How IP services are helping Chinese tech companies go global

A side event on intellectual property (IP) for overseas expansion was held on Thursday at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing. Co-hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) China Office and the Beijing Intellectual Property Office, the event marked the first time WIPO has served as a co-host of the CIFTIS Global Service Trade Summit.

Two IP experts discussed trademark strategy and cross-border risks. Wu Hongxia from CCPIT Patent & Trademark Law Office noted that in 2025, Chinese applicants filed 5,636 international trademark applications under the Madrid System, ranking third globally. Their designations exceeded 76,000, the highest worldwide for a second consecutive year. In the United States, Chinese applicants filed about 148,000 trademark applications, making China the top foreign source of applicants at the US Patent and Trademark Office. But rising filings do not equal full protection, Wu warned, pointing to high refusal rates and complex cross-border enforcement as hidden risks.

Wu described three common scenarios. A company finds its trademark already registered in a target market by a local agent or professional squatter, forcing it to rebrand or buy back the mark at a high price. A company enters a market without adequate searches and faces infringement complaints, leading to product delisting and platform store closures.

"The cost of prevention is far lower than the cost of remediation," Wu said.

A relevant person in charge at Wanhuida Intellectual Property added that international trademark filing generally follows the first-to-file principle, while some countries also consider genuine intent to use. Chinese companies should first file a basic mark in China, then submit a Madrid application through the China National Intellectual Property Administration to designated countries. The process typically takes one to two years.

WIPO's international services are turning intellectual property from a protection tool into infrastructure for trade in innovation. Wu noted that monitoring trademark gazettes, e-commerce platforms and specialized databases can build an early-warning system covering both trademark and market dimensions, allowing timely opposition or invalidation against squatted marks. As Wu put it, professional IP services are not just a shield – they help technology, brands and innovation flow smoothly across borders.