By Ms. Haiyu Li, Lawyer at Chofn IP
On 9 October 2021, the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) announced its decision to stop issuing paper trademark registration certificates and to issue only electronic certificates as from 1 January 2022.
If an application is filed physically, the CNIPA will send a Notification To Receive Trademark Registration Certificate, according to which an electronic certificate can be obtained at the Trademark Office’s website with a receiving code. If an application is filed online, a certificate can be obtained by logging in the website’s service system. Electronic certificates can be seen and downloaded through self-service. The CNIPA will no longer issue paper certificates.
A transitional period will be set from 15 October through 31 December 2021, during which both electronic and paper certificates are issued simultaneously.
As such, paper certificates will become history. It is advisable for the owners to keep the paper certificates well as value-increasing antiques.
