利已注册但尚未备案，仍可走此路径。
  2. 依职权保护。 海关在日常监管中主动发现并扣留侵权嫌疑货物。关键在于，依《条例》规定，海关仅在知识产权已向海关总署备案时方可采取依职权措施；未备案者，海关无权主动中止货物并调查。

这一区分是外国权利人最该记住的一点：备案，正是把”被动的注册”转化为”主动的边境防线”的开关。

备案：程序、成本与有效期

备案被刻意设计为低门槛：

  • 渠道： 经海关总署知识产权海关保护备案系统，由”互联网+海关”门户 → 知识产权 → 知识产权海关保护备案进入办理。
  • 申请人资格： 只能是权利人——商标注册人、专利权人、著作权人（及与著作权有关的权利人）、或奥林匹克/世博会标志专有权人。共有知识产权中，任一权利人申请即足。
  • 时限： 海关总署自收到齐备申请文件之日起 30 个工作日内作出核准或驳回决定；驳回者可修改后再次提交。
  • 有效期： 备案自海关总署准予之日起生效，有效期 10 年（若底层知识产权有效期不足 10 年，以该有效期为准）；不收取费用，且全国海关通用。
  • 续展： 有效期届满前 6 个月内可申请续展；逾期未续，状态于次日起变为”失效”，全国保护即停。
  • 变更/注销： 备案权利发生变化的，权利人应自变化之日起 30 个工作日内向海关总署办理变更或注销。

成本账：为何备案物超所值

除启用依职权措施外，备案还改变成本结构：

  • 更低担保。 依职权程序下，权利人每件提供的担保最高不超过人民币 10 万元，并可向海关总署申请总担保以覆盖多案。未备案者须提供相当于扣留货值的等额担保。
  • 授权用户”白名单”。 备案使权利人登记合法使用者与货物，授权货快速通关，未列名者被重点核查。
  • 贸易商查询通道。 备案数据库让进口商/出口商可查其加工承揽、代理的货物是否可能侵权——这对外国买方是尽职调查利器（与我们采购尽职调查类文章直接相连）。
  • 震慑效应。 海关没收侵权货物并对侵权人行政处罚，及早备案可对不法者产生警示与震慑。

2025 年执法图景

海关总署《2025 年中国海关知识产权保护状况》（2026 年 4 月发布）显示一套繁忙且加码的体系：

  • 全国海关实施知识产权保护措施 5.34 万次；查扣侵权嫌疑货物 3.87 万批、8,642 万件。
  • 惠及 57 个国家和地区的权利人。
  • 新增备案用户注册 5,431 个（同比 +20.26%）；受理备案申请 35,220 件（首破 3 万）；审核通过 27,553 件。
  • 专项行动：”龙腾 2025″（连续第 9 年）、跨境电商渠道专项行动（经电商查扣 2.90 亿余件）、潮玩产业专项行动（查扣仿冒泡泡玛特等数百万件）。
  • 智慧海关工具：侵权风险智能甄别模型全国部署实现秒级筛查，备案子系统升级支持进度查询、结果自动推送与期满预警。

对外国品牌而言，这意味着海关既有意愿、也日益有能力拦截仿冒——前提是你已用备案为其”装弹”。

下一步建议

  • 量产之前先备案。 经”互联网+海关”为你的核心商标、关键专利与著作权提交备案，在代工厂大批量投产之前完成，使边境自第一天起即有防备。
  • 维持备案有效。 跟踪到期日；在 6 个月窗口内续展；权利发生转让、许可变更或修正时及时更新备案。
  • 向海关喂入确权情报。 善用系统”要求重点监控商品要点”模块，提交高风险单品的确权要点与拍照要点——既减少对你正品货物的误扣，也提升查发效率。
  • 与行政快车道配合。 若侵权者在中国境内运营，行政 IP 保护路径（见相关文章）可与海关拦截形成互补。
  • 写进供应商合同。 要求代工厂保证不侵权、并就任何第三方 IP 主张及时通知你，与海关备案形成闭环。

实操示例

欧洲玩具品牌”NordToys”在广东开展 OEM 生产。首发集装箱之前，其法律顾问为商标与著作权完成海关备案，并为前 10 个单品上传确权要点。数月后，某口岸的风险模型标记了一批高度相似的盲盒；因备案在先，海关依职权扣留并通知 NordToys，后者确认侵权。与此同时，NordToys 的正品凭借已备案的授权用户清单顺畅通关。其竞争对手跳过了备案，直到仿品抵达欧洲货架才发现——那时边境之门早已在身后关上。

来源

  • 海关总署——《2025 年中国海关知识产权保护状况》（2026 年 4 月 23 日发布）：http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/2026-04/23/article_2026042310424678950.html
  • 海关总署知识产权海关保护备案系统（”互联网+海关”门户）：https://online.customs.gov.cn
  • 《中华人民共和国知识产权海关保护条例》（国务院）：http://www.customs.gov.cn
  • 海关总署知识产权备案政策说明（官方门户）：http://www.customs.gov.cn

相关阅读

  • 参见：中国的知识产权行政保护（67-ip-administrative-enforcement）
  • 参见：外国品牌的商标注册（29-trademark-registration-foreign-brands）
  • 参见：在华供应商尽职调查（51-supplier-due-diligence）
Patent / 专利

Administrative IP Protection in China: The Fast Track Foreign Firms Often Overlook

  • Alongside courts, China runs a powerful administrative IP-protection track — administrative adjudication (行政裁决) and administrative enforcement — that is often faster and cheaper than litigation for foreign rights-holders.
    除法院外，中国还运行强大的知识产权行政保护通道——行政裁决与行政执法——对外资权利人而言往往比诉讼更快、更省。
  • The reference document is CNIPA’s 2026 IP Administrative Protection Work Plan (国知发保字〔2026〕8号, 31 Mar 2026), setting 53 measures across 12 areas.
    参照文件是国家知识产权局《2026年知识产权行政保护工作方案》（国知发保字〔2026〕8号，2026年3月31日），部署 12 方面 53 项举措。
  • The plan explicitly strengthens foreign-related IP protection — better central-local coordination and joint handling of major foreign-related IP cases, responding to both “going-out” and “coming-in” firms.
    方案明确加强涉外知识产权保护——完善央地协同、协同办理重大涉外知识产权案件，兼顾”走出去”与”走进来”企业。
  • Patent-dispute administrative adjudication uses a national–provincial–municipal system; for major patent-infringement disputes CNIPA can issue supporting documents to bring cases in.
    专利纠纷行政裁决采用”国家—省—市”三级体系；对重大专利侵权纠纷，国家知识产权局可出具证明材料以立案受理。
  • IP Protection Centres and Rapid Rights-Protection Centres (保护中心/快速维权中心) offer fast pre-examination, rapid rights protection and mediation for qualifying industries.
    知识产权保护中心与快速维权中心为符合条件的产业提供快速预审、快速维权与调解。
  • Standard-essential patent (SEP) disputes get pilot administrative adjudication, and photovoltaic-industry patent disputes get cross-regional joint handling — signals of specialised, tech-sector focus.
    标准必要专利（SEP）纠纷开展行政裁决试点，光伏产业专利侵权纠纷开展跨区域联合审理——体现专业化、面向科技产业的重点。
  • Enforcement is shifting from “after-the-fact handling” to “front-end prevention and full-chain governance,” with crackdowns on bad-faith patent filings and malicious trademark squatting.
    执法重心从”事后处置”转向”前端预防、全链条治理”，严打违反诚信原则的专利申请与商标恶意抢注。
  • Legislative pipeline: a new full revision of the Trademark Law and amendments to the IC layout-design rules are underway, plus SEP administrative-adjudication and mediation rules.
    立法方面：《商标法》新一轮全面修改与《集成电路布图设计保护条例》修改在推进，并制定 SEP 行政裁决与调解规定。

Administrative IP Protection in China: The Fast Track Foreign Firms Often Overlook | 中国的知识产权行政保护：外资企业常忽视的快车道

Overview

Foreign companies protecting IP in China usually think first of courts — the specialised IP courts and tribunals that have matured impressively. But China’s IP system has a second, parallel engine that overseas rights-holders frequently underuse: administrative protection. Administrative authorities can adjudicate certain disputes, order infringement to stop, seize counterfeits and mediate — often faster and at lower cost than a lawsuit. In 2026 this track was sharpened by CNIPA’s annual work plan, which puts explicit weight on foreign-related cases. This article explains how administrative IP protection works, what changed in 2026, where the fast lanes are, and how a foreign firm should combine administrative and judicial routes.

Two tracks: administrative and judicial

China protects IP through a “dual-track” system:

  • Judicial track: civil litigation in IP courts/tribunals, plus criminal prosecution for serious counterfeiting.
  • Administrative track: IP administrative authorities can investigate and penalise infringement (administrative enforcement), and can adjudicate defined disputes (administrative adjudication, 行政裁决) — for example, ordering an infringer to stop and determining infringement, without a court trial.

For a rights-holder, the administrative track’s appeal is speed, lower cost and technical familiarity; the judicial track’s appeal is enforceable damages and precedent. They are complementary, not mutually exclusive.

The 2026 blueprint (国知发保字〔2026〕8号)

On 31 March 2026, CNIPA issued the 2026 IP Administrative Protection Work Plan, deploying 53 concrete measures across 12 areas. Officials describe three features: (1) a shift from “after-the-fact handling” toward front-end prevention and full-chain governance; (2) more precise, “point-to-point” protection via national-level Protection Centres and Rapid Rights-Protection Centres; and (3) stronger coordinated governance, including cross-regional enforcement cooperation and better linkage between administrative and judicial protection.

Foreign-related IP: an explicit priority

Crucially for readers of this portal, the plan specifically targets the pain points of both domestic firms “going out” and foreign firms “coming in”. It calls for strengthening central-local coordination and the joint handling of major foreign-related IP cases, and for timely response to the demands of both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises. In practice this means a foreign rights-holder facing infringement in China should expect more organised, cross-jurisdiction administrative support for significant cases.

Patent-dispute administrative adjudication

The plan reinforces a national–provincial–municipal (国家—省—市) three-tier adjudication system for patent disputes, pressing provincial and municipal bodies to accept and handle cases. For major patent-infringement disputes that meet the filing criteria, CNIPA can issue supporting documents so the case can be brought in through the proper procedure. Administrative adjudication and administrative confirmation cases may be handled jointly, and qualifying IP Protection Centres can carry out adjudication using their technical expertise.

Specialised fast lanes: SEP and photovoltaics

Two signals show the system’s tech-sector focus:

  • Standard-essential patents (SEP): the plan supports pilot administrative adjudication of SEP disputes — an area of intense global licensing tension where a faster administrative route can be valuable.
  • Photovoltaics: it launches cross-regional joint handling of PV-industry patent-infringement disputes, guiding PV firms to build IP compliance-management systems.

These pilots indicate where administrative adjudication is being professionalised first — high-value, standards-heavy and export-oriented industries where many foreign firms operate.

Protection Centres and Rapid Rights-Protection Centres

IP Protection Centres (知识产权保护中心) and Rapid Rights-Protection Centres (快速维权中心) are a practical entry point. For qualifying industries in their catalogues they offer fast patent pre-examination, rapid rights protection, and mediation/arbitration support, compressing timelines dramatically. Foreign firms in a covered sector and locality can register to use these services; the 2026 plan continues to build them to “high standards” and to strengthen arbitration/mediation capacity and credit-based supervision.

Source-level governance and legislation

The plan pushes source governance: a “double-penalty” on applicants and agencies for bad-faith patent filings and agency misconduct, and a crackdown on malicious trademark registration and hoarding, with tighter trademark-use management. On legislation, work is advancing on a new comprehensive revision of the Trademark Law, amendments to the Regulations on Protection of IC Layout Designs, and new rules/guidelines for SEP-related and general patent-dispute administrative adjudication and mediation, plus data-IP protection rules and geographical-indication legislation research.

How a foreign firm should use the system

  • Choose the right tool per goal: administrative adjudication/enforcement to stop infringement fast and cheaply; litigation when you need damages or a precedent.
  • Use the Centres: if your sector/locality is covered, register with the local IP Protection Centre for fast pre-examination and rapid rights protection.
  • Escalate major cases: for significant foreign-related infringement, seek the coordinated central-local handling the 2026 plan enables.
  • Watch SEP/PV pilots: if you are in standards-heavy or PV sectors, the new adjudication pilots may offer a faster path.
  • Keep your house in order: avoid any appearance of bad-faith filings; maintain genuine trademark use; build an internal IP compliance system.

What to do next

  • Map your China IP portfolio and identify which disputes suit administrative vs judicial routes.
  • Register with the relevant IP Protection Centre if your industry/locality qualifies.
  • For major infringement, prepare evidence packages that meet administrative-adjudication filing criteria.
  • Monitor CNIPA notices on SEP and PV adjudication pilots and on the Trademark Law revision.
  • Audit your own filings and trademark use to avoid “bad-faith”/”squatting” exposure.

Sources

  • 国家知识产权局《2026年知识产权行政保护工作方案》（国知发保字〔2026〕8号，2026-03-31）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn (official portal)
  • 2026年全国知识产权局局长会议工作报告（涉外IP保护、行政裁决、立法）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/1/7/art_53_203564.html
  • 国家知识产权局新闻发布会：12方面53项举措解读（涉外案件协同办理）— https://www.iprchn.com/Index_NewsContent.aspx?NewsId=146642
  • 国家知识产权局（专利纠纷行政裁决、保护中心/快速维权中心）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn (official portal)
  • 《中华人民共和国商标法》修改及《集成电路布图设计保护条例》修改进展 — http://www.npc.gov.cn (official portal)

Related reading

  • see also: 知识产权-专利 (patent protection & IP enforcement)
  • see also: 知识产权-商标 (trademark registration for foreign brands)
  • see also: 法务争议-涉外诉讼 (foreign-related dispute resolution: litigation vs arbitration)

中国的知识产权行政保护：外资企业常忽视的快车道

概述

在中国保护知识产权的外资企业，通常首先想到法院——日益成熟的专门知识产权法院与法庭。但中国的知产体系还有一台被境外权利人频繁忽视的并行引擎：行政保护。行政机关可对特定纠纷作出裁决、责令停止侵权、查扣假冒并进行调解——往往比诉讼更快、成本更低。2026 年，国家知识产权局年度工作方案对这条通道进一步强化，并明确加重了涉外案件的分量。本文说明行政保护如何运作、2026 年的变化、快车道在哪里，以及外资企业应如何组合行政与司法路径。

双轨：行政与司法

中国以“双轨制”保护知识产权：

  • 司法轨道：知产法院/法庭的民事诉讼，以及对严重假冒的刑事追诉。
  • 行政轨道：知产行政机关可查处侵权（行政执法），并可对法定纠纷作出裁决（行政裁决）——例如责令侵权人停止侵权、认定侵权，无需法院审判。

对权利人而言，行政轨道胜在快速、低成本与技术熟悉；司法轨道胜在可执行的赔偿与判例。二者互补，非此即彼。

2026 年蓝图（国知发保字〔2026〕8号）

2026 年 3 月 31 日，国家知识产权局印发《2026年知识产权行政保护工作方案》，部署 12 方面 53 项具体举措。官方概括三大特点：（1）从”事后处置”转向前端预防、全链条治理；（2）依托国家级保护中心与快速维权中心实现更精准的”点对点”保护；（3）更有力的协同治理，包括跨区域执法协作与行政、司法保护的更好衔接。

涉外IP：明确的优先项

对本门户读者尤为关键的是，方案专门聚焦国内企业”走出去”与外资企业”走进来”的难点，要求强化央地联动、协同办理重大涉外知识产权案件，并及时响应内外资企业诉求。实务上，这意味着在华遭遇侵权的外资权利人，对重大案件可期待更有组织、跨辖区的行政支持。

专利纠纷行政裁决

方案强化专利纠纷的“国家—省—市”三级裁决体系，压实省市两级办案责任。对符合立案条件的重大专利侵权纠纷，国家知识产权局可出具证明材料，按程序提出办理请求。行政裁决与行政确权案件可联合办理，符合条件的保护中心可依托专业优势开展裁决。

专业化快车道：SEP 与光伏

两处信号显示制度面向科技产业：

  • 标准必要专利（SEP）：方案支持SEP 纠纷行政裁决试点——这一全球许可博弈激烈的领域，更快的行政路径颇具价值。
  • 光伏：开展光伏产业专利侵权纠纷跨区域联合审理，引导光伏企业建立知识产权合规管理体系。

这些试点表明行政裁决率先专业化的方向——高价值、标准密集、面向出口、且外资云集的产业。

保护中心与快速维权中心

知识产权保护中心与快速维权中心是实用入口。对其目录内符合条件的产业，提供快速专利预审、快速维权与调解/仲裁支持，大幅压缩时限。所在产业与地区被覆盖的外资企业可备案使用；2026 年方案继续”高标准”建设，并加强仲裁调解能力与信用监管。

源头治理与立法

方案推动源头治理：对违反诚信原则的专利申请与代理行为实行申请人与代理机构”双处罚”，严打商标恶意注册与囤积，加强商标使用管理。立法方面，正推进《商标法》新一轮全面修改、《集成电路布图设计保护条例》修改，制定SEP 相关及一般专利纠纷行政裁决和调解的规定/指南，并研究数据知识产权保护规则与地理标志专门立法。

外资企业应如何使用该体系

  • 按目标选工具：以行政裁决/执法快速低成本止侵；需赔偿或判例时用诉讼。
  • 善用保护中心：若你的产业/地区被覆盖，向当地保护中心备案，获取快速预审与快速维权。
  • 升级重大案件：对重大涉外侵权，寻求 2026 方案支持的央地协同办理。
  • 关注 SEP/光伏试点：若处于标准密集或光伏产业，新裁决试点可能提供更快路径。
  • 自身合规：避免任何恶意申请之嫌；保持真实商标使用；建立内部知产合规体系。

下一步建议

  • 梳理在华知产组合，判断哪些纠纷适合行政、哪些适合司法路径。
  • 若产业/地区符合条件，向相关知识产权保护中心备案。
  • 对重大侵权，准备符合行政裁决立案标准的证据包。
  • 关注国家知识产权局关于 SEP、光伏裁决试点及《商标法》修改的公告。
  • 自查申请与商标使用，避免”恶意/抢注”敞口。

来源

  • 国家知识产权局《2026年知识产权行政保护工作方案》（国知发保字〔2026〕8号，2026-03-31）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn
  • 2026年全国知识产权局局长会议工作报告（涉外IP保护、行政裁决、立法）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/1/7/art_53_203564.html
  • 国家知识产权局新闻发布会：12方面53项举措解读（涉外案件协同办理）— https://www.iprchn.com/Index_NewsContent.aspx?NewsId=146642
  • 国家知识产权局（专利纠纷行政裁决、保护中心/快速维权中心）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn
  • 《中华人民共和国商标法》修改及《集成电路布图设计保护条例》修改进展 — http://www.npc.gov.cn

相关阅读

  • 参见：知识产权-专利（专利保护与知识产权执法）
  • 参见：知识产权-商标（外国品牌的商标注册）
  • 参见：法务争议-涉外诉讼（涉外争议解决：诉讼与仲裁）
Patent / 专利

Patent protection & IP enforcement

  • China recognises three patent types: invention (20-year term, substantive examination), utility model (10-year term, fast no-substantive-exam), and design (15-year term since the 2020 amendment).
    中国承认三类专利：发明专利（20 年、实质审查）、实用新型（10 年、快速且不经实质审查）、外观设计（2020 年修正后延至 15 年）。
  • Foreign applicants without a domicile or business office in China must appoint a qualified Chinese patent agency to file.
    在中国无住所或营业所的外国申请人，须委托依法设立的专利代理机构提交申请。
  • Claim Paris Convention or PCT priority; an invention’s substantive examination must be requested within three years of filing or the application is deemed withdrawn.
    可主张巴黎公约或 PCT 优先权；发明专利须于申请日起三年内提出实质审查请求，否则视为撤回。
  • The PCT national phase must be entered in China within 30 months of the priority date (extendable only in limited circumstances).
    PCT 国家阶段须于优先权日起 30 个月内进入中国（仅少数情形可延期）。
  • The 2020 Patent Law raised statutory damages to RMB 30,000–5 million and introduced punitive damages of up to five times the infringer’s gain or the right-holder’s loss.
    2020 年《专利法》将法定赔偿提至 3 万至 500 万元，并对故意侵权引入最高五倍于获利或损失的惩罚性赔偿。
  • Annual fees are mandatory from the grant year onward; failure to pay terminates the patent.
    自授权年度起须缴纳年费；未缴将导致专利权终止。
  • Utility models and designs are not substantively examined, so preserve novelty evidence and technical drawings from the outset, as they are often challenged.
    实用新型与外观设计不经实质审查，故应从一开始就保全新颖性证据与技术图纸，因其常被提起无效。

Patent protection & IP enforcement | 专利保护与知识产权执法

Overview

China’s patent system offers foreign businesses three distinct types of protection, a fully modern prosecution framework, and increasingly robust enforcement — both through the courts and through administrative authorities. For a technology or product company entering China, patents are not merely defensive paperwork; they are a precondition for licensing, for deterring copycats, and for credible enforcement against infringers. This article maps the three patent types, the prosecution timeline, the enforcement landscape, and the practical pitfalls foreign applicants should avoid.

It is informational guidance, not legal advice; patent strategy should be confirmed with a qualified Chinese patent attorney, preferably before any public disclosure of the invention.

The three patent types

Chinese law recognises three patent categories, each with different substantive requirements, examination routes, and terms:

  • Invention patent (发明专利). The strongest form. Requires novelty, inventiveness (non-obviousness), and industrial applicability. Subject to substantive examination, which gives it high legal stability. Term: 20 years from the filing date.
  • Utility model (实用新型). Often called a “small patent.” Protects the shape or structure of a product. No substantive examination — only a formal/preliminary review — so it grants faster (commonly around 6–12 months) but is weaker and easier to invalidate. Term: 10 years from the filing date.
  • Design patent (外观设计). Protects the ornamental design of a product (including, since the 2020 amendment, partial designs). Preliminary examination only. Term: 15 years from the filing date (extended from 10 years by the 2020 amendment, aligning China with the Hague Agreement’s 15-year norm).

The 2020 fourth revision of the *Patent Law* is the current baseline. It introduced partial-design protection, a patent-term-extension mechanism for new pharmaceuticals (up to five years, with total effective term not exceeding 14 years from marketing approval), and strengthened remedies (see enforcement below).

TypeExaminationTermTypical grant time
InventionSubstantive20 years~2–4 years
Utility modelPreliminary only10 years~6–12 months
DesignPreliminary only15 years~6–12 months

Prosecution: filing, examination and grant

Foreign applicants file through CNIPA (the China National Intellectual Property Administration). A foreign applicant without a domicile or business office in China must appoint a duly qualified Chinese patent agency. Key procedural points:

  • Priority. A foreign filing can claim priority from an earlier application in a Paris Convention member or under the PCT, within 12 months for inventions/utility models and 6 months for designs.
  • Publication and request for examination. Invention applications are published at 18 months; a substantive examination must be requested (within 3 years of filing) or the application is deemed withdrawn.
  • PCT route. Foreign applicants commonly enter the Chinese national phase via the Patent Cooperation Treaty, designating China. The national phase must be entered within 30 months of the priority date (extendable in limited circumstances).
  • Annual fees. A patentee must pay annual fees from the grant year onward; failure to pay leads to termination.

A successful grant yields a patent certificate and publication. Because utility models and designs are not substantively examined, a granted right is not automatically valid — defendants frequently challenge them, so evidence of novelty should be preserved from the outset.

Enforcement: courts and administrative action

China enforces patents through two parallel tracks:

1. Civil litigation. Specialised intellectual property courts and tribunals (e.g., in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and IP tribunals in many intermediate courts) hear infringement suits. Available remedies include injunctions, destruction of infringing products, and damages. The 2020 amendment raised the statutory damages range to RMB 30,000 to RMB 5 million, and introduced punitive damages of up to five times the infringer’s profits or the right-holder’s loss for serious intentional infringement. Courts may also order evidence preservation and conduct technical assessments via appointed experts.

2. Administrative enforcement. CNIPA and local market-regulation (IP) authorities can, on complaint, investigate and order infringers to stop, confiscate and destroy infringing goods, and impose fines. Administrative action is often faster and cheaper than litigation and is useful for clearing the market quickly, though it generally does not award damages (a separate civil claim is needed for compensation).

3. Criminal. Serious, commercially-scaled infringement (e.g., counterfeiting with substantial turnover) can constitute a crime, pursued by the police and prosecutors.

A pragmatic strategy pairs a strong invention patent (for its stability) with utility-model or design filings (for speed), uses administrative complaints for rapid market clean-up, and reserves litigation for damages and precedent.

Pitfalls and practical tips

  • Public disclosure before filing. Any non-confidential disclosure before the priority/filing date can destroy novelty. File first; demo later.
  • “Use it or lose it” pressure is low, but maintenance matters. China has no general working requirement that invalidates a patent for non-use (compulsory licensing is narrow and exceptional), but annual fees must be paid.
  • Utility models are fast but fragile. Do not rely on a utility model alone for a core technology; pair it with an invention application.
  • Employee and joint-development inventions. Ownership of inventions made by employees or in collaborative projects should be fixed by written contract to avoid disputes over who owns the Chinese patent.
  • Link patents to your market entry. File in China early enough that protection exists before you import, manufacture under contract, or exhibit at trade shows.

What to do next

  • Decide the right mix: an invention patent for core technology, plus utility-model/design filings for speed where appropriate.
  • File before any public disclosure; claim Paris/PCT priority where you have an earlier foreign filing.
  • Appoint a qualified Chinese patent agency for prosecution and for monitoring competitors’ publications.
  • Preserve novelty evidence and technical drawings from day one, especially for utility models and designs that are not substantively examined.
  • Prepare an enforcement plan: administrative complaints for fast market action, civil suits for damages, and criminal referral for large-scale counterfeiting.
  • Pay annual fees on time and calendar renewal and annuity deadlines to avoid lapse.

Sources

  • CNIPA (English): Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China (translation): https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/col/col3068/index.html
  • CNIPA (English): “Revised Law to Come into Effect in 2021” (design term extended to 15 years, punitive damages): https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2020/11/3/art_1347_154539.html
  • World Intellectual Property Organization — Patents (PCT) (official portal): https://www.wipo.int/patents/en/

Related reading

  • see also: Trademark registration for foreign brands / 外国品牌的商标注册
  • see also: Copyright & trade secrets for foreign firms / 著作权与商业秘密

专利保护与知识产权执法

概述

中国的专利制度为外国企业提供三种不同的保护类型、一整套现代化的申请框架，以及日益有力的执法——既包括司法途径，也包括行政途径。对进入中国的科技或产品型企业而言，专利不只是防御性文书，更是许可、震慑仿冒者以及对侵权者进行有效维权的先决条件。本文梳理三类专利、申请时间线、执法格局，以及外国申请人应避免的实务陷阱。

本文为信息性指引，非法律意见；专利策略应在发明任何公开披露前，与合格的中国专利律师确认。

三类专利

中国法律承认三种专利类别，各自的实质要件、审查路径与期限不同：

  • 发明专利。 保护力度最强。要求新颖性、创造性与实用性，须经实质审查，法律稳定性高。期限：自申请日起 20 年。
  • 实用新型。 常称”小专利”。保护产品的形状或构造。不经实质审查，仅形式/初步审查，故授权快（通常约 6–12 个月），但稳定性较弱、易被判无效。期限：自申请日起 10 年。
  • 外观设计。 保护产品的装饰性设计（2020 年修正后纳入局部外观设计）。仅初步审查。期限：自申请日起 15 年（2020 年修正由 10 年延长至 15 年，与《海牙协定》的 15 年标准接轨）。

2020 年《专利法》第四次修正为现行基线。其引入局部外观设计保护、新药专利期限补偿机制（最长 5 年，且自获批上市起总有效期限不超过 14 年），并强化了救济（见下文执法部分）。

类型审查期限通常授权时间
发明实质审查20 年约 2–4 年
实用新型仅初步10 年约 6–12 个月
外观设计仅初步15 年约 6–12 个月

申请、审查与授权

外国申请人向国家知识产权局（CNIPA）提交。在中国无住所或营业所的外国申请人须委托依法设立的专利代理机构。关键程序要点：

  • 优先权。 外国申请可依据巴黎公约成员或 PCT，主张较早申请的优先权：发明与实用新型为 12 个月，外观设计为 6 个月。
  • 公布与实质审查请求。 发明专利申请于 18 个月公布；须在 3 年内提出实质审查请求，否则视为撤回。
  • PCT 途径。 外国申请人常经专利合作条约进入中国国家阶段并指定中国。国家阶段须于优先权日起 30 个月内进入（少数情形可延期）。
  • 年费。 专利权人自授权年度起缴纳年费；未缴致权利终止。

授权后核发专利证书并公告。由于实用新型与外观设计不经实质审查，已授权并不等于当然有效——被诉侵权方常提起无效，故应从一开始就保全新颖性证据。

执法：司法与行政

中国通过两条并行轨道保护专利：

1. 民事诉讼。 专门的知识产权法院与法庭（如北京、上海、广州知识产权法院，以及多地中级法院知识产权法庭）审理侵权之诉。可得救济包括禁令、销毁侵权产品与损害赔偿。2020 年修正将法定赔偿上限提升至3 万元至 500 万元，并对情节严重的故意侵权引入最高五倍于侵权人获利或权利人损失的惩罚性赔偿。法院亦可裁定证据保全，并委任技术调查官/专家进行技术比对。

2. 行政执法。 CNIPA 及地方市场监管（知识产权）部门可应投诉调查，责令侵权人停止、没收销毁侵权货物并处罚款。行政途径通常比诉讼更快、更省，利于迅速清理市场，但一般不予判赔（索赔需另行提起民事诉讼）。

3. 刑事。 达到商业规模、情节严重的侵权（如营业额巨大的假冒）可构成犯罪，由公安机关与检察机关追诉。

务实策略是：以稳定的发明专利为主，辅以实用新型/外观设计（求快）；以行政投诉快速清场，以诉讼求损害赔偿与先例。

常见陷阱与实务建议

  • 申请前公开。 优先权/申请日之前的任何非保密披露都可能破坏新颖性。先申请，后演示。
  • “使用义务”压力小，但维持很重要。 中国无因不使用而普遍无效专利的”实施要求”（强制许可范围狭窄且属例外），但年费必须缴纳。
  • 实用新型快但脆弱。 核心技术方案勿单靠实用新型，应与发明专利申请并用。
  • 职务与共有发明。 员工或在合作项目中作出的发明，其归属应以书面合同固定，避免”谁拥有中国专利”的争议。
  • 专利与市场准入挂钩。 在中国进口、委托制造或参展前，应使保护尽早到位。

下一步建议

  • 确定组合：核心技术用发明专利，视情况以实用新型/外观设计求快。
  • 任何公开披露前先申请；有在先外国申请的，主张巴黎/PCT 优先权。
  • 委托合格的中国专利代理机构负责申请与监控竞争对手的公开。
  • 自第一天起保全新颖性证据与技术图纸，尤其是不经实质审查的实用新型与外观设计。
  • 准备维权方案：行政投诉快速清场，民事诉讼求赔偿，大规模假冒则刑事移送。
  • 按时缴年费，并在日历标注续展与年费节点，避免权利 lapse。

来源

  • 国家知识产权局（英文）：中华人民共和国专利法（译本）：https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/col/col3068/index.html
  • 国家知识产权局（英文）：”Revised Law to Come into Effect in 2021″（外观设计延至 15 年、惩罚性赔偿）：https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2020/11/3/art_1347_154539.html
  • 世界知识产权组织——专利（PCT）（官网）：https://www.wipo.int/patents/en/

相关阅读

  • see also: 外国品牌的商标注册 / Trademark registration for foreign brands
  • see also: 著作权与商业秘密 / Copyright & trade secrets for foreign firms
Patent / 专利

CNIPA PPH Network Expands: Faster Patent Examination for Foreign Applicants in 2026

  • On 1 August 2026 China and Europe launched a bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot, while a separate PPH pilot between CNIPA and Indonesia’s DGIP also took effect the same day.
    2026年8月1日，中国与欧洲的双边专利审查高速路（PPH）试点正式启动，同日中国国家知识产权局与印度尼西亚司法部知识产权总司之间的PPH试点项目也同步生效。
  • The CNIPA-EPO bilateral PPH runs in parallel with the existing IP5 PPH and has no fixed end date, giving European and Chinese applicants a faster route to aligned patent protection.
    中欧双边PPH与既有的IP5 PPH并行运行，未设定固定终止日期，为欧洲与中国申请人提供了更快的专利保护协同通道。
  • CNIPA’s PPH network now spans 38 offices; the CNIPA-CIPO (Canada) PPH was extended for five more years from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.
    国家知识产权局PPH合作网络已覆盖38个专利审查机构；中加（拿大）PPH试点自2026年9月1日起再延长五年，至2031年8月31日。
  • Under PPH, an applicant whose claims are found allowable by one office can request accelerated examination at the other office using the earlier search and examination results.
    在PPH机制下，申请人的权利要求若已在一个审查机构被认定可授权，即可依据在先检索与审查结果，向另一机构申请加快审查。
  • Separately, CNIPA revised the Measures for Administration of Priority Examination of Patents (Order No. 85), effective 1 September 2026, prioritising emerging, future and core-technology industries.
    此外，国家知识产权局修订发布《专利优先审查管理办法》（局令第85号），自2026年9月1日起施行，优先支持新兴产业、未来产业与关键核心技术攻关。
  • For foreign companies holding Chinese or European patent families, PPH cuts review cycles and costs, and strengthens patent certainty before entering commercial licensing or litigation.
    对持有中国或欧洲专利族的外资企业而言，PPH可压缩审查周期、降低费用，并在进入商业许可或诉讼前增强专利确定性。
  • PPH speeds up examination timing but does not lower patentability standards; applicants must still verify eligibility, claim correspondence and the applicable request guidelines case by case.
    PPH改变的是审查节奏而非授权标准；申请人仍须逐案核验适用条件、权利要求对应关系及对应PPH请求指南。

CNIPA PPH Network Expands: Faster Patent Examination for Foreign Applicants in 2026 | 国家知识产权局PPH网络扩容：2026年外资申请人的专利快速审查新通道

Why this matters now

For a multinational enterprise with parallel patent families in China and overseas, one of the most persistent pain points has been the gap between when a patent becomes commercially critical and when the Chinese examination is finished. Two CNIPA announcements in August 2026 directly address that friction. On 1 August 2026, the bilateral PPH pilot between the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the European Patent Office (EPO) officially commenced, and on the same day the CNIPA-DGIP PPH pilot with Indonesia’s Directorate General of Intellectual Property also launched. Both run alongside the long-standing IP5 PPH framework, giving applicants in those corridors a dedicated, predictable fast track. The CNIPA-CIPO PPH with Canada was extended for another five years from 1 September 2026. For European, Southeast Asian and Canadian investors in China, the practical message is simple: the Chinese side of a global patent family can now move noticeably faster.

What the new pilots actually change

PPH is a work-sharing mechanism between patent offices. When the office of first filing has determined that at least one claim in an application is allowable, the applicant can ask the office of second filing to use that earlier search and examination result to accelerate the corresponding application. The CNIPA-EPO bilateral pilot is deliberately additive rather than replacing: it coexists with the IP5 PPH, applies the same substantive conditions, and — unlike the original time-boxed trials — has no fixed termination date, although it can still be suspended, amended or ended by mutual agreement. For a European company, this means that a favourable examination outcome obtained at the EPO can be carried into CNIPA examination, and vice versa for Chinese applicants filing at the EPO. The CNIPA-DGIP pilot with Indonesia similarly opens a fast track into the fast-growing ASEAN market, useful for companies building supply chains across Southeast Asia.

The wider 2026 procedural picture

The PPH expansion lands in the middle of a broader modernisation of Chinese examination tools. On 30 July 2026, CNIPA issued the revised Measures for Administration of Priority Examination of Patents (Order No. 85), effective 1 September 2026. The revised measures tilt priority examination towards emerging industries, future industries and key core-technology breakthroughs, stress innovation value and transformation prospects, and tighten the procedure: invention requests must be filed during substantive examination before the first office action, the response deadline for applicants in priority examination is shortened from two months to one, and the circumstances for refusing or terminating priority treatment are clarified. Integrity constraints were added as well — requesters or agencies found violating good-faith principles can be barred from filing priority-examination requests for one year. Where PPH addresses the international pipeline, priority examination addresses the domestic one; together they compress the time from filing to grant.

Practical steps for foreign applicants

  1. Map the family. Identify which counterpart applications have already received an allowable opinion abroad (EPO, DGIP or an IP5 office) and which Chinese applications correspond to them.
  2. Check eligibility. Confirm the earliest priority date, the one-to-one claim correspondence, and whether usable national or PCT work product exists.
  3. File the PPH request properly. Submit it to CNIPA under the bilateral pilot rules for the relevant corridor; the request procedure and fees mirror existing PPH practice.
  4. Consider priority examination for strategic filings. For key-core and emerging-technology cases, the revised 2026 measures offer a domestic fast track with new integrity and timing rules to respect.
  5. Budget for acceleration. Neither PPH nor priority examination adds official fees for the basic request, but response deadlines tighten, so plan attorney capacity.
  6. Track and maintain. Because PPH changes timing but not standards, keep quality-focused drafting and portfolio maintenance discipline throughout.

Risks and compliance notes

PPH should not be mistaken for an easier grant. Accelerated cases go through the same substantive examination; using work product from one office is a time-saver, not a standards waiver. Foreign applicants should also be careful with the tightened priority-examination deadlines — a one-month response window demands prompt instructions. Finally, because CNIPA has expanded to 38 PPH partners, multinationals should review which of their corridors now qualify, since the cost of ignoring an available fast track is measured in lost market lead time for products and licensing positions.

国家知识产权局PPH网络扩容：2026年外资申请人的专利快速审查新通道

为什么当下重要

对在中国与海外同时布局专利族的大型跨国企业而言，最常见的痛点之一，是专利变得具有商业价值的时间与国内审查完成的时间之间存在的落差。国家知识产权局（CNIPA）2026年8月的两项公告直接回应了这种摩擦。2026年8月1日，中国国家知识产权局与欧洲专利局（EPO）之间的双边专利审查高速路（PPH）试点正式启动；同一天，中印（尼）专利审查高速路（CNIPA-DGIP PPH）试点也正式生效。二者与长期运行的IP5 PPH框架并行，为这些通道的申请人提供了专门、可预期的快速路径。中国与加拿大之间的PPH试点自2026年9月1日起再延长五年。对在华投资的欧洲、东南亚及加拿大企业而言，实际含义十分直白：全球专利族中的中国侧审查，现在可以明显更快。

新试点究竟改变了什么

PPH是审查机构之间的工作共享机制。当首次审查机构已认定申请中至少一项权利要求可以授权时，申请人可以请求后续审查机构利用此前的检索与审查结果，对相应申请进行加快审查。中欧双边PPH试点是刻意做”增量”而非”替代”：它与IP5 PPH并存，适用相同实质性条件，并且与早期设定期限的试验不同，不设固定终止日期，但仍可经双方同意暂停、修改或提前终止。对欧洲企业而言，这意味着在EPO获得的有利审查结论可以被带入CNIPA审查，反之亦然，中方申请人在EPO提出申请时同样适用。与印尼DGIP的PPH试点则为增长迅速的东盟市场打开了快速通道，对在东南亚建设供应链的企业尤其有用。

2026年更宏观的程序图景

PPH扩容正好发生在中国审查工具整体现代化的过程中。2026年7月30日，国家知识产权局发布修订后的《专利优先审查管理办法》（局令第85号），自2026年9月1日起施行。修订后的办法将优先审查向新兴产业、未来产业与关键核心技术攻关倾斜，强调创新价值与转化前景，并收紧程序：发明专利申请须在实质审查阶段且尚未作出首次处理时提出请求；优先审查中申请人答复审查意见的期限由两个月缩短为一个月；并细化了不予优先审查与终止优先审查的情形。办法还增加了诚信约束——违反诚信原则的请求人或代理机构，可能一年内被停止受理优先审查请求。如果说PPH解决的是国际管线，那么优先审查解决的是国内管线；二者合力压缩从申请到授权的整体周期。

外资申请人的操作步骤

  1. 梳理专利族。 找出哪些对应申请已在海外（EPO、DGIP或任一IP5机构）获得可授权意见，以及哪些中国申请与其对应。
  2. 核验条件。 确认最早优先权日、权利要求一一对应关系，以及是否存在可用的国家或PCT工作成果。
  3. 正确提出PPH请求。 按相关通道的双边试点规则向国家知识产权局提交请求；请求程序与费用与既有PPH实践一致。
  4. 战略性申请可考虑优先审查。 对关键核心技术与新兴产业案件，2026年修订办法提供了国内快速通道，但须遵守新的诚信与时限规则。
  5. 为加速做好准备。 PPH与优先审查的基本请求均不另收官方费用，但答复期限收紧，须提前规划代理能力。
  6. 跟踪与维护。 因为PPH改变的是节奏而非标准，应始终保持以质量为导向的撰写与组合维护纪律。

风险与合规提示

PPH不应被误解为更容易授权。加速案件仍要经历相同的实质审查；利用某一机构的工作成果只是节省时间，不是降低标准。外资申请人还应注意收紧后的优先审查期限——一个月的答复窗口要求及时作出指示。最后，由于国家知识产权局的PPH合作伙伴已达38个，跨国企业应重新审视哪些通道现在符合条件，因为忽视可用的快速通道，其代价是以产品上市与许可地位的市场领先时间衡量的。

Sources

Patent / 专利

Patent Open Licensing and Administrative Adjudication: Faster IP Enforcement for Foreign Firms in China (2026)

  • China’s 2020 Patent Law reform introduced an *open licensing* system: a patentee may declare a patent openly licensable at a published royalty, and any party can obtain a licence simply by paying and notifying.
    中国 2020 年专利法修订引入了*开放许可*制度：专利权人可声明以公布的费率开放许可，任何主体付费并通知即可获得实施许可。
  • The CNIPA’s 2024 *Measures for Mediating Open-Licensing Disputes* (Order No. 590) give patentees and licensees a fast, specialised channel to resolve royalty and term disputes.
    国家知识产权局 2024 年《专利开放许可实施纠纷调解工作办法（试行）》（第590号）为专利权人与被许可人提供了快速、专门的渠道，解决使用费与期限等纠纷。
  • During the open-licensing period, the patentee’s annual fees are reduced or waived, lowering the cost of keeping patents alive while broadening their commercial use.
    开放许可实施期间，专利权人年费相应减免，在降低维持成本的同时拓宽了专利的商业运用。
  • For infringement, administrative adjudication by the IP office remains a fast alternative to court: it can order cessation and determine damages, with decisions enforceable through the courts.
    就侵权而言，知识产权局的行政裁决仍是法院之外的快速选项：可责令停止侵权并确定赔偿，决定经法院强制执行。
  • Foreign firms should weigh open licensing as a monetisation and defensiveness tool, and use administrative adjudication where speed and lower cost matter.
    外资企业应把开放许可视为变现与防御工具，并在重视速度与低成本时运用行政裁决。
  • Documentation is decisive: a registered open-licensing declaration and a clear licence record are what make the system work in practice.
    文档至关重要：已登记的开放许可声明与清晰的许可记录，是制度实际运转的关键。

Patent Open Licensing and Administrative Adjudication: Faster IP Enforcement for Foreign Firms in China (2026) | 专利开放许可与行政裁决：外资企业在中国更快的知识产权维权（2026）

Why this matters now

China is the world’s largest patent filing jurisdiction, and for foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) the question is no longer just “how do I get a patent” but “how do I use it and enforce it efficiently”. Two instruments have matured since the 2020 Patent Law amendment: open licensing, which turns a granted patent into a standardised, low-friction licence, and administrative adjudication of infringement, which offers a faster, cheaper route to relief than litigation.

This article explains both, how they work in practice, and what FIEs should consider. It pairs with our patent and IP-enforcement coverage.

Open licensing: the basics

Under Articles 50–52 of the Patent Law (as amended in 2020), a patentee may voluntarily declare, in writing to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), a willingness to licence any unit or individual, stating the royalty payment method and standard. CNIPA announces the declaration. Any party wishing to use the patent notifies the patentee in writing and pays the published royalty — and obtains a licence. During the open-licensing period, the patentee’s annual fees are correspondingly reduced or waived.

Open licensing cannot be exclusive or sole; the patentee may still grant ordinary licences by negotiation, but not exclusive or sole rights over the open-licensed patent.

Resolving open-licensing disputes

Because open licensing is standardised, most disputes are about the royalty standard and payment method, the effective date, and the licence term. CNIPA’s 2024 *Measures for Mediating Open-Licensing Disputes (Trial)* (Order No. 590) provide a dedicated mediation channel:

  • A party applies in writing; CNIPA decides on acceptance within five working days.
  • Mediation is completed within 30 working days (extendable by mutual consent).
  • Outcomes are recorded in a mediation agreement that takes effect upon signing.

The measures implement the Patent Law’s instruction that open-licensing disputes may be mediated by the patent administration or taken to court.

Administrative adjudication of infringement

For patent infringement, the IP office (CNIPA locally, or the municipal IP administration) can, at a party’s request, adjudicate: if infringement is found, it may order cessation and mediate damages. Decisions are administratively enforceable, and persistent non-compliance can be referred to the courts for enforcement. This route is typically faster and less costly than a full court action, though parties retain the right to litigate.

The dual track — administrative and judicial — is the backbone of China’s “double-track” IP protection system, reinforced by the 2024 *Implementation Plan for Building an IP Protection System*.

What FIEs should consider

  1. Monetisation: patents that are licensed little but maintained expensively are candidates for open licensing — the fee reduction offsets the cost, and licensing broadens commercial value.
  2. Defensiveness: a broad open-licensing declaration can pre-empt royalty disputes and demonstrate good-faith licensing.
  3. Speed: for clear infringement, administrative adjudication can stop the conduct quickly while a damages figure is worked out.
  4. Evidence: keep the registered declaration, licence records, and correspondence; they are the operating proof the system relies on.

Practical steps

  • Assess your portfolio for patents suited to open licensing (stable, broadly useful, low maintenance value otherwise).
  • Register the declaration with CNIPA and publish the royalty terms clearly.
  • For infringement, choose administrative adjudication where speed matters and court where precedent or higher damages are the priority.
  • Integrate open licensing and enforcement into the China IP strategy rather than treating them as isolated events.

Common pitfalls to avoid

Two mistakes recur. First, treating open licensing as a one-click revenue tap: a declaration must state a clear, published royalty, and the patent must be in good standing — an expired or invalidated patent cannot be licensed this way, and an annual-fee lapse forfeits the fee reduction. Second, assuming administrative adjudication replaces litigation: it is fast for cessation orders, but damages quantified through the IP office are often modest, and a court action may still be needed for full recovery. A further point: open licensing does not bar the patentee from enforcing against infringers who never took a licence — the declarant retains full infringement remedies. FIEs should calendar renewal deadlines and keep the declaration, licence notices, and any mediation records in one file so the system works as designed.

Related reading

  • Patent protection and administrative enforcement in China.
  • Customs IP protection for foreign brands.
  • The Hague Agreement and industrial-design protection.

专利开放许可与行政裁决：外资企业在中国更快的知识产权维权（2026）/ Patent Open Licensing and Administrative Adjudication: Faster IP Enforcement for Foreign Firms in China (2026)

为何重要

中国是全球最大的专利受理国，对 ded 外商投资企业而言，问题已不只是”如何获得专利”，而是”如何高效运用与维权”。自 2020 年专利法修订以来，两项工具日趋成熟：开放许可将已授权专利转为标准化、低摩擦的许可；侵权行政裁决提供比诉讼更快、更省的救济路径。

本文说明二者及其实践运作，以及外资企业应考虑的事项，与本站专利与知识产权执法专题相互呼应。

开放许可：基础

依 2020 年修订后《专利法》第五十至五十二条，专利权人可书面自愿向国家知识产权局声明愿意许可任何单位或个人实施其专利，并明确许可使用费支付方式与标准，由国知局公告。任何有意愿实施的单位或个人书面通知专利权人并依公告支付使用费后，即获得实施许可。开放许可实施期间，专利权人年费相应减免。

开放许可不得为独占或排他许可；专利权人仍可与被许可人协商给予普通许可，但不得就该专利给予独占或排他许可。

开放许可纠纷的化解

开放许可标准化后，多数纠纷集中于使用费标准与支付方式、生效时间、许可期限。国家知识产权局 2024 年《专利开放许可实施纠纷调解工作办法（试行）》（第590号）提供了专门调解渠道：

  • 当事人书面申请；国知局于 5 个工作日内决定是否受理。
  • 调解自受理之日起 30 个工作日内完成（经双方同意可延长）。
  • 达成协议的，制作调解协议书，自签字盖章之日起生效。

该办法落实了专利法关于开放许可纠纷可由专利行政部门调解或向人民法院起诉的规定。

侵权行政裁决

就专利侵权，知识产权部门（地方知识产权局或市知识产权主管部门）可依请求作出行政裁决：认定侵权成立的，可责令立即停止侵权并组织赔偿调解。裁决具行政执行力，拒不履行的可提请法院强制执行。该路径通常快于、廉于完整诉讼，但当事人仍保留诉权。

行政与司法并行的”双轨制”是中国知识产权保护体系的骨架，并由 2024 年《知识产权保护体系建设工程实施方案》进一步强化。

外资企业应考虑的事项

  1. 变现：少有许可却维持昂贵的专利，是开放许可的候选——年费减免抵销成本，许可拓宽商业价值。
  2. 防御：广泛的开放许可声明可预先化解费率争议，并展示善意许可。
  3. 速度：对明显侵权，行政裁决可快速制止行为，同时核算赔偿数额。
  4. 证据：保留登记声明、许可记录与往来函件，它们是制度运转所依赖的操作凭证。

实务步骤

  • 评估组合中适合开放许可的专利（稳定、通用、原本维持价值低）。
  • 向国知局登记声明并清晰公告费率条款。
  • 侵权时，在重视速度时选行政裁决，在追求先例或更高赔偿时选法院。
  • 将开放许可与维权纳入中国知识产权战略，而非孤立事件。

应避免的常见误区

两类错误反复出现。其一，把开放许可当作一键增收：声明须载明清晰、公开的费率，且专利须维持有效——过期或被宣告无效的专利无法以此方式许可，年费断缴也将丧失减免。其二，误以为行政裁决可替代诉讼：其对责令停止侵权快捷，但经知识产权部门核定的赔偿往往有限，全额追偿仍可能需诉至法院。另一点：开放许可不妨碍专利权人对从未取得许可的侵权者维权——声明人保留完整的侵权救济。外资企业应将年费续展截止日纳入日历，并将声明、许可通知与任何调解记录归于一档，使制度按设计运转。

延伸阅读

  • 中国的专利保护与行政执法。
  • 针对外资品牌的海关知识产权保护。
  • 海牙协定与工业品外观设计保护。

Sources

  • 国家知识产权局：第590号公告《专利开放许可实施纠纷调解工作办法（试行）》— https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202407/content_6963549.htm
  • 国家知识产权局：《中华人民共和国专利法》修改决定（2020），开放许可制度（第五十条至第五十二条）— https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2020/10/18/art_53_153525.html
  • 国家知识产权局：《专利开放许可实施纠纷调解工作办法（试行）》解读 — https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2024/7/15/art_66_193750.html