Yes, they are the same number. After a trademark application is filed, the unique number assigned by the CNIPA is called the application number during the application stage; once the registration is approved, it is called the registration number. One trademark, one number, running through the entire lifecycle of that trademark.
Uniqueness and Continuity of the Number
Each application corresponds to one number, which is not changed as the examination status changes. All subsequent procedures—renewal, change, assignment, license recordation, opposition, invalidation—are linked to the trademark archive through this number.
Common Use Scenarios
- Tracking progress: use the application number/registration number on the CNIPA Trademark Office website to check examination status and publication information;
- Handling follow-up business: application forms for renewal, change, and certificate reissue all require the registration number;
- Enforcement and recordation: platform complaints, customs recordation, and litigation materials must indicate the registration number.
Easily Confused Concepts
The registration number is different from a barcode, a business license number, and the file number used when downloading the certificate. When building a trademark ledger, an enterprise should use the registration number as the primary key to uniformly manage the complete archive of each trademark.
Which Number to Use in Each Scenario
For online progress checks, use the application number after acceptance and the registration number after registration—the two are the same number. For renewal, change, assignment, and license recordation, enter the registration number. E-commerce platform onboarding usually requires the registration number together with the registration certificate, and most platforms do not accept trademarks still pending. Customs IP recordation requires the registration number. In infringement complaints and litigation, the registration number pins down the basis of the right.
Consequences of Entering the Wrong Number
Entering the wrong number results in no matching trademark being found; applications may be refused for acceptance or require correction, and complaints may be dismissed because they cannot be matched to the correct trademark. The number is tightly bound to the archive—records of assignment, renewal, and invalidation are all attached to that number, so a wrong number in the ledger derails all subsequent business. Enterprises holding multiple trademarks should build their archives with the registration number as the sole primary key rather than distinguishing by name—names can be shared by similar trademarks, but numbers never repeat.
If you are unsure about any of the above, you can first manage your archive through MyTMBee and act after a recorded agent provides an analysis.