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Caveats on Changes Post-Trademark Registrations

May 2021
Caveats on Changes Post-Trademark Registrations
The items within a registered trademark cannot be changed arbitrarily. Nonetheless, if the registered items of the trademark are changed alongside the change in objective circumstances during the trademark’s validity; one should complete the corresponding registration procedures at the Trademark Office of China in a timely manner. Only in this way can the trademark owners enjoy the exclusive monopoly over the use of trademark in accordance with the law and enjoy the effective trademark protections in law.
Starting off with the change in the name of the trademark owner, in instances where the name of enterprises and institutions of registered trademarks have changed due to the transformations in mechanism, system reforms and asset reorganisations; the entity or individual using the new name cannot simply continue using the original registrant’s name. Such entity or individual need to undergo corresponding registration procedures to update the change in name to become the legal trademark owner. This is to ensure the exclusive right to use the trademark in law remains intact, as well as to receive adequate trademark protections.
With regards the address of the trademark owner and other registration matters, whenever there is a change post-registration, the trademark owner again need to go through the procedures for changing the registered matters. It is because every registered item reflects certain rights and obligations and this also closely relates to certain legal relationships. Hence, once the registered items are changed, the registration procedures should be changed in accordance with the law.
There are some key procedures for changing the registered trademark. First, one must file a request, followed by submitting an application form, along with any supporting evidence of the change. If the application is approved by the Trademark Office of China, it will issue a corresponding certificate and make an announcement to the public.
Amid the changes post-trademark registrations, there is another requirement for trademark owners. In light of the changes in the name and/or the address of the trademark owner, the trademark owners must handle all relevant changes at the same time. Suppose a single trademark has been registered under different class for the use on several different goods and services, where there are changes in the name and address of the trademark owner, changes must be made to all changes, at the same time.
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