China Trademark & IP Knowledge Hub

The Canton Fair is one of the world's largest sourcing events and a major gateway for international businesses looking for manufacturers, suppliers and new products in China. The 140th Canton Fair will take place in Guangzhou in three phases from October 15 to November 4, 2026. For overseas buyers, the weeks before the Canton Fair are usually spent preparing supplier lists, arranging meetings, reviewing product samples and negotiating prices. But there is another item that de

If you are an overseas entrepreneur preparing to sell, franchise, manufacture, or market in China, one mistake can be expensive: assuming your global brand name is automatically protected in China. It is not. China follows a primarily first-to-file system, and a famous brand overseas does not automatically equal a protected brand in mainland China. The revised Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China was adopted on 26 June 2026 and takes effect on 1 January 2027. It ex

Alex, a tech entrepreneur from San Francisco, was thrilled. His new SaaS startup was gaining traction, and he needed a brand logo—fast. Instead of hiring a designer for thousands of dollars, he typed a simple prompt into an AI tool: "Create a modern brand logo." Within seconds, a friendly robotic voice announced, "Your new logo is ready!" It was a sleek, geometric design. Alex smiled and asked, "Can I use it for my brand?" But then, reality set in. Alex wanted to expand into

A common refrain in international business circles is that most foreign brands don't crack the Chinese market through a deliberate strategy — they get there by accident. Two paths stand out as the most common routes to this "accidental" success: 1. Chinese tourists + the daigou community.​ A brand's physical stores in popular tourist destinations get discovered and loved by Chinese travelers. The daigou (personal shopping agent) community amplifies and shares the find, and wi

Foreign brands entering the Chinese market often underestimate one crucial aspect: original artwork, illustration sets, card game designs, and pattern collections can be copied and sold online within weeks of launch. For creators of visual compilation works—such as tarot card decks, sticker packs, pattern libraries, or illustrated card sets—China copyright registration is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to build a legal foundation for enforcement. In this arti

The New Trademark Rules Will Take Effect Soon — Is Your Brand Ready? China’s revised Trademark Law will officially take effect on January 1, 2027, introducing important changes to trademark registration, management, and protection. For foreign companies, this is not only a concern for businesses planning to enter China. Companies that are already operating in the Chinese market should also review their trademark strategies before the new rules come into force. A trademark i