What are the five steps in the process of applying for a registered trademark

1. Submit application

Before applying for trademark registration, everyone must first make a similar inquiry. Check if your registered trademark is similar or identical to someone else's previously registered trademark. If no similar trademarks are found, submit the registration application again.

After submitting the prepared application documents to the Trademark Office, the applicant can obtain the return receipt of the list submitted by the Trademark Office within 48 hours, and the Certification mark office has received the relevant application documents.

2. Formal and substantive review

After receiving the materials, the Trademark Office will conduct a formal review first. The formal review mainly examines whether the application materials we submit are compliant and complete, whether the trademark design is clear and standardized, and whether the selected goods or services are classified correctly.

If the applicant receives the "Acceptance Notice" issued by the Trademark Office, which proves that the application documents have passed the formal examination, the trademark will enter the substantive examination stage.

If the application procedures are not complete or the application documents are not filled out according to regulations, the registration application will be returned. If the application procedures are basically complete or the application documents basically meet the requirements, but need to be corrected, the Trademark Office will notify the applicant to make the necessary corrections.

The substantive examination mainly examines whether the trademark violates the relevant provisions of the Trademark Law. If it is successfully passed, the trademark will enter the preliminary examination and announcement period.

3. Initial review announcement period

After receiving the "Acceptance Notice" for about 8-9 months, if the trademark passes the substantive examination, the trademark we apply for registration will enter a preliminary approval and announcement period of 3 months.

4. Registration Announcement Period

Upon the expiration of the preliminary approval announcement, if no objections are raised, the Trademark Office will issue a registration announcement. The publication of the registration announcement proves that the trademark has been approved for registration, and the trademark applicant has obtained the exclusive right to use the trademark.

5. Stage of obtaining registration certificate

Approximately one month from the date of the registration announcement, the applicant will first receive an electronic version of the trademark registration certificate, and the Trademark Office will reissue the paper trademark registration certificate to the applicant at a later stage.

If a natural person wishes to apply for trademark registration on their own, they can prepare the "Trademark Registration Application Form", trademark design, ID card, and other relevant materials in advance, and proceed step by step according to the above steps