Many entrepreneurs register only their logo or their name in French, believing they are protected. This is a mistake. In China, registering a trademark in Latin characters does not protect the Chinese translation or the phonetic version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, registering only a logo prevents you from taking action if a third party uses the name alone. A combined filing (name + image) does not automatically grant individual protection for each element.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This trap of partial registration is especially dangerous given how strict Chinese case law is: only what is explicitly registered is protected. A foreign company that registers only a stylized logo may see its name exploited by a local competitor with no legal recourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should also be noted that registering a logo alone does not protect the Chinese translation or transliteration of the brand. Yet in the Chinese market, consumers primarily remember brand names written in Chinese characters, and this is the version that circulates in commercial channels, online platforms, and local social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short: registering a logo is good. But registering the name separately, in both French and Chinese, is better \u2014 if not essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n