Register a US trademark from China

Yes. A business or individual based in China can register a US trademark. Because your domicile is outside the United States, a US-licensed attorney must file the application. Our overview for overseas applicants covers the basics. This page covers what is particular to China.

A CNIPA registration does not cover the US

Your home registry is CNIPA, the China National Intellectual Property Administration. A mark registered there protects it in China. Trademark rights are territorial, so protection in the United States comes from the USPTO.

Situations that bring Chinese applicants to us

A factory that built its own brand and now ships finished goods to buyers in the US.
A marketplace seller whose US listings carry a brand name that has not been filed anywhere in the US. See Amazon Brand Registry and your trademark.
A manufacturer that makes goods for a US distributor, where the contract does not say who owns the brand name.

Decide who owns the brand

The application names the owner of the mark. For a brand sold through a trading company or a related company, settle which legal entity owns it before filing. An application filed by the wrong party can be void, and the USPTO does not allow that to be fixed by amendment or assignment. We ask for the registered name of the entity exactly as it appears on its business licence.

Extra checks on some foreign filings

The USPTO verifies the identity of filers and reviews proof of use closely, and overseas filings have drawn extra attention. It may ask for more information or additional specimens. We may ask for a business licence, photographs of the goods or packaging showing the mark, and a link to a live product listing. Gathering these at the start keeps the review from stalling later.

Marks that include Chinese characters

If your mark contains Chinese characters, the application generally needs a transliteration and a translation. We ask for the pinyin and the meaning, and we discuss whether the Latin-letter name and the character version should be filed separately. Separate filings are separate marks, and each class on each one carries its own USPTO fee.

Working across a 12 to 13 hour gap

China is about 12 to 13 hours ahead of US Eastern time. A call in your evening falls in our morning, so we book those by agreement. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Written work moves by email, and we reply within one business day. We show every USPTO deadline in your own date and time.

What to send first

The legal name of the owner in English, and its address.
The mark as a clear image file, plus the characters and pinyin if used.
A list of the goods or services shipped or planned for the US.
A product photograph or listing link, if you already sell.

Then our free name search checks the name against USPTO records. For goods in the apparel and online retail space, see class 25 and class 35.

This is general information, not legal advice.