On March 12, 2026, the US-China Intellectual Property Exchange and Development Foundation (UCIPF) together with the AABANY Intellectual Property Committee hosted an informative webinar entitled “Navigating the 2025 Draft Amendment to the Trademark Law of China.”
The session featured insights from trademark attorneys Tracy Shen (who stepped in last minute for original speaker Spring Chang) and Lilian Qiu, Partners from Chang Tsi and Partners. Twelve attendees were given a summary on the upcoming legislative developments affecting China’s trademark office laws. As the market in China continues to grow and cater to more global business, it is important for legal professionals protecting their clients’ trademarks in this area to stay well-informed and on top of changes to the trademark filing process and rules. This webinar aimed to dissect the latest draft amendment to the trademark law, likely to be enacted this year, offering actionable insights and strategies that participants can implement in their trademark portfolio management and enforcement strategies.
Key Discussions and Highlights
Both Tracy and Lilian shared their expertise in the field, walking attendees through the significant proposed changes outlined in the draft amendment. They provided a clear analysis of the policy background, explaining how these legislative shifts signal a more robust trademark regime in China and how the trademark office is attempting to fix existing difficulties by trademark holders and filers.
The speakers outlined the changes introduced in the new draft amendment, focusing on several focal points:
- Changes Addressing Bad Faith Filings: One of the pivotal aspects of the discussion was centered on new provisions designed to inhibit bad faith trademark filers and malicious filings, such as by levying harsher penalties. Tracy and Lilian emphasized how these changes are set to enhance protections for genuine trademark owners, addressing long-standing dilemmas faced by businesses navigating China’s trademark system.
- Efficiency Improvements: The speakers highlighted improvements brought forth by the draft amendment, showcasing how the streamlined processes would make the application and enforcement of trademarks more efficient. Such efficiencies, designed to reduce the opposition period and expanding protection for well-known trademarks, are expected to make a significant difference for foreign entities operating in China, providing clearer pathways to securing and maintaining trademark rights.
- Unpacking Prior Amendments: The discussion also delved into analyzing which proposed changes from the prior draft amendment were not included in the latest version. Tracy and Lilian provided industry context that illuminated the rationale behind these omissions, guiding participants in understanding the current legislative climate.
- Strategies for Portfolio Management and Risk Mitigation: Perhaps most importantly, the webinar concluded with actionable strategic advice for firms gearing up to adapt to these upcoming changes. Tracy and Lilian shared essential insights on proactive measures that businesses can take to protect their intellectual property rights in light of the new framework.
This was a specialized session for trademark attorneys who conduct trademark work in China and provided valuable insights to help navigate the upcoming changes.
We extend our gratitude to Tracy Shen and Lilian Qiu for their expert contributions to this webinar and encourage attendees to stay connected with UCIPF for future discussions on intellectual property developments.
For those interested in gaining more details from this session or joining future webinars and topics, and networking events, please join AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee and reach out to Committee Chairs Greg Pan, Jeffrey Mok, and Ada Wang for with questions.