The approved goods (services) are the specific list of goods or service items, recorded on the registration certificate, that are covered by the exclusive right of the registered trademark. Under Article 56 of the Trademark Law, the exclusive right to use a registered trademark is limited to the trademark as registered and the goods as approved; use beyond the list is not protected by that registration.
Why Approval Rather Than All-Class Protection
Trademark registration is applied for by class, and the applicant must designate specific items according to the classification of goods and services. What the CNIPA approves after examination is precisely this list of items, recorded item by item on the certificate. The same trademark in different classes must be applied for and registered separately.
Practical Impact on the Right Holder
- Boundary of protection: enforcement claims can only be made against infringements on the approved items and similar goods;
- Obligation of use: non-use on the approved goods for three consecutive years without justification may lead to revocation upon application by others;
- Risk of exceeding scope: using the trademark with the ® symbol on unapproved goods carries the risk of passing off as a registered trademark.
What to Do as the Business Grows
When operations expand to new goods or services, file a separate registration application for the new items, and where necessary register related classes additionally to form a complete protection layout.
If you are facing the above issues, you can first obtain a trademark registration assessment through MyTMBee and decide whether to file after confirming feasibility, avoiding wasted official fees from blind filings.