Ensure lawful and seamless ownership migration. Secure your brand's new home. Transfer your exclusive trademark rights smoothly and effectively with end-to-end legal representation handled by an accredited CNIPA agency.
Pursuant to Article 42 of China's Trademark Law, when a registered trademark is assigned, the assignor (original owner) and assignee (new owner) must sign a transfer agreement and jointly file an application with the Trademark Office. Once approved, the transfer will be officially gazetted, and the assignee enjoys the exclusive trademark rights from the date of publication.
Critical Statutory Requirement: A trademark owner must transfer all identical or similar trademarks registered under the same or similar classifications simultaneously. The Trademark Office will reject any transfer that may lead to consumer confusion or adverse social impacts.
Upon approval, the CNIPA issues an official Certificate of Trademark Transfer rather than a brand-new registration booklet. This transfer certificate must be used in conjunction with the original registration certificate.
International businesses often confuse these three distinct legal procedures in China. They vary significantly in nature and documentation:
| Business Type | Owner Entity | Applicable Scenarios | Official Document Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademark Change | Unchanged | Corporate renaming, address relocation | Certificate of Trademark Change |
| Trademark Transfer | Changed | Commercial buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, gifts | Certificate of Trademark Transfer |
| Trademark Remission | Changed | Inheritance, legal restructuring, court orders | Certificate of Trademark Remission |
Note: Trademark Remission applies to statutory rights migration such as corporate mergers or court judgments. If your case falls under these scenarios, we will guide you through Remission instead of a standard Transfer.
Monetize and Liquidate Brand Assets: As a vital intangible asset, a trademark is a core piece of property during corporate acquisitions, asset divestitures, or brand sales. A compliant legal transfer is the mandatory prerequisite to realize its commercial value.
Establish Clear Title & Prevent Ownership Disputes: If you have acquired a brand but fail to record the transfer with the CNIPA, the mark legally remains under the original owner's name. If the previous owner faces financial crises, liquidations, or disputes, your investment will be heavily jeopardized.
Meet Compliance & Marketplace Entry Rules: E-commerce platforms (like Tmall and JD.com), licensing agreements, customs recordals, and IPO audits all demand absolute consistency between the operational entity and the trademark owner.
Many clients assume the CNIPA automatically issues a fresh registration booklet displaying the new owner's name after a transfer. In reality, you only receive a Certificate of Trademark Transfer. Presenting two separate documents during daily operations (such as e-commerce onboarding or bidding) can be cumbersome.
To obtain a pristine, unified Trademark Registration Certificate under the assignee's name, the correct strategic workflow is:
1. File the Trademark Transfer → 2. Obtain the Transfer Certificate → 3. Apply for a Replacement/Reissuance of the Registration Certificate
Our team will seamlessly bridge this "Transfer-then-Reissue" process for you.
We review your transfer intent (sale, gift, restructuring) and verify the legal qualifications of both parties to ensure absolute eligibility.
We investigate the target mark's validity, restrictions, or pending risks (such as pledges, freezes, or active "Non-Use Cancellations") to ensure a clean title.
We audit the assignor's portfolio for any identical or similar marks within the same or similar classes. Under Chinese law, these must be bundled together in the transfer, or the CNIPA will reject the filing.
We assist in drafting or reviewing the Transfer Agreement and assemble all official CNIPA forms and corporate qualification documents.
Once authorized and executed by both parties, we immediately file the application directly into the CNIPA portal.
We track the examination progress (which typically takes 2 to 5 months per official guidelines) and handle any administrative notices or corrections proactively.
Upon publication, we deliver your official Certificate of Trademark Transfer and initiate the replacement certificate process if required.
CNIPA Registered Agency
PUYIZHICHAN (Tianjin Puyi Intellectual Property Agency Co., Ltd.) is an official trademark agency legally registered and approved by the CNIPA, fully qualified to execute all statutory trademark transfers.
We ensure every assignment is fully compliant with Article 42 of China's Trademark Law. Because our internal team manages all cases directly, we completely eliminate the data leak and timeline risks associated with outsourcing to third-party intermediaries.
A: According to official CNIPA timelines, the review and approval process generally takes 2 to 5 months, depending on case complexity and backend examination speed.
A: The essential files include the Application for Trademark Transfer, executed corporate identity proofs (e.g., Business Registration Certificates or passports for individuals), and the signed Transfer Agreement. If a Power of Attorney (POA) is needed, we will provide a streamlined template.
A: Yes, batch submissions are allowed. However, you must strictly satisfy the "Associated Mark" requirement. If the assignor holds similar marks in similar classes, they must all be transferred together, or the entire application will be blocked.
A: If the assignor wishes to keep or exclude certain similar marks, those marks must be voluntarily canceled or partially canceled before submitting the transfer application. Alternatively, if those marks have not been used for three consecutive years, a non-use cleanup strategy can be deployed. We will advise you on the optimal path.
A: Yes. Trademarks that are still under substantive examination can have their "Application Rights" transferred to a new assignee. This is highly beneficial for cross-border e-commerce sellers needing immediate brand ownership records.
A: Yes, partial transfers are legally permissible, provided they do not violate the "Associated Mark" rule. You cannot split a single mark's highly similar items between two different owners.
A: Rejections typically stem from overlooked similar marks, potential public confusion, or incomplete documentation. If a refusal notice is issued, our team will diagnose the root cause, adjust the portfolio strategy, and re-file or implement remedial measures immediately.
A: The standard CNIPA official filing fee is 450 RMB per class for e-filing (500 RMB for paper filings). Agency service fees are quoted separately. (Note: Official fees are paid to the CNIPA in RMB; we provide transparent conversion invoices for international corporate payments).
A: 100% managed by PUYIZHICHAN professionals. All cases are processed in-house to protect your sensitive corporate data and ensure strict execution quality.
