Trademark Registration When Importing From China

By: Fredrik Gronkvist

Trademark registration is in most cases the only way Importers can protect their intellectual property. Without a registered trademark, your brand name and logo can be used by other businesses, both in China and in your own country.

Learn the following in this guide to trademark registration when importing from China:

>> How a trademark can protect your brand on Amazon.com
>> How a trademark can protect your products in China
>> Trademark registration fees and processing time
>> How to register trademarks online in the EU, US and globally (all by yourself)
>> Why you should not use an NDA as a substitute for a trademark registration

What is a trademark?

In the context of ecommerce, a trademark is a recognizable brand name or logo. Registering a trademark is not mandatory as an importer, but it’s one of the most cost effective ways to properly protect your IP.

If you’re importing general consumer goods or private label products, the trademark is also the only IP you have.

Notice that the trademark does not protect your product design or inventions. That requires a patent, that can only be obtained for a new and unique product.

In other words, you can’t patent a watch or t-shirt, but you can get the brand name and logo registered.

3 Reasons why Importers should register trademarks

Registering a trademark is, as I mentioned, the only way for most ecommerce businesses to protect their IP. But there are a few other benefits you should be aware of.

1. It protects your brand name in your target markets

This means that no other business can use that brand and logo. At least not in your country.

As such, you can prevent other importers, or foreign companies, from selling replicas of your product, in the country where your trademark is registered.

2. It’s not that expensive to register a trademark

Trademark registration is relatively cheap. If you do it yourself, you only need to pay the filing fees:

Read More >> https://www.chinaimportal.com/blog/trademark-registration-when-importing-from-china/