The first situation is that trademarks are only composed of the names of administrative divisions at or above the county level.

according to the second paragraph of article 1 of the trademark law, it cannot be used as a trademark in principle. However, if this place name has a other meaning that is stronger than the place name, it can be registered and used. However, whether it has a second meaning or not, the registered trademark before the implementation of the current Trademark Law (the second amendment in 21) is still valid and can continue to be used. To sum up this situation: the principle prohibits, there are exceptions, and the law is not retroactive.

in the second case, the trademark contains the names of administrative divisions at or above the county level.

This is divided into two different situations:

First, a place name is independent of the main body (prominent) part of the trademark, and it is a true expression, which will not lead to a wrong understanding of the origin, quality and other characteristics of the goods, so it can be registered. And the same as above, if the trademark registration is earlier than this version of the Trademark Law (the second amendment in 21), it is still valid and can continue to be used.

second, the main (significant) part of the trademark contains the names of administrative divisions at or above the county level. According to Item 8 and Item 2 of Paragraph 1 of Article 1 of the Trademark Law, the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 11 cannot be used as a trademark in principle, but there are several exceptions that can be registered:

1. This place name is other meaning, which is stronger than the place name;

2. As a part of a collective trademark or certification trademark,

3. Where the trademark applicant is registered with his full name but its full name contains the name of an administrative division at or above the county level,

4. If the combination of place names and other characters has obvious characteristics as a whole,

5. Trademarks registered before the implementation of the current Trademark Law (the second amendment in 21) are still valid and can continue to be used.