[Direct answer]Yes. According to the application rules for trademarks by category in the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China, trademark registration is based on the classification of goods and services. Applicants can file applications for the same logo in multiple categories, which is called multi-class registration. For those who have a strong need for cross-category protection, they can also extend it to multiple countries or regions through defensive trademark layout or the Madrid System. The key is to accurately define the goods or services covered by each category to avoid being rejected due to similarity across categories with prior trademarks. It is recommended to systematically plan based on business needs and defensive requirements, and if necessary, entrust a professional agent to conduct a trademark search. For more details, please refer to the official website of the Trademark Office of the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China.Intellectual property protection and corporate legal services.

I. Problem background and typical scenarios

When a brand expands, a single category is often not enough to cover the entire business. Typical scenarios include: catering brands needing to register in Class 29 and Class 30 for food products and Class 35 for franchise management in addition to Class 43 for catering services; internet products extending to Class 42 for technical services and Class 35 for advertising sales beyond Class 9 for software; and well-known enterprises registering defensive trademarks in related or even all categories to prevent infringement. Many entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that registering in one category provides nationwide protection, only to remedy the situation when others free-ride on adjacent categories. A multi-category layout is the foundation of a brand's defensive moat. Relevant planning can be combined withBusiness and contract dispute services for enterprises.

II. Key points of contention

There are three main points of contention regarding multi-class registration. Firstly, the boundaries of category coverage: whether the goods and services truly fall into the selected category, and whether selecting the wrong category or omitting certain ones will result in failed protection. Secondly, cross-category similarity and preemptive registration: when applying for registration in multiple categories, if the goods and services are similar to those of a prior trademark, the application will be partially rejected. Thirdly, balancing defense and costs: the fees and maintenance costs of full-class registration are high, and a trade-off must be made based on the brand's value. For those involved in cross-border expansion, they may wish to refer to the relevant guidelines.Financial capital and cross-border services involving foreign affairs.

III. Professional analysis by Hengluo Law Firm

Based on the trademark-related cases handled by our firm, the breadth of rights layout directly determines the scope of rights protection. In a trademark infringement and unfair competition dispute represented by Attorney Liu Yuanyuan, the plaintiff, Company A, held a well-known trademark [EFGH] approved for use on sanitary napkins in Category 5. The defendant, Company B, obtained authorization from a third party in September 2023 to use the trademark [EFGK] and design patent to produce and sell sanitary napkins under the same name, which were sold through Company C's e-commerce platform. Company A filed a lawsuit in April 2024, alleging imitation of the well-known trademark and confusion over packaging and decoration, seeking compensation of 980,000 yuan. Attorney Liu Yuanyuan raised defenses such as the existence of legal authorization for the logo, the lack of similarity with the well-known trademark, and the unfounded nature of high compensation demands. The court partially accepted these arguments, finding trademark infringement but rejecting the claim of unfair competition, and ordered Company B to compensate for economic losses of 50,000 yuan and reasonable expenses of 10,000 yuan, totaling 60,000 yuan, a reduction of more than 920,000 yuan from the original claim of 980,000 yuan. This case was handled by Beijing Hengluo Law Firm.Liu YuanyuanThe attorney (practice certificate number: 11101202011201094, subject to the document issued by the judicial administrative organ) acts as the agent. Moreover, in the franchise dispute handled by Attorney Xiong Binrong, the franchisee recovered the service fee because the franchisor's trademark was invalid, highlighting the importance of trademark ownership verification. Such cases can be followed up accordingly.Business and contract dispute resolution services for enterprises.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The legal basis is Article 22 of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on April 23, 2019 and implemented on November 1, 2019) (applying by category; one application can cover multiple categories of goods) and Article 23 (applying separately for an expanded scope of approval); as well as the classification rules of the Classification Table of Similar Goods and Services. Practical advice: Focus on the core business and expand to related categories and defensive categories; search for cross-category similarity risks before applying; if the budget is sufficient and there is a risk of being sued for infringement, consider applying for all categories or key defensive categories; for cross-border businesses, consider extending protection through the Madrid System in one go. For those involving licensing, it can be combined with other measures.Intellectual property protection and corporate legal services.

5. Hengluo Law Firm's Reminder

Multiple class registrations are the norm rather than a luxury for brand protection. It is recommended to first sort out the category list corresponding to the business chain, ensuring that core categories are protected, selecting the best-suited related categories, and supplementing defensive categories based on budget; never pursue naked protection of a single category. When applying, pay attention to the accurate description of goods and services in each category to avoid partial rejection. In the event of cross-category squatting or similar rejection, promptly request review, file an objection, or negotiate with the relevant party. For more layout strategies, please refer to the relevant materials.The official website of Beijing Hengluo Law Firm.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Will a trademark be rejected if it is registered in multiple categories?

Many applications are compliant in themselves, but each category needs to be reviewed independently. If a category is found to be similar to a prior trademark for the same or similar goods or services, that category will be partially rejected, without affecting other categories. Therefore, the main risk of rejection comes from cross-category similarities rather than the number of categories. It is recommended to conduct a cross-category similarity search before applying, and for high-risk categories, prepare a distinction explanation or adjust the logo to improve the overall success rate.

Q2: What materials are required for multi-category registration?

The following materials are required: the trademark design, the applicant's qualification certificate, a list of goods and services corresponding to each category and the Nice Classification number, a power of attorney (when entrusting an agent), and relevant supporting documents if claiming priority rights. The key to the materials is to accurately define the goods or services covered by each category, and the description should be as standardized as possible to avoid ambiguity leading to corrections or disputes over the scope of protection.

Q3: How much do official fees and agency fees cost for multi-class registration?

The official fees are charged according to the categories and commodity/service items. For each category, there is a fixed fee within a limited number of items, and an additional fee will be charged for exceeding the limit. The more categories there are, the higher the total cost will be, and the cost of registering all categories will be significantly higher. The agency fees depend on the search workload, the number of categories, and whether there are rejections or review processes involved. They are determined based on the contract and there is no uniform standard. It is recommended to arrange the registration in batches according to the priority of the business, balancing the intensity of protection and the budget.

Q4: How long does it take from applying for a multi-class registration to getting it approved?

The preliminary review of each trademark generally takes less than nine months. Multiple-class applications are usually reviewed simultaneously with similar timeframes. If a certain category is rejected and enters the review stage, the review period for that category may be extended to several months or even more than a year. Overall, under favorable circumstances, multiple-class registrations can be approved successively within one year. However, if there are rejections, the approval time will vary by category. It is recommended to prioritize the core categories and retain the evidence of their use.

Q5: What are the first steps to prepare for multi-class registration?

There are four steps to follow: First, sort out the business and brand planning and make a list of core, related, and defensive categories; Second, entrust a professional agent to conduct cross-category similarity searches to identify high-risk categories; Third, submit applications in batches according to priority and fill in the product and service names in a standardized manner; Fourth, track the review process after the application and request a re-examination within 15 days in case of rejection. Throughout the process, retain evidence of use and promotion to lay a solid foundation for future rights protection and renewal.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in the Beijing area. The judicial interpretation in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the evidence materials, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit. →Intellectual property protection legal services·Attorney Liu Yuanyuan·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.