In a major step toward strengthening the credibility and quality of the intellectual property (IP) service industry, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has announced a significant expansion of its Trademark Agency Credit Evaluation System. This move aims to enhance regulatory oversight, build a more transparent industry environment, and support the long-term development of China’s IP infrastructure.
Why This Matters
China’s trademark agency sector is one of the largest in the world, yet it has long faced challenges such as inconsistent service quality, bad-faith filings, and limited public visibility into agency practices. The introduction—and now expansion—of a credit-based regulatory framework is designed to address these issues.
By tracking and scoring the performance and conduct of agencies and their employees, CNIPA seeks to reward trustworthy institutions while holding unreliable actors accountable.
Who Is Involved
The new pilot program will run for one year (April 2025 – March 2026) in 17 key regions, including:
Major cities like Beijing and Shanghai
Industrial hubs such as Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu
Key border or minority regions like Guangxi Zhuang and Ningxia Hui
Agencies, their branches, and individual trademark agents in these areas will be subject to credit evaluation, based on factors such as:
Compliance with regulations
Disciplinary records
Filing quality and behavior
Business transparency and accountability
How It Works
From April 1, 2025, local IP authorities began collecting data via CNIPA’s online management platform. Agencies will be rated and scored based on a newly optimized evaluation system. By September 1, 2025, these scores will be publicly disclosed through official websites, government service halls, and trademark filing windows.
A few notable features of the system:
Transparency: Public visibility of scores helps clients choose reliable partners
Accountability: Agencies with poor scores may face restrictions or added scrutiny
Incentives: High-performing firms could benefit from policy support or preferential treatment in government procurement projects
Connecting Credit to Real-World Impact
One of the most powerful aspects of this system is how CNIPA intends to use the credit scores:
Integration into policy support programs
Consideration in government and public-sector IP procurement
Reference for large companies and SOEs when selecting service providers
Coordination with disciplinary bodies and industry associations
In essence, credit scores could determine how easily firms win clients, access subsidies, or participate in official initiatives.
What Comes Next
While this initiative marks a major step forward in improving the professionalism of China’s trademark industry, its success will depend on consistent enforcement and effective inter-agency cooperation at the local level. CNIPA has emphasized the need for training, clear communication, and system integration across jurisdictions.
For IP professionals, firms, and foreign stakeholders, this pilot reflects China’s broader push to build a high-quality, trustworthy IP ecosystem—not only for domestic innovation but also for international business confidence.
Final Thoughts
This reform isn’t just about scoring agencies—it’s about raising industry standards, improving client trust, and ensuring that trademark services in China are aligned with the country’s ambition to become a global IP leader.
If your business works with trademark agents in China—or plans to—these developments are worth monitoring closely.