Internal Listing of Reputable Trademarks

As the revised Trademark Law has provided legal basis for protection of well-known trademarks (Article 13), the Trademark Office will consider possible conflict with well-known marks before it allows a trademark application. As such, the Trademark Office may refuse an application ex officio if the application is considered to be in conflict with a well-known mark.

To provide the examiners with reference of well-known marks, the Trademark Office is planning a list of well-known marks for internal use. According to the Trademark Office, the list will only function as an internal reference for the examiners and will not be published, nor will it carry any legal significance. The Trademark Office does not accept formal request by trademark proprietors to include their trademarks in the list. However, it welcomes recommendations or information of trademarks that are truly reputable internationally in the relevant sector of the public.

Zhongzi Law Office has proposed some of its clients' leading brands to be included in the list and has provided information of these reputable marks to the Trademark Office. Relevant information should include a print of the mark, the goods or services for which the mark is well-known and brief background information such as history of the mark.