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 with one English/Japanese-speaking contact. We coordinate China filings through our established China partner, and our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent. For applicants already handling Taiwan with us, this means one counsel coordinating Greater China: aligned strategy, consistent reporting, and one relationship instead of managing separate Taiwan and China agents.
Why route China work 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 one English/Japanese-speaking contact for both jurisdictions. Our team includes a qualified PRC patent agent, and we coordinate China filings through our established China partner — so your Greater China portfolio follows one plan.
China vs Taiwan: key differences foreign applicants should know
| Aspect | Taiwan | China |
|---|---|---|
| PCT membership | Not a member — file directly under Paris priority | Member — PCT national-phase entry available |
| First-to-file | Yes (trademark and patent) | Yes (trademark and patent) |
| Working language | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese |
| Local agent for foreign applicants | Required | Required |
| Trademark squatting risk | High — file early | Very 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; the subclass choices and any defensive filings should be planned before filing.
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 reviews the China patent strategy, while filing and prosecution are handled 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 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 keep Greater China IP under one relationship, with aligned strategy and consistent reporting.
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
- One English/Japanese-speaking 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 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 on our team, with one English/Japanese-speaking 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 handle both Taiwan and China for us?
Yes. We keep Greater China work under one relationship, with aligned strategy and consistent reporting.
Can you run China patent FTO?
Yes. We conduct China patent FTO through our established China partner, with a qualified PRC patent agent 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 prepare a 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
Last updated: June 2026