China is a country in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion. China follows a single standard time offset of UTC+08:00 even though it spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. Covering an area of approximately 9.6 million square kilometres (3.7 million mi2), it is the world’s third or fourth largest country. The country is officially divided into 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, and four direct-controlled municipalities of Beijing (capital city), Tianjin, Shanghai (largest city), and Chongqing, as well as two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau.
China (CN)
Intellectual property protection in China
Intellectual property office | China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) |
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Website | http://english.cnipa.gov.cn/ |
Contact details | 6, Xitucheng Lu Jimenqiao Haidian District 100088 Beijing (86 10) 62 08 31 14 |
Patent
Time limit applicable for entry into the PCT national phase | 30 months from the priority date |
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Time limit applicable for filing Conventional application | 12 months from the priority date |
Language | Chinese |
Representation | Foreign applicants must be represented by a Chinese Patent Attorney |
Power of Attorney | A signed Power of Attorney can be filed at the time of filing or within three months. |
Trademark
Filing requirements |
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Multiple-class applications | Yes |
Power of Attorney | A signed Power of Attorney is to be submitted at the time of filing |
Opposition period | Within two months from publication of the trademark application |
Representation | Foreign applicants must be represented by a Chinese Trademark Attorney |
Industrial Design
Filing requirements |
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Multiple design applications | No |
Power of Attorney | A signed Power of Attorney can be filed at the time of filing or within three months |
Examination | Formal examination |
Representation | Foreign applicants must be represented by a Chinese Design Attorney |
Source: WIPO and Wikipedia