On August 23, the Trademark Office of the State Administration of Industry and Commerce of China (SAIC) issued the Notification to Simplify the Application Documents and Formalities of Madrid Trademark International Registration. According to the Notification, the application documents and formalities both will be simplified in future, as required at the time of going through the following three kinds of formalities during the international registration of Madrid Trademark, e.g. new application, various subsequent formalities, and change of name or address of a registrant. Thus, it can be expected that the efficiency of applying trademarks will be further increased after the release of the Notification, which indeed is favorable news for vast right-holders.The notification shall be implemented as of the date of being issued.

Click the link below for the original Notification, http://sbj.saic.gov.cn/gzdt/201708/t20170823_268613.html, and here is the full text thereof.

Notification to Simplify the Application Documents and Formalities of Madrid Trademark International Registration

Published on August 23, 2017 by the Trademark Office of SAIC

In order to implement the SAIC’s Opinions on Thoroughly Implementing the Trademark Strategy and Promoting the Construction of Chinese Brands, to make Madrid Trademark International Registration convenient, and to better serve trademark applicants to follow the Go Out policy, the application documents and formalities of Madrid Trademark International Registration as below are hereby simplified.

I. At the time of going through the formalities concerning new application in Madrid Trademark International Registration, subject to the acceptance and registration information in the trademark examination system of our office, an applicant has no need to submit copies of the Notification of Acceptance of an Application for Trademark Registration or the Trademark Registration Certificate; if a basic trademark has been through subsequent formalities such as change, assignment or renewal, it is unnecessary to submit copies of the documentations to certify such change, assignment or renewal of the basic trademark; and if the English name of an applicant has been filled in the Chinese application, it is unnecessary to submit a document to certify the English name.

II. At the time of going through various subsequent formalities in Madrid Trademark International Registration, there is no need to submit a copy of the International Registration Certificate issued by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization; and if the English name of an assignee has been filled in the Chinese Application for Assignment, it is unnecessary to submit a document to certify the English name.

III. At the time of going through the formality of changing name and/or address of a registrant, the approved change of a basic trademark shall not be deemed as a premise. If a basic trademark has been approved to change, there is no need to submit a copy of the approved change certificate; and if a basic trademark has not been approved to change yet, the applicant may submit a copy of the document on the approved change by registration authority, or download and print relevant records as the certifying documents from the official website of the registration authority.

The  measures above shall be implemented as of the date of publication.

The Trademark Office of SAIC

August 23, 2017