Trademark Registration & Protection | Professional Trademark Agency

Trademark registration is a core asset-protection strategy. Because trademark rights are territorial, each country/region has its own laws, filing routes, timelines, and “use” requirements. Two foundational international frameworks matter in almost every cross-border strategy:

• Paris Convention (priority right): after you file your first application, you have 6 months to file in other member countries while keeping the original filing date (the “priority date”).

• Madrid System (international filing): one application (via WIPO) can request protection in many member countries. Fees combine a basic fee + complementary/individual fees; designations then proceed under local examination rules, with refusals typically issued within 12–18 months (oppositions may extend this). Madrid registrations depend on the home (“basic”) application/registration for 5 years (the “dependency” period). If the basic mark is attacked in that window, you can “transform” the international registration into national applications within 3 months to keep the original dates.

Global filings use the Nice Classification (NCL). The current edition in force is NCL (12-2025) (effective Jan 1, 2025), with 45 classes:

• Goods (1–34) and Services (35–45); class scope and “explanatory notes” update annually.
  Selecting accurate terms prevents objections and narrows opposition risk; in the EU, using Harmonised Database/TMclass terms can also help Fast Track your application.

China Trademark Registration – Complying with Chinese trademark laws for seamless market entry.

• System & risk: China is first-to-file; early filing is critical. Register both your Latin-letter mark and a Chinese character (or pinyin) version to close a major enforcement gap. Oppositions must be filed within 3 months after publication. Non-use cancellations apply after 3 consecutive years of no genuine use. Renewals last 10 years, with a 6-month grace period post-expiry. China also uses “similar group” sub-classes, so protect across relevant sub-classes, not just the headline Nice class.

Hong Kong Trademark Registration – Ensuring exclusive brand rights in the Hong Kong market.

• Process & timelines: after acceptance, applications are published in the HK IP Journal for a 3-month opposition period. Non-use revocation applies after 3 years of no genuine use; “use in Hong Kong” can include export-only application of the mark. Renewal is every 10 years with a 6-month late-renewal window (restoration possible thereafter).

• Heads-up: HK allows multi-class filings; evidence and hearings are common in contested matters.

International Trademark Registration – US, EU, UK, Japan, Singapore, and other markets.

• United States (USPTO): opposition is 30 days from publication (extensions possible). Foreign-domiciled applicants must appoint a US-licensed attorney. After 5 years of continuous use, you can file a Section 15 incontestability declaration to strengthen your registration. Maintenance at years 5–6 (Section 8) and renewal every 10 years (Sections 8/9), each with 6-month grace periods (fees apply).

• European Union (EUIPO/EUTM): opposition is 3 months from publication. Opponents may need to prove genuine use if their earlier mark is >5 years old; EU provides detailed standards for proof. Renewal every 10 years, with a 6-month grace period (+25% late fee).

• United Kingdom (UKIPO): opposition window is 2 months, extendable to 3 months by filing TM7A. Non-use revocation after 5 years of no genuine use; an 18-month cooling-off can pause opposition for settlement. Series marks (historically up to six variants) are being discontinued for new applications when the UKIPO’s new digital TM service launches (existing series registrations remain).

• Japan (JPO): non-use cancellation is available after 3 years of no use; renewal every 10 years with 6-month grace.

• Singapore (IPOS): renewal every 10 years with 6-month late renewal window. (Opposition procedure and evidence rules are robust; many filings use Madrid or national route.)

Priority & Madrid strategy: If you’re expanding quickly, consider (1) filing first in your home market, (2) using the 6-month Paris priority window to file in key countries or (3) filing via Madrid designating target jurisdictions—balancing cost, dependency risk (5 years), and speed.

• Global watch & surveillance: we set up monitoring across WIPO Madrid Monitor, national registers, and commercial databases to catch conflicting filings during opposition windows (30 days US; 3 months EU; 3 months HK; 3 months CN).

• Use & renewal calendars: tailored reminders for use evidence and renewals (China/HK every 10 years; EU/UK every 10 years; US combined 8/9 every 10 years) with grace periods where available

• Clearance & risk assessment: searches leveraging Nice (12-2025) class headings & explanatory notes; EU’s Harmonised Database/TMclass to optimise IDs and reduce objections.

• Office actions & refusals: address absolute/relative grounds (descriptiveness, likelihood of confusion, bad faith).

• Opposition & cancellation:

  • US (TTAB): oppositions within 30 days (extensions up to 90/120 days); post-registration cancellations; Section 15 optional incontestability after 5 years of continuous use.

  • EU: 3-month opposition window; proof of use may be required for earlier marks (>5 years). Cooling-off period can facilitate settlement.

  • UK: 2 months (extendable to 3 via TM7A) and optional cooling-off up to ~18 months.

  • CN/HK/JP/SG: tailored opposition/cancellation tactics aligned to local rules and evidence thresholds.

• Bad-faith & brand seeding in China: we combat squatting and advise proactive Chinese-language filings to prevent third-party localization of your brand.

• China (GACC recordal): record your CNIP-registered marks with customs to empower border seizures; recordal typically valid for 10 years.

• US (CBP e-Recordation): recording a USPTO registration with CBP helps detain/counterfeit imports at the border; includes product guides and training.

• EU (AFA): file a customs Application for Action under EU border-enforcement rules to block counterfeit flows across member states.

• Civil/administrative routes and takedowns (marketplaces, social media, payment processors).

• Evidence of use & damages: we build evidence trails (sales, ads, invoices, logistics) meeting local standards—e.g., EU genuine use requirements; UK 5-year genuine-use test; CN 3-year non-use cancellation standards.

• Global Trademark Experts: deep experience across China, Hong Kong (China), US, EU, UK, Japan, Singapore, and Madrid filings—staying current with changes like Nice (12-2025) updates, USPTO’s current opposition/incontestability practice, and the UK’s plan to discontinue new “series mark” filings as part of its digital transformation (existing series marks remain).

• One-Stop Brand Protection: clearance → filing (national/Madrid) → oppositions → renewals → customs → litigation.

• Professional Legal Support: for US filings, we align you with US-licensed counsel (mandatory for foreign-domiciled applicants). In the EU/UK we manage oppositions, cooling-off, and proof-of-use hurdles; in China/HK, we structure sub-class coverage, local-language marks, and non-use defenses.