Eight Key Points about the Third Amendment to the PRC Trademark Law

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress passed the Third Amendment to the PRC Trademark Law ("Revised Trademark Law") on August 30, 2013. The new Trademark Law will be implemented on May 1, 2014.

Besides its share of critics, this revised PRC Trademark Law, in general, responds to the public concern on complex trademark prosecution procedures, rampant bad faith trademark squatters and difficult trademark protection. A detailed explanation of some key changes affecting brand owners and trademark practitioners is provided below:

• Expansion of Non-traditional Trademark Registration

The Revised Trademark Law proposes to accept non-traditional trademark registrations to cover sound.