On 10 November 2021, the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) announced that it will shorten a smooth trademark registration from eight months to seven months by the end of this year.
The seven-month smooth registration does not apply to non-traditional or special trademarks (e.g., 3D marks, color combination marks, sound marks, certification marks, collective marks, GIs). Neither does the seven-month period apply to international registration, which shall take at least 12 months to obtain protection.
