Recently, the International Trademark Association (INTA), in collaboration with the Beijing Lawyers Association, held a salon in Beijing focused on “Trademark Examination Practices and Key Legislative Trends.” The event gathered over 100 professionals, including representatives from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), brand owners, in-house counsel, and IP attorneys, to explore the latest developments in the Trademark Law revision and challenges in examination practices.

As China’s IP system continues to evolve, curbing bad-faith trademark filings has become a key focus of legal reform. With trademark registrations surging globally and Chinese companies accelerating their international strategies, lawmakers and practitioners alike are working to establish more robust mechanisms to counter speculative and hoarding-style applications.
The event featured in-depth discussions on the draft amendments to the Trademark Law, covering the definition of bad-faith applications, trademark use obligations, identification mechanisms during examination, and coordination between administrative and judicial procedures. These exchanges offered valuable insights and a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Michael Fu, partner of Chang Tsi & Partners and veteran trademark litigator, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on “Litigation and Compensation for Bad-Faith Trademark Filings.” Drawing on his extensive litigation experience, he analyzed recent judicial trends and court positions in handling bad-faith registration cases and provided practical advice based on representative cases.

Michael emphasized that bad-faith registrants not only deplete trademark resources but also increase enforcement costs and sometimes initiate retaliatory litigation. He argued that trademark owners should seek civil liability and compensation from bad-faith applicants—an approach aligned with the INTA Board Resolution on Recommendations for Addressing Bad-Faith Trademark Filings adopted in late 2020.

As a leading IP-focused law firm, Chang Tsi & Partners remains committed to actively contributing to legislative discussions and offering comprehensive, practical trademark protection strategies to both domestic and international brand owners. The firm will continue to support the development of a fair and well-ordered business environment in China.