Recently released data from CNIPA demonstrated that the number of Chinese trademark authorizations in the first half of 2023 decreased over 45% compared to the first half of 2022. Specifically, there were 2,018,119 trademarks granted in the first half of 2023 compared to 3,673,925 in the first half of 2022. The number of foreign-originated trademark grants also dropped from 98,650 to 60,776 in the first half of 2023 (a decrease of about 38%).

As for Chinese utility models and design patent grants, they were also down 25% and 10%. However, invention patent grants increased by 10%. This drop in utility models and design patents and increase in invention patents shows the change in China’s goal from quantity to quality.

CNIPA didn’t provide any reasons for the drop in trademark grants, but there can be some factors which impacted on this situation. Firstly, crackdown of malicious trademark applications could be a reason for the decrease in the number of TM registrations. Secondly, this factor could be the slowing economy.

Finally, the end of lockdowns in the fourth quarter of 2022 would make sense. This end of lockdowns could have led to a wave of COVID-19 infections and therefore potentially slow down filing and examination of trademark applications due to worker absence.