On Jul 4, 2017, China Trademark Office announced a new procedure for changing opponents in trademark opposition cases. According to the Notice, the procedure of changing opponent applies when the trademark right based on which an opposition has been filed is transferred to a third party before an opposition decision is made, and the third party wishes to inherit the opponent position,  participate in the follow-up opposition procedure and bear the corresponding consequences. The transfer of trademark right includes voluntary transfers between the opposition applicant and the third party, as well as the statutory transfers resulting from merger, inheritance, litigation and other causes.