In practice, the most probative combination is "sales contract + VAT invoice + physical goods or packaging bearing the trademark" — the three corroborate one another to form an evidence chain. A single item can also work, but it must simultaneously reflect the trademark, the time, the entity, and the designated goods.
High-Probative Evidence (Directly Credible)
- Invoices: showing the trademark name or a goods name that can be matched to the trademark, the invoicing date, and both buyer and seller;
- Sales contract + invoice + delivery order: forming a complete transaction loop;
- Customs declarations and inspection/quarantine certificates: official records of exported goods, authoritative as to time and entity;
- E-commerce platform backend orders: showing the trademark, product link, and transaction time, paired with proof of the store entity;
- Advertising publication vouchers: advertising contracts signed with media, broadcast certificates, and original newspaper copies.
Medium-Probative Evidence (Needs Reinforcement)
- Physical product packaging, manuals, and labels (to be paired with production dates or contemporaneous transaction vouchers);
- Exhibition participation contracts, booth photos, and event catalogs;
- Notarized web screenshots and social-media promotion records;
- Where the mark is licensed to others, the licensee's evidence of use.
Low-Probative or Invalid Materials
- Self-made flyers without dates;
- Shipping orders that show goods but not the trademark;
- Materials whose mark is obviously inconsistent with the registered trademark;
- Internal documents and contracts never actually performed.
Retention Recommendations
Archive to the standard of "at least three evidence chains per year," keep both paper and electronic backups, and notarize important web evidence promptly.
If you are unsure about any of the above, you can first do archive management at MyTMBee and act only after receiving an analysis opinion from a registered agency.