China Design Patent vs Utility Model: Which Protects Your Product?
A design patent protects how your product looks; a utility model protects how it works. Many sellers file…
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Design Patent
China design patent registration for sellers and brands
Last updated: August 26, 2026
Protect your product design from copycats. From $649 with official fees quoted exactly, licensed agents, and English support from filing to grant.
Why it matters
Your product's look is an asset. In China, it can be copied within weeks.
A China design patent gives you enforceable rights over the appearance of your product. When a factory or marketplace seller starts selling a lookalike, this patent is what you use to stop them, seize goods at customs, and file platform takedowns.
- High grant rate because designs are not substantively examined
- Valid 15 years from filing with annual renewal
- Combines with customs recordal and marketplace takedowns
Plans
Two plans, both including official fees to grant
Official fees are quoted exactly as CNIPA charges them, including the first year annuity.
Standard
$649 / design
Everything needed to get a granted patent.
- Six-view image compliance check
- Filing through a licensed patent agency
- Official fees through grant, first year annuity included
- English progress updates
Premium
$899 / design
Grant plus everything you need to enforce it.
- Everything in Standard
- One response to a correction notice
- Marketplace takedown material pack
- Customs recordal filing
Fee breakdown
What your quote actually contains
Every price is the official CNIPA fee plus our service fee, shown separately. Nothing is hidden.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CNIPA official fees through grant, first year annuity included | about $180 | Itemized on your invoice. |
| Service fee (compliance check, filing, updates) | about $469 | Standard plan. |
| Total, Standard plan | $649 | No other charges. |
| Premium upgrade | +$250 | Correction response, takedown pack, customs recordal. |
Materials
What we need from you
Product images
- Six views: front, back, left, right, top, bottom
- High-resolution photos or renders, plain background preferred
- Product name and brief description
Applicant details
- Passport scan for individuals, incorporation certificate for companies
- Signed power of attorney (template provided)
- Applicant name and address exactly as in official documents
We check image compliance before filing and will ask for retakes if a view does not meet CNIPA requirements.
FAQ
Design patent questions, answered
What is a China design patent?
A China design patent protects the visual appearance of a product, including its shape, pattern, color or a combination. It gives you the right to stop others from making, selling or importing a similar-looking product in China.
How long does a China design patent take?
Design patents are not substantively examined. CNIPA typically grants them within 6 to 12 months from filing.
How much does a China design patent cost?
Our Standard plan is $649 and includes the official fees through grant and the first year annuity. The official fees are quoted exactly as CNIPA charges them.
Can I use a China design patent against copycats on Temu or Shein?
Yes. A granted Chinese design patent is one of the strongest tools for platform takedown requests and customs seizures when your product is copied inside China.
Do I need to file through the Hague system instead?
Since 2022 foreign applicants can also protect designs in China through the WIPO Hague system. We compare both routes for your situation and recommend the cheaper or faster one.
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Ready to protect your brand in China?
Send us a few details about your brand and we will reply with a clear quote and checklist within 24 hours.