CHINA IP · VIA TAIWAN COUNSEL

China trademark & patent filingfor foreign applicants, via your Taiwan counsel

Foreign companies and overseas firms can file China trademarks and patents — and run China patent FTO — through WISECODE as a single English/Japanese-speaking point of contact. We coordinate China filings through our established China partner, and our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人). For applicants already handling Taiwan with us, this means one counsel coordinating Greater China: aligned strategy, consistent reporting, and one relationship instead of juggling separate Taiwan and China agents.

Who this page is for

  • Foreign brand owners and companies entering both Taiwan and China
  • Overseas IP firms needing China and Taiwan through one associate
  • In-house counsel consolidating Greater China IP
  • Companies with cross-strait (Taiwan–China) supply chains

Key takeaways

  • File China trademarks and patents through one English/Japanese point of contact.
  • China filings are handled through our established China partner; a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) is on our team.
  • China is first-to-file for both trademarks and patents — file early.
  • China is a PCT member (unlike Taiwan), so PCT national-phase entry is available.
  • Coordinate Greater China (Taiwan + China) strategy and reporting through one counsel.

Why coordinate China through your Taiwan counsel?

Foreign companies entering Greater China usually need both Taiwan and China — but the two are separate IP systems, and running unrelated agents in each creates inconsistent strategy, translation drift between Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and avoidable deadline risk.

WISECODE gives you a single English/Japanese point of contact for both. Our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人), and we coordinate China filings through our established China partner — so your Greater China portfolio is handled coherently, not in silos.

China vs Taiwan: key differences foreign applicants should know

AspectTaiwanChina
PCT membershipNot a member — file directly under Paris priorityMember — PCT national-phase entry available
First-to-fileYes (trademark and patent)Yes (trademark and patent)
Working languageTraditional ChineseSimplified Chinese
Local agent for foreign applicantsRequiredRequired
Trademark squatting riskHigh — file earlyVery high — file before disclosure or launch

China trademark filing

China is a strict first-to-file jurisdiction with a serious squatting problem, so foreign brands should file early — ideally before any public disclosure, exhibition or launch. China also applies a subclass system within the Nice classes, which affects how broadly your goods/services are actually protected; getting the subclasses right (and considering defensive filings) is essential.

We handle China trademark filing, clearance and squatting strategy through our established China partner, coordinated with your Taiwan marks for a consistent Greater China brand position.

China patent filing

China offers invention, utility model and design patents. Unlike Taiwan, China is a PCT member, so you can enter the national phase from a PCT application — or file directly under Paris Convention priority. China is also first-to-file.

Our qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) provides informed judgment on Chinese patent strategy, and we coordinate filing and prosecution through our established China partner.

China patent FTO

For products entering or manufactured in China — especially across cross-strait supply chains — China patent FTO assesses whether your product risks infringing existing Chinese patents. We run China patent FTO through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) on our team, and align it with any Taiwan FTO so you see Greater China risk as one picture.

How we coordinate Greater China

Whether you start from Taiwan, China, or both, we run your Greater China IP through one relationship — aligned strategy, consistent reporting, and a single English/Japanese point of contact.

Common pitfalls for foreign applicants

  • Assuming a Taiwan registration covers China (or vice versa) — they are separate systems.
  • Underestimating China trademark squatting — file before disclosing or launching.
  • Overlooking China’s trademark subclass system when drafting goods/services.
  • Treating China and Taiwan filings as unrelated, causing strategy and translation drift.
  • Missing PCT national-phase or Paris priority deadlines for China.

How WISECODE helps

  • A single English / Japanese point of contact for Greater China
  • China trademark filing, clearance and squatting strategy through our established China partner
  • China patent filing (PCT national phase or Paris priority) with qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) judgment
  • China patent FTO, aligned with Taiwan FTO
  • Coordinated Taiwan + China strategy and consistent reporting

Official references

Frequently asked questions

Can WISECODE file my trademark and patent in China?

Yes. We coordinate China trademark and patent filing through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) on our team, as a single English/Japanese point of contact.

Is China a member of the PCT?

Yes. Unlike Taiwan, China is a PCT member, so you can enter the national phase from a PCT application or file directly under Paris Convention priority.

Do foreign companies need a local agent to file in China?

Yes. Foreign applicants must file through a qualified local agency in China, which we coordinate through our established China partner.

Can you coordinate both Taiwan and China for us?

Yes. We run Greater China (Taiwan + China) through one relationship — aligned strategy, consistent reporting, and a single English/Japanese point of contact.

Can you run China patent FTO?

Yes. We conduct China patent FTO through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent (中國專利代理人) on our team, and align it with any Taiwan FTO.

Coordinate your Greater China filings

Tell us which rights and territories you need and we will return a coordinated Taiwan + China plan with a fixed-fee quote.

Helpful to include:

  • Which rights you need (trademark, patent, FTO)
  • Which territories (Taiwan, China, or both)
  • Any priority dates or deadlines
  • A brief description of the brand, invention or product
Coordinate my Greater China filings

Last updated: June 2026