Trademark Registration in Hong Kong & China
Your brand name and logo are among the most valuable things your business owns. We register them in Hong Kong and mainland China — from the first availability check to the registration certificate and every renewal after it.
Why your brand needs a registered trademark
A trademark is the legal right to a name, logo or slogan that distinguishes your goods or services from those of others. Once registered, it gives you the exclusive right to use the mark for the goods and services listed in the registration — and the means to stop anyone who copies it.
Trademark rights are territorial: they apply only where the mark is registered. Hong Kong and mainland China are separate systems with separate registries, so a Hong Kong registration does not protect your brand on the mainland, and vice versa. For any business that sells, sources or manufactures in the region, choosing the right territory is the first and most important decision.
Intergroup handles trademark registration in both Hong Kong and mainland China. We check whether your mark is available, choose the right classes, prepare and file the application, deal with the registry on your behalf and keep track of renewal dates.
jurisdictions — Hong Kong and mainland China
classes of goods and services (Nice Classification)
of protection, renewable indefinitely
Hong Kong application, first class
Protect your brand
Tell us your brand name and what you sell — we will check its availability and recommend the right coverage.
+852 5803 1008What registration gives you
An unregistered brand can be copied, registered by someone else or blocked from marketplaces. A registered trademark turns it into a protected, enforceable asset.
Exclusive rights
Only you may use the mark for the registered goods and services. The registration certificate is clear evidence of ownership — you do not have to prove a reputation built up over years.
Protection against squatters
Mainland China follows a strict first-to-file principle: whoever files first is generally entitled to the mark. Registering early stops others from claiming your brand before you do.
Action against counterfeits
A registered mark lets you take legal action against infringers, file takedown requests with e-commerce platforms and work with customs authorities to stop counterfeit goods.
Access to marketplaces and partners
Major online marketplaces typically ask for a registered trademark — or at least a pending application — before opening an official brand store, and distributors and franchisees expect one too.
An asset you can license and sell
A registered trademark can be licensed, franchised, assigned, pledged as security or valued as part of the business — something an unregistered brand cannot easily do.
The right to use ®
Only a registered mark may carry the ® symbol. Before registration, use ™ instead — presenting an unregistered mark as registered is prohibited in both Hong Kong and mainland China.
What can be registered
Almost any sign that distinguishes your goods or services can be registered as a trademark, provided it is not purely descriptive, misleading or already taken.
Word marks
Brand, company and product names, registered in standard characters and protected regardless of font or style.
Logos and devices
Graphic symbols, emblems and stylised lettering — on their own or combined with words.
Slogans
Taglines and short phrases, as long as they are distinctive rather than purely promotional.
Chinese-character marks
The Chinese name of your brand in simplified or traditional characters, or in pinyin — essential for the Chinese-speaking market.
Combined marks
A word and a logo together in a fixed arrangement, exactly as you use them on packaging, signage or your website.
Non-traditional marks
Shapes, colours, packaging and sounds can also be registered where they clearly identify your business.
Hong Kong and mainland China at a glance
Both systems use the same international classification, but they differ in procedure, timing and the risks you need to plan for.
Hong Kong
Trademarks in Hong Kong are governed by the Trade Marks Ordinance (Cap. 559) and registered by the Trade Marks Registry of the Intellectual Property Department. The procedure is clear, predictable and conducted in English or Chinese.
- Registry
- Trade Marks Registry, Intellectual Property Department (IPD)
- Who can apply
- Any individual or company, local or foreign
- Classification
- Nice Classification, 45 classes
- Typical timeline
- About 6 months if there are no objections
- Opposition period
- 3 months after publication
- Validity
- 10 years from the filing date, renewable
Good to know
- Overseas applicants need an address for service in Hong Kong — we provide it.
- One application can cover several classes.
- Priority can be claimed within 6 months of a first filing in a Paris Convention country.
- A mark that is not genuinely used for 3 consecutive years after registration may be revoked.
Mainland China
Trademarks in mainland China are registered by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) under the PRC Trademark Law. The system is strictly first-to-file, which makes early registration essential.
- Registry
- China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
- Who can apply
- Individuals and companies; overseas applicants (including from Hong Kong) file through a licensed Chinese trademark agency
- Classification
- Nice classes plus China’s own subclass system
- Typical timeline
- Roughly 9–12 months if there are no objections
- Opposition period
- 3 months after preliminary approval
- Validity
- 10 years from the registration date, renewable
Good to know
- First-to-file: prior use gives very limited protection, so file before you enter the market.
- Examination is carried out item by item within China’s subclasses, and partial refusals are common — the specification must be drafted carefully.
- Register a Chinese-character version of your brand as well — customers and partners will call it by a Chinese name anyway.
- Registrations in Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan do not extend to the mainland.
One brand, two separate systems
Because Hong Kong and mainland China register trademarks independently, the right coverage depends on where you sell, manufacture and do business. This is how we usually advise our clients:
Hong Kong
For businesses that trade from Hong Kong, hold their brand in a Hong Kong company or sell mainly to Hong Kong customers.
- Protection in the Hong Kong market
- Brand held by your Hong Kong company
- Clear, predictable procedure
Mainland China
For brands that sell on the mainland, use Chinese factories or work with Chinese distributors and online platforms.
- Protection against first-to-file squatters
- Basis for official stores on mainland marketplaces
- Enables platform and customs enforcement
Hong Kong + mainland China
For China-facing businesses that want their brand protected across the region — the combination we recommend most often.
- Both registries handled in parallel
- Consistent specification in both territories
- One team and one calendar of deadlines
How registration works
The steps are similar in both jurisdictions. We manage each of them and keep you updated along the way.
Consultation and search
We discuss your brand and business, then check the registers for identical and similar marks to assess the chances of registration before any official fees are paid.
Classes and specification
We select the classes and draft the list of goods and services — for China, aligned with the local subclass system — so that the protection matches what you actually do.
Filing
We prepare and file the application with the Hong Kong Trade Marks Registry and/or CNIPA and send you the filing receipt with the application number and filing date.
Examination
The registry examines the mark for distinctiveness and conflicts with earlier marks. If it raises objections, we advise you on the response and the options available.
Publication and opposition
Once accepted, the mark is published for 3 months, during which third parties may oppose it. We monitor the process throughout.
Registration and renewals
The registration certificate is issued and sent to you. We record the renewal date and remind you well before the 10-year term expires.
What we need from you
Filing is straightforward and can be done entirely remotely. To prepare an application, we usually need:
- Applicant details — the full name and address of the individual or company that will own the trademark
- A copy of the passport (individuals) or of the certificate of incorporation or business registration (companies)
- The mark itself — the word, or a high-resolution image of the logo
- A description of your goods and services, so that we can choose the right classes
- Priority details, if you filed a first application elsewhere within the last 6 months
- A signed authorisation (power of attorney) — we prepare it for you
For mainland China, foreign-language identity documents are filed together with a Chinese translation — we will tell you exactly what is needed.
Pricing
Fixed fees for Hong Kong, charged per class of goods or services. Mainland China filings are quoted individually, depending on the number of classes and items.
Hong Kong trademark registration — first class
US$1,100
Hong Kong trademark registration — each additional class
US$850
Hong Kong trademark renewal — first class
Every 10 years
US$500
Hong Kong trademark renewal — each additional class
US$300
Mainland China trademark registration
Depends on the number of classes and items
On request
The final cost is confirmed once we have reviewed your mark and the goods and services to be covered. If the registry raises objections or a third party files an opposition, we will explain the options and costs before taking any further step.
See the full price listProtect your brand
Tell us your brand name and what you sell — we will check its availability and recommend the right coverage.
Why work with Intergroup
Hong Kong and China under one roof
One team handles both registries, so your filings are coordinated and your brand is protected consistently on both sides of the border.
Search before you file
We assess the risks before filing, so you do not spend money on a mark that is likely to be refused or opposed.
Specifications that work
Careful drafting of the goods and services — including China’s subclasses — gives you real protection instead of gaps.
Transparent pricing
Fixed fees for Hong Kong straight from our published price list, and a clear written quote for mainland China.
Deadlines under control
We keep track of official deadlines and renewal dates, so your registration does not lapse by accident.
Fully remote
Documents are signed and exchanged electronically or by courier — there is no need to travel to Hong Kong or the mainland.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Hong Kong company to register a trademark?
No. Individuals and companies from any country can apply in Hong Kong and in mainland China. Overseas applicants need an address for service in Hong Kong and, for mainland China, must file through a licensed Chinese trademark agency — we take care of both. Many clients nevertheless choose to hold their brand in their Hong Kong company.
Does a Hong Kong trademark protect my brand in mainland China?
No. Hong Kong and mainland China have separate trademark systems, and a registration in one has no effect in the other. If your business is active in both, you need two registrations.
How long does registration take?
In Hong Kong, an application without objections usually proceeds to registration in about 6 months; in mainland China it typically takes around 9–12 months. Your filing date is secured from the day we file, giving you priority over anyone who applies later.
How long is a trademark valid?
Ten years — counted from the filing date in Hong Kong and from the registration date in mainland China. It can be renewed for further 10-year periods indefinitely, as long as it is renewed on time and the mark remains in use.
What is a class, and how many do I need?
Goods and services are divided into 45 classes under the international Nice Classification — for example, class 25 covers clothing and class 35 covers advertising and retail services. Protection applies only to the classes you register, so we recommend covering your core products and services as well as those you plan to launch soon.
Someone has already registered my brand in China. What can I do?
It depends on the circumstances. The options include buying the mark from its owner, applying to cancel it if it has not been used for 3 consecutive years, or challenging it as a bad-faith registration. We will review the situation and suggest the most realistic route.
Can I use the ® symbol after filing?
Not until the mark is registered. While the application is pending, use ™. Using ® with an unregistered mark is prohibited in both Hong Kong and mainland China.
Register your trademark before someone else does
Send us your brand name or logo and a short description of your business. We will assess the chances of registration and suggest the best route for Hong Kong, mainland China or both.