Navigating Bad-Faith Trade Mark Issues in China
In China, bad-faith applicants exploit both domestic and international brands, either demanding payment to transfer trademarks—a practice known as “trademark squatting”—or leveraging the reputation of established companies for their own gain. The British Embassy in Beijing identifies bad-faith trademark applications as the most frequently reported business concern, impacting hundreds of trademarks annually across various industries. While China has implemented measures since 2019 to curb such practices, the problem persists at a significant scale.
A factsheet with more information and top-tips can be found here – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/606ffec6e90e076f4d5bfcb0/Bad-faith_Trade_Marks_-_IP_in_China_Factsheet.pdf
