Recently, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has issued an announcement, stating that from January 1, 2022 on, trademark registration certificates in paper form will no longer be issued, and the period from October 15 to December 31, 2021 is set as the transition period.

The Announcement No. 453 of CNIPA adjusts the issuing manner of paper trademark registration certificates as follows:

I. Starting from January 1, 2022, in announcing the trademark registration certificates arising from registration and other trademark applications, for trademark applications submitted in paper form, a Notice of Obtaining Trademark Registration Certificate will be sent, and the registrant shall log in to China Trademark Network according to the specified website and password of the Notice to obtain an electronic trademark registration certificate, and for those submitted electronically, the registrant shall log in to the Trademark Online Service System to obtain an electronic trademark registration certificate. The electronic trademark registration certificate can be viewed, downloaded and printed voluntarily. The CNIPA no longer issues paper trademark registration certificates.

II. Setting a transitional period: during the period from October 15 to December 31, 2021, in announcing the trademark registration certificates arising from registration and other trademark applications, for trademark applications submitted in paper form, a Notice of Obtaining Trademark Registration Certificate will be sent, the registrant shall log in to China Trademark Network according to the specified website and password of the Notice to obtain an electronic trademark registration certificate and a paper trademark registration certificate is also sent, and for those submitted electronically, the issuing manner remains unchanged temporarily.