It is reported that the 3rd Amendment of the Chinese Trademark Law was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on August 30 and will take effect as of May 1, 2014.
Compared to the current Trademark Law of 2001, the following key changes are introduced in this Amendment: 1. Regulations for time limit are added for examination before Chinese Trademark Office and the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board (TRAB); 2. The opposition system of trademark is further improved; 3. The protection on well-known trademark is clarified; 4. The Protection for trademarks are further strengthened; 5. Rules are made to regulate trademark application and use; 6. Rules are also made to regulate trademark agents.
The current Chinese Trademark Law was promulgated in 1982 and was revised twice in 1993 and 2001. The Third Amendment is a result of the growing number of trademark registrations, complicated procedures for registration, delayed time limit of determining the right of trademark, bad faith registration, irregulated trademark representation.
