中国 - 撤销三年不使用申请人的举证责任加重

在中国，任何人都有权对已注册3年或以上的商标提起撤销三年不使用商标申请(以下简称“撤三”)，且无需对不使用承担实质性的举证责任。撤三已被广泛用作克服在先冲突商标的一种高效且有效的方法，特别是在近年来基于商标不近似或同意书较难克服在先商标引证驳回的情况下。

In China, anybody has the right to initiate a non-use cancellation action (“NUC”) against a trade mark that has been registered for 3 years or more, without bearing substantial burden of proof as to the non-use. NUC has been widely used as an efficient and effective tool to remove earlier conflicting marks, particularly in the recent years when it became more difficult to overcome citation objections based on arguments of dissimilarity or consent letters.

然而，提交撤三的门槛在近期发生了重大变化。2025年初，撤三申请人开始收到中国国家知识产权局（“国知局”）的大量补正通知。在通知中，申请人被要求在30日内补充更全面的证明被质疑商标未使用状态的证据。每份官方通知的要求不尽相同，但大多是要求提供多平台在线查询和调查结果。如未提交合格的补正答复，撤三申请将被不予受理。

However, the threshold of filing NUC actions has significantly changed recently. Since early 2025, petitioners who filed NUCs started receiving massive notices of amendment from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“CNIPA”). In the official notices, they were ordered to supplement, within 30 calendar days, more comprehensive evidence in proof of the non-use status of the challenged trade mark. The requirements on each official notice are not the same, but most are multi-platform online search and investigation results. Failure in submitting satisfactory responses will result in full dismissals of the NUC petitions.

2025年5月26日，国知局发布修订的申请指南，正式公布了在中国提交撤三的新要求。修订版申请指南第15条规定，撤三申请人应提交证明被质疑商标未使用的初步证据，包括但不限于以下内容：

On 26 May 2025, the CNIPA issued an updated practice manual, formally announcing the new official requirements for filing a NUC in China. It is stipulated in Article 15 of the updated practice manual that the petitioner of a NUC action should submit preliminary evidence in proof of the non-use of the challenged mark, including but not limited to the following:

1. 被质疑商标的注册人信息，如经营范围、业务范围、存续状态、经营状态等；

   Information about the registrant of the challenged mark, e.g.: its registered scope of business, scope of operation, corporate status, operation status, etc.;

   
   

2. 被质疑商标未使用的查询和调查情况，包括但不限于：

   Search/investigation results showing the non-use status of the challenged mark, including but not limited to:

   
   

• 专业类查询平台、网站；

  industry-specific platforms or websites;

  
  

• 被质疑商标注册人官方网站、微信公众号；

  the registrant’s official website and WeChat public account;

  
  

• 电商平台；

  e-commerce platforms;

  
  

• 线下生产经营场所等网络查询、市场调研、实地调查等证据材料。 

  online search, market research, onsite investigations at business premises etc.

修订版申请指南（中文版）可在https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/sbsq/sqzn/202303/t20230330_26201.html浏览。

The updated practice manual (in Chinese) is available at https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/sbsq/sqzn/202303/t20230330_26201.html.

新要求加重了撤三申请人的举证责任，并给提交撤三带来了困难。例如，申请撤三需要提交至少3个电商平台（如淘宝、京东、阿里巴巴等）的搜索结果。而这些平台的网页文件通常超过50MB，但国知局的网上申请系统对于撤三只接受不超过50MB的文件。

The new requirements increase the burden of proof on petitioners and create difficulties for filing NUCs. For example, results of searches at least 3 e-commerce platforms (such as Taobao, JD, 1688, etc.) are required. Printouts of webpages from these e-platforms often exceed 50 MB, while the CNIPA online filing system only accepts documents that do not exceed 50MB for NUC.

据悉，国知局一直在关注新要求的实施情况，并可能不时对其进行修订、改进和简化。繁琐且昂贵的实地调查要求不久可能会取消。麦仕奇将密切跟进并及时通报任何重大变化。

It is heard that the CNIPA is monitoring the implementation of the new requirements and may modify, improve and simplify the same from time to time. The requirement on onsite investigations which are burdensome and costly may be removed in the near future. Marks & Clerk will follow up closely and keep you timely updated of any substantial change.

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联系作者 Contact the author

pzhu@marks-clerk.com.cn