A single-mark multi-class application is a system under which an applicant applies to register the same trademark in multiple classes of goods or services through a single trademark registration application. China established this system with the new Trademark Law effective May 1, 2014, replacing the previous "one mark, one class" practice under which one application could designate only one class.
Legal Basis
Paragraph 2 of Article 22 of the Trademark Law provides that an applicant for trademark registration may apply to register the same trademark for goods in multiple classes through a single application.
Key Features of the System
- One application, one application number: no matter how many classes are designated, only one application and one registration number are created, facilitating archive management.
- Official fee accumulated per class: CNY 270 per class online and CNY 300 per class on paper; each class is separately limited to 10 goods items with surcharges for extra items. Designating N classes means paying N registration fees.
- Examination by class: substantive examination is conducted separately for each designated class, and a refusal in one class does not affect examination and registration in the others.
- Divisible: when some classes are refused or opposed, the approved portion can be divided out and registered first, avoiding being held back by the problematic classes.
Comparison with One-Mark-One-Class Applications
- Management cost: a multi-class application requires maintaining only one registration number, and change, renewal, and assignment are handled together—simple to manage; each one-class application has an independent registration number and formalities must be handled separately.
- Flexibility: separate one-class applications do not affect each other, and disposal (such as assigning a single class) is more flexible; subsequent formalities for a multi-class registration must in principle be handled together, and assigning part of the classes requires a division.
- Risk entanglement: a refusal or opposition in one class of a multi-class application may lengthen the overall procedure; risks are fully isolated between one-class applications.
Suitable Scenarios
- Multi-class brand layout: core, related, and defensive classes filed in one application with a unified filing date.
- Budget planning for startups: first cover core and closely related classes with a multi-class application, then add defensive classes in batches as the business develops.
Practical Advice
- Before filing, search for prior obstacles in every designated class to avoid one class dragging down the overall progress.
- Adopt a "full coverage of similar groups" strategy when selecting goods items, using fewer items to cover entire groups for broader protection.
- If you later need to assign or license a single class separately, you may lawfully apply for a division of the application.
The practical judgment behind these concepts depends on the individual case; before proceeding, you can book a CNIPA-recorded agent on MyTMBee for a tailored analysis.