Supreme Court Ends 13-Year China Trademark Squatting Case

On March 19, 2026, the Supreme People's Court issued a judgment resolving a 13-year trademark squatting saga. The case involved 45 interrelated opposition, invalidation, and non-use proceedings plus administrative litigation.

The court found the squatter had filed 82 applications across 17 classes unrelated to their business. The ruling sets a precedent for handling coordinated bad-faith registrations.

The brand owner ultimately prevailed after repeated earlier setbacks. The decision underscores China's evolving approach to protecting legitimate mark owners.

Sources: https://www.iam-media.com/article/schiff-brand-prevails-after-supreme-court-concludes-13-year-trademark-squatting-saga https://kungfudata.com/resources/china-trademark-law-guide