A clearance search tells you whether a name is likely to be registrable and safe to use in China. Done before you commit to packaging and marketing, it is among the cheapest forms of protection.
What to search
- Identical and similar marks in your classes and in the related classes that Chinese practice treats as similar.
- Chinese-language equivalents: translations, transliterations and sound-alike characters of your brand.
- Logos and devices as well as word marks.
- Pending applications, not only registered marks, because earlier filings can block yours.
Why classification matters
China uses the Nice classification and also groups goods and services into similar groups. A mark can conflict with another in a different class if the goods fall into the same group, so choosing classes by name alone can be misleading.
What a search cannot do
The official database is mainly in Chinese, and a search shows what has been filed, not whether a mark was filed in bad faith or whether the owner is actually using it. A professional report interprets the results and suggests a filing plan, including your Chinese name.