For branded product exports, customs intellectual property filing is the first checkpoint. If the brand has been filed with customs and you cannot produce an authorization letter, the goods will be detained and face infringement investigation. This article provides a three-step lookup method and a complete brand risk level assessment table.
I. Three-Step Brand Lookup Method
Export involves a certain brand β
β Check brand ownership β Who is the rights holder? Which company?
β‘ Check customs filing β Has the rights holder filed with Chinese customs?
β’ Request authorization β Filed? Must obtain electronic authorization (customs filing system) β No authorization = infringement seizure
II. Domestic Brand Lookup Channels
| Channel | URL | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| CNIPA Trademark Office | sbj.cnipa.gov.cn | Check trademark registrant, class, status |
| Customs IPR Filing System | haiguanbeian.com:8888 | Check if brand is filed with customs |
| Qichacha/Tianyancha | qcc.com / tianyancha.com | Check rights holder company details |
| Single Window | singlewindow.cn | System auto-verification during customs declaration |
β οΈ The customs system must use fuzzy search; exact matching can easily miss results.
III. Brand Risk Level Assessment
| Risk | Assessment Criteria | Export Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| π’ Low | No-brand/no trademark/rights holder = client | Normal shipment |
| π‘ Medium | Has trademark but not filed with customs | Recommend client file with customs |
| π΄ High | Has trademark + filed with customs | Must obtain electronic authorization (customs filing system) |
| β Prohibited | Counterfeit well-known brand + filed with customs | Refuse order |
IV. Brand Authorization Methods: Domestic vs. International β Completely Different
β οΈ Key Distinction: Chinese Customs uses electronic authorization, not paper authorization letters! Paper authorization letters are for foreign customs such as U.S. CBP. The two cannot be used interchangeably.
π¨π³ China Customs: Electronic Authorization (IPR Filing System)
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rights holder logs into the Customs IPR Filing System (haiguanbeian.com:8888) |
| 2 | Add the exporter as a legitimate user in the system |
| 3 | Authorization takes effect immediately; customs declaration system auto-verifies |
| 4 | No electronic authorization β system auto-blocks at declaration |
β οΈ If a client says “I have brand authorization,” confirm it is electronic authorization done in the customs filing system β not a PDF or paper document.
πΊπΈ International Customs: CBP Electronic Filing + English Authorization Letter
For exports to the US and other countries requiring CBP e-Recordation (US Customs IPR electronic filing system), the rights holder or their US attorney must complete filing through the CBP electronic system. When necessary, the following English authorization letter may be issued as a supporting document:
AUTHORIZATION LETTER
To: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This is to certify that [Exporter Name] is authorized
to export products bearing the trademark [Brand Name]
(U.S. Registration No.: XXXXXX) to the United States
during the period [Start Date] to [End Date].
Rights Holder: [Company Name]
Signature + Company Seal + Date
V. Common Lookup FAQ
Q: Why can fuzzy search find results but exact search cannot?
A: The customs system’s indexing mechanism is imperfect; brand name case, spaces, and hyphens all affect matching. Always use fuzzy search first.
Q: Does a Qichacha trademark record mean customs filing exists?
A: Not equivalent. Trademark registration β customs filing. They are independent systems requiring separate lookup.
Q: Search results show multiple filings?
A: The same brand may be filed under different classes; check each to see if goods fall within the filed class scope.
Q: Do no-brand (unbranded) products need to worry about brand compliance?
A: No-brand products themselves do not involve brand infringement. However, verify that the products truly bear no trademark marks β some factories may have applied buyer-provided logos to products.
VI. Further Reading
π§ info@sz-yr.com | π 13662840842 | π Online Consultation
Shenzhen Yinrui International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.
Leave a Reply