Sellers on Temu, Shein and Amazon are filing China trademarks and design patents in increasing numbers. Marketplace enforcement and customs seizures both depend on Chinese IP rights, and the filing race in China is unforgiving.
Why marketplaces ask for IP evidence
When a seller files a brand complaint or registers a brand on a marketplace, the platform asks for trademark evidence in the relevant market. For sales into or from China, that evidence is a Chinese registration. Without it, your takedown request has no legal foundation.
Copycats act faster than you think
Chinese factories can see a successful product within weeks and start producing lookalikes. In our experience, the seller usually finds out after a lookalike listing appears, not before. A China design patent gives you the right to stop those copies at the factory, in the marketplace, and at customs. The grant takes 6 to 12 months, so filing early matters.
Customs recordal adds another layer
Once your trademark or design patent is registered, you can record it with China Customs. Customs can then intercept counterfeit exports at the border. Our Brand Protection plan includes customs recordal guidance, and the pricing page lists customs recordal as an add-on.
Practical steps for sellers
- File your China trademark in the classes you actually sell in, before launch.
- File a design patent for any product with a distinctive look.
- Add monitoring so you learn about conflicting filings while you can still act.
The harder version is common too: a seller who files after a takedown failed, when the mark is already in someone else’s hands. That path costs more. Send us your brand details before launch and we will reply within 24 hours.
