For many years, businesses questioned the merits of filing intellectual property (IP) rights in China because of concerns of widespread counterfeiting and limited enforcement and practical protections. While those historic concerns were not entirely unfounded, today, the greater risk for
trade mark
China’s Major Amendment to Trade Mark Law: Key Changes – Part II


In Part I of this series, posted here, we reported on certain amendments to Trade Mark Law of the People’s Republic of China. In this article, we continue outlining some of the other important amendments.
Voluntary cancellations now carry …
China’s Major Amendment to Trade Mark Law: Key Changes – Part I


On 26 June 2026, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the fifth amendment to the Trade Mark Law of the People’s Republic of China. The revised law, expected to take effect on 1 January 2027, introduces a…
Never Give Up: How SIDECAR SLIDER BAR Proves Persistence Pays Off in Trademark Prosecution
Bucking the trend of recent Section(d) refusal affirmances, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) delivered a surprising victory to the applicant in In re Restaurant Concept Management, LLC,[1] finding no likelihood of confusion between SIDECAR SLIDER BAR…
Be aware of the PRC trade mark office’s adjustments to practice regarding non-use cancellation

The Chinese New Year is generally seen by those celebrating it as a time for reflection, change and improvement. For the 2025 Chinese New Year, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”) also seems to have taken the opportunity to…
Reputation Reaches Across Borders: TTAB’s Ruling Charts New Course for Foreign Marks
The Board’s Decision
In a significant precedential ruling, Plumrose Holding Ltd. v. USA Ham LLC, No. 91272970, 2025 WL 248763, at *1 (Jan. 17, 2025), the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) has expanded protection for foreign trademark owners…
10th Circuit Moves Forward with Supreme Court Directive: Domestic Anchor Required for Lanham Act Application
** Drew Engel, a Summer Associate in NRF’s Minneapolis office, assisted with this article. Drew is supervised by attorneys who are licensed in the state of Texas.**
The Tenth Circuit’s recent decision in Hetronic Int’l Inc. v. Hetronic Germany GmbH…
Supreme Court Rules Section 2(c) of Lanham Act Constitutional and TRUMP TOO SMALL Not Registrable
** Logan Woodward, a Summer Associate in NRF’s Minneapolis Office, assisted with this article. Logan is supervised by attorneys who are licensed in the State of Texas. **
In June 2024, the Supreme Court held in Vidal v. Elster that…
Trademarks and NFTs: The battle over “MetaBirkin” NFTs continues
** This article was drafted by Logan Woodward, a Summer Associate in NRF’s Minneapolis Office. Logan is supervised by attorneys who are licensed in the State of Texas.
The MetaBirkin dispute continues before the United States Court of Appeals for…
The TTAB’s Periodic Reminder that Deadlines Matter
In a decision earlier this year, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) dismissed as moot a cancellation proceeding filed by Men’s Wearhouse, LLC against WKND NYC LLC for the mark

(hereinafter, “MW MRWKND”) because Men’s Wearhouse filed the cancellation…