Shanghai Trademark Examination Cooperation Center Starts Operation

Shanghai Trademark Examination Cooperation Center (STECC) has started operation on 29 September 2017. It is the second outside-Beijing trademark examination center approved by the National Administration for Industry and Commerce of China (NAIC) after the first one in Guangzhou that came into operation in December 2016.

 

At the unveiling ceremony of STECC, NAIC minister Mr. Zhang Mao pointed out that the trademark examination center would help speed up the examination process and ease the pressure from the trademark examination backlog at the Chinese Trademark Office, against the ever-increasing new applications which are escalating at a rate of 30% on yearly basis. Mr. Zhang further noted that the trademark examination cycle at the Chinese trademark offices is expected to be reduced to eight months by the end of 2017, and further to six months by the end of 2018, from the current cycle of nine months.

 

STECC is entrusted by NAIC to handle acceptance and examination of applications for trademark registration, publicity of trademark laws and regulations, and enquires related to trademark application and trademark laws. It is also the only outside-Beijing center for accepting international trademark applications under the Madrid Protocol.