Protecting your inventions in a dynamic China. Take your small business to the next level with ChinaBrandSafe.
Secure your invention’s future with a fast and easy online patent application.
- including literary, oral, music and dance, acrobats, art, architecture, photography, film and film alike works, sketch, maps and other graphic works, and model works etc.
Official fee excluded.
Official fee excluded.
Get your patent registered in just 3 easy steps using our simple online questionnaire.
Simply fill out our short questionnaire to get started.
We create the official application for you.
Your completed application will be filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about patent registration in China.
China operates on a ”first-to-file” system, granting exclusive rights to the first entity to file a patent, regardless of prior invention or international ownership. Key reasons to register:
- Prevent patent squatting: Bad-faith actors often pre-register foreign innovations. For example, global brands like Apple have faced costly disputes due to unregistered designs.
- Market access: Patents are mandatory for operating on Chinese e-commerce platforms (e.g., Tmall) and securing partnerships with local manufacturers.
- Legal enforcement: Unregistered patents lack protection against infringement. Registered patents enable statutory damages (up to RMB 5 million) and administrative actions.
Key Tip: Conduct a preliminary novelty search using the CNIPA database to avoid rejection.
Key differences:
- Registration necessity: Unlike the EU’s unregistered design protection, China requires formal registration for all patent types.
- Examination rigor: China’s novelty checks are stricter, requiring global prior art disclosure analysis.
- Enforcement options:
- Administrative raids via CNIPA (fast but no damages).
- Judicial litigation for compensation (courts increasingly favor IP holders).
