The basic requirements for a trademark specimen are: clear, complete, and compliant with specifications—the electronic specimen is generally in JPG format, with length and width between 5 cm and 10 cm, and free of watermarks, borders, and irrelevant text; the specimen's content may not be changed after submission, and marks claiming colors must be filed as color specimens with a trademark description.
Format and Size
- Format: for online filing, upload an electronic specimen in JPG format that is clear and high-resolution.
- Size: the specimen's length and width should be between 5 cm and 10 cm.
- Background: generally a white background, with sharp contrast between the device and the background.
Content Requirements
- No elements unrelated to the trademark: such as the words "Registered Trademark", "R" marks, QR codes, URLs, or watermarks.
- Word marks: the typeface must be clearly legible; where non-standard Chinese characters or self-coined characters are used, this should be noted in the trademark description.
- Device marks: the composition must be clear, with the main features still recognizable when reduced.
- Color marks and color combinations: marks claiming colors must be filed as color specimens, with the color names or codes listed in the trademark description; color-combination marks must also be represented as color blocks with a written explanation.
- Three-dimensional marks and sound marks: a three-dimensional mark requires views that determine its three-dimensional shape (at least three views); a sound mark requires staff notation or numbered musical notation with a written description, plus an audio sample.
Why the Requirements Are So Strict
The specimen is the core basis for determining the scope of trademark protection; examination, publication, and rights confirmation all rely on the submitted specimen. A blurred specimen leads to corrections or even non-acceptance; replacing the specimen after submission amounts to changing the trademark and requires a new application.
Practical Advice
After finalizing the design, export and archive a high-resolution vector source file, and use a high-resolution export for the application; if the brand is used in multiple scenarios, register the main mark in black-and-white and file the color version separately.
In similar situations, it is advisable to first consult a CNIPA-recorded agent on MyTMBee to assess whether self-service registration is appropriate before deciding on the next step.