After a trademark is registered, trademark users often neglect to retain evidence when using the trademark. When they need to provide evidence of use for possible trademark disputes, they often suffer a loss because they cannot provide it. Today we list the following common evidences of trademark use, which are also legally valid:

1. Invoices

Invoices are the basic commercial documents in economic transactions. , is a written certificate that records business activities. It is a receipt and payment voucher issued and collected when purchasing and selling goods, providing or receiving services, and engaging in other business activities. Therefore, authentic and valid invoices for goods sales or service provision can strongly prove the use of registered trademarks. However, many companies only fill in the name of the goods or services when issuing invoices without filling in the trademark name or abbreviation of the trademark name. For example, only three words for a five-word registered trademark. Such invoices have no connection with the registered trademark and cannot prove the use of the trademark, so they cannot be used as sufficient and effective evidence of use. Therefore, trademark registrants should standardize the issuance and storage of invoices, carefully fill in the name of the trademark while filling in the name of the goods and services, and leave strong evidence for the use of the trademark. In addition, compared with invoices issued manually, invoices printed by tax control devices and special value-added tax invoices are more probative because their management and use are more strict and standardized.

2. Contract (or agreement)

Contracts and agreements are important evidence and basis for economic entities to participate in economic activities, and therefore can be used as effective evidence of trademark use. However, many contract (or agreement) terms seem strict, but the trademark logo is not obvious. In particular, some service agreements are not marked with trademarks at all and cannot be used as evidence of valid use. Therefore, when signing a contract or agreement, the trademark must be clearly marked, preferably the name and registration number of the registered trademark, so as to leave effective evidence of the use of the trademark.

3. Advertising items

Advertising includes advertisements for goods and services published on radio, television, newspapers, magazines and other media. Advertising is an important way for enterprises to promote their trademarks, goods and services. Trademark logos are often placed in prominent positions in advertisements and are a good evidence material. However, some advertising methods, such as TV advertisements, outdoor advertising, etc., cannot provide information on the time of advertisement release, so it is difficult to use it as direct evidence to prove the use of the trademark. Advertisements in newspapers, magazines, various conferences, expositions, trade fairs, etc. are more direct and powerful evidence because they can provide important information such as time and trademark logos. However, the advertising contract signed with the advertising company can be used as evidence of effective use as long as the trademark name is marked in the contract.

4. Packaging

Packaging includes product packaging, service supplies packaging or containers, etc. Since it is difficult to determine the specific time of printing and use of simple packaging or containers, other evidence is needed to support it. For example, the contract signed with the printing house when entrusting printing, etc., must indicate the trademark name.

5. Product inspection report

A product inspection report that proves the quality of the product issued by the superior quality supervision department, industry association and other authoritative organizations. The procedures are strict and the contents of the report are clearly marked. , is a good evidence of trademark use.

6. Trademark printing certification materials

Trademark printing is a prerequisite for trademark use, so trademark printing certification materials are also strong evidence to prove trademark use. However, in actual cases, many companies directly provide some physical trademarks and logos, but fail to provide certification materials for printing these trademarks and logos. It is often impossible to confirm the specific time of printing and use of these trademark logos. Therefore, when printing trademarks, companies must choose printing companies with good reputation and whose business scope includes "trademark and logo printing". Such printing companies have a complete management system for trademark printing. They have complete registration and custody records of printing time, trademark name, and printing client. They are also relatively standardized in issuing invoices and entering into contracts, and can provide services for trademarks. Use to provide strong evidence.

7. Others

Other materials that can be used as evidence of trademark use include product instructions, commodity import and export inspection and quarantine certificates, product customs declaration forms, etc.

However, none of the above-mentioned single materials may be able to fully prove the use of a trademark. Therefore, multiple evidence materials are often required to corroborate and correlate with each other to form an effective evidence chain to fully prove the use of a trademark. Trademark use