Guides¶
Five long-form guides covering the decisions foreign applicants actually face. Each one is written to be read on its own — no sequence required.
| Guide | What it answers | Target question |
|---|---|---|
| How long does China trademark registration take | Stage-by-stage timeline, where the months actually go, what adds delay and what cannot be sped up | how long does china trademark registration take |
| China trademark cost and official fees | What the USD 199 covers, what it does not, and how to budget a multi-class filing | china trademark cost / official fee |
| Madrid Protocol vs direct CNIPA filing | Which route fits your situation, with a side-by-side comparison and the central-attack risk | madrid protocol china |
| China trademark squatters: how to recover your brand | Opposition, invalidation, non-use cancellation or buy-out — costs, odds and timing | china trademark squatter |
| Nice classification guide for China | Class selection, China's sub-class system, and why 10 items is not always enough | nice classification china / trademark class |
Two facts that underlie all five¶
The statutory clock is not the practical clock. Substantive examination has a 9-month statutory ceiling, but straightforward files clear in 3–4 months. A clean application usually registers in 7–9 months; only a file that runs to every limit reaches 12–15 months. Full split table: statutory vs practical timelines.
Protection runs per sub-class, not per class. China's 45 Nice classes split into 495 sub-classes (类似群). Ten items chosen from a single sub-class leave the rest of the class unprotected — the most common and most expensive mistake in Chinese filings. See the classification index.
Guides last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice on a specific matter.