1. Things to note when searching for graphic trademarks

1. Ways to search for graphic trademarks

(1) The applicant can search independently.

There are three ways for applicants to independently query graphic trademarks:

First, log on to the website of the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (China Trademark Network) for query.

Second, go to the Trademark Office’s service hall window to apply for inquiry.

Third, read the "Trademark Announcement" for enquiry. Although flipping through is relatively intuitive, due to the huge number of Trademark Announcements, applicants cannot view them one by one, making this method the most unfeasible.

(2) Entrust an agency to inquire.

Applicants can entrust a qualified trademark agency to conduct inquiries. Generally speaking, this kind of service from trademark agencies is free of charge.

2. Difficulties in querying graphic trademarks

(1) Difficulty in factor decomposition.

The applicant needs to decompose each element in the graphic trademark, and then conduct an approximate query on the decomposed elements individually or in combination. Since there are many combinations, the query is very difficult.

(2) There are many trademarks.

Retrieval based on elements will result in a large number of similar graphic trademarks, so the number of trademark comparisons is huge. If compared one by one, it will take a long time.