Zheng Yu

Zheng Yu is an intellectual property attorney focusing on trademark law, practicing at Jiangsu Zhongjin Law Firm in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. Mr. Yu has accumulated 15 years of professional experience since his admission to the Jiangsu Bar Association, assisting domestic and international clients with trademark registration, protection, and enforcement throughout China. He earned his LL.B. from Nanjing University, providing a strong foundation in intellectual property law.

Practice Philosophy and Approach

Mr. Yu's practice helps businesses build and defend their brand assets in the Chinese market. He provides comprehensive trademark services including trademark availability searches, registration applications with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, opposition proceedings, trademark renewals, and assignment agreements. He has extensive experience handling trademark infringement disputes, including administrative enforcement actions with local Administration for Market Regulation offices and civil litigation in Chinese courts. For overseas clients, he frames Chinese IP procedure in practical terms and provides clear timelines and cost estimates for each stage of the trademark process.

Trademark Registration and Portfolio Management

Mr. Yu manages trademark portfolios for both Chinese and international clients, including Madrid Protocol international registrations extending protection to China. He conducts comprehensive availability searches before filing, assessing both registered trademarks and pending applications that could block a new application. He prepares and files trademark applications with CNIPA, manages the examination process including responses to office actions and refusals, and handles post-registration matters including renewals, recordals of changes, and license agreements. He advises on trademark filing strategies, including the appropriate classification of goods and services under the Nice Classification system used in China.

For international clients, Mr. Yu coordinates with foreign counsel to manage the China portion of their global trademark portfolios, ensuring that filing deadlines are met and that the scope of protection in China aligns with the client's business activities in the market. He advises on the strategic use of the Madrid Protocol for cost-effective international registration, as well as direct filing with CNIPA where that approach is more appropriate for the client's circumstances.

Trademark Enforcement and Litigation

Mr. Yu handles the full range of trademark enforcement matters, including opposition proceedings against conflicting applications, invalidation actions against registered trademarks that infringe on client rights, and infringement litigation in Chinese courts. He also coordinates administrative enforcement actions with local Administration for Market Regulation offices, which can be an effective mechanism for stopping trademark infringement without the time and expense of full civil litigation. He handles well-known trademark recognition applications for clients seeking enhanced protection, and customs recordation to prevent counterfeit goods from entering or leaving China. He advises on brand protection strategies that coordinate trademark, copyright, and domain name protection for comprehensive brand asset management.

Client Communication and Engagement

Mr. Yu does not promise specific outcomes. His commitment is to thorough case preparation, accurate legal analysis, and diligent representation within the framework of Chinese law and professional ethics. Engagement terms, fee arrangements, and communication protocols are confirmed at the outset of each matter. Clients receive regular updates on case progress, upcoming deadlines, and decisions requiring their input. Based in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, he assists clients throughout China with their trademark and IP protection needs.

Representative matters handled by Mr. Yu include trademark registration for international clients entering the Chinese market, opposition and invalidation proceedings before CNIPA, trademark infringement litigation, and anti-counterfeiting enforcement actions. His experience across the full range of trademark law enables him to advise clients with practical authority at every stage of their IP protection matter. Mr. Yu also advises on the strategic interaction between trademark protection and other forms of intellectual property rights, including copyright and trade dress protection for product packaging and branding elements, and the coordination of trademark enforcement with customs recordal and anti-counterfeiting measures to create a comprehensive brand protection strategy for the Chinese market.

Anti-Counterfeiting and Customs Enforcement

Mr. Yu coordinates anti-counterfeiting enforcement actions to protect clients' trademark rights against counterfeit goods. He conducts investigations to identify manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit products bearing clients' trademarks, and works with local Administration for Market Regulation offices to conduct raids and seizures. He also handles customs recordal procedures, enabling customs authorities at ports of entry and exit to identify and detain shipments of suspected counterfeit goods bearing registered trademarks. For clients with significant counterfeiting problems, he develops comprehensive enforcement strategies that combine administrative, civil, and criminal enforcement mechanisms to disrupt counterfeit supply chains. Mr. Yu also provides guidance on the legal requirements for trademark licensing and franchising in China, including the registration of trademark license agreements with CNIPA, the quality control obligations of trademark licensors under Chinese law, and the disclosure requirements for foreign franchisors expanding their brand in the Chinese market through franchise arrangements. Mr. Yu also handles the protection of well-known trademarks, preparing the evidence and legal arguments needed to establish well-known status before CNIPA and the courts, which provides enhanced protection against trademark dilution and unauthorized use across different classes of goods and services.