After years of expectation, China has begun to accept
multi-class trademark applications since the newly-revised
Trademark Law became effective on May 1, 2014. Does this practice
meet the anticipation of the trademark applicants?
As a common practice in many countries, multi-class trademark
applications streamline the registration process in a cost
effective manner. Not only the cost for filing is reduced for extra
class(es) in one application, but that for future renewal,
assignment, and recordation of name/address change, etc. can also
be significantly reduced. Multi-class registration also brings high
efficiency to administration of the trademark portfolios for brand
owners.
There is no doubt that the benefits of multi-class application
are expected by trademark applicantswho have a large trademark
portfolio in China, especially in the context that China has been
ranked No.1 in terms of the number of trademark applications for
more than ten years.
