On December 31, 2021, the online application platform "Madrid international trademark application withdrawal service" officially went live, marking that Chinese applicants can handle all aspects of the Madrid International trademark applications via e-channels. The online application rate reached 97% among Madrid international trademark registrations by Chinese applicants in 2021. At present, Chinese applicants can handle online all 10 businesses including application, renewal, transfer, and cancellation of Madrid international trademark registrations. By using the electronic application system, the instability of the international postal mail system caused by the Covid-19 epidemic is avoided and the application period is effectively shortened.

In 2021, the average review period for applications for international registration by Chinese applicants was shortened to 2 months. In order to equally protect the rights and interests of foreign applicants, the Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has comprehensively improved the quality and efficiency of the examination of international trademark applications. At present, the review period for an international trademark application entering China, designated through the Madrid system, has been shortened to 4 months, and the review period of international transfer, change and renewal has been shortened to 1 month, reaching the fastest level in history.

(Source: Trademark Office of the CNIPA)