A new trademark affairs service window for China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone Wuhan Area opened at the public service center in East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China) in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Dec 3. 

The new dedicated service was set up under the authorization of the trademark office of the National Intellectual Property Administration, representing the country's first trademark affairs service mainly serving a free trade zone.

It provides services including the registration of trademarks and consultation on issues regarding trademarks, with its main service area being the free trade zone.

It also provides trademark services for companies and organizations in surrounding provinces and cities.

The establishment of the service will simplify the application process for trademark registrations, stimulate market vitality, and further optimize the business environment in Wuhan free trade zone.

On the morning of Dec 3, the new service window received its first application from Transn's research institute in the zone.

He Zhengyu, director of the institute, said that applicants used to have to go to the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry & Commerce in Beijing for some matters, so the new service in the zone greatly makes applications easier.

It is of great importance for promoting people's awareness of trademarks and stimulating enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and innovation, he added.

By the end of November this year, the number of trademark registration applications in Optics Valley totaled 58,539, among which 13,591 applications were registered in 2018, marking a year-on-year increase of 15.65 percent. And the number of approved registrations was 5,235 in 2018, an increase of 15.65 percent.

Also, the zone boasts 19 famous trademarks of China, 70 famous ones in Hubei province, and 34 in Wuhan city.

Information about the new service:

Address: D District, 2nd Floor of the No 1 Building of Optics Valley Public Service Center, 777 Gaoxin Avenue, Wuhan

Tel: 027-67880156

Opening hours: 9:00-12:00, 13:30-17:00 from Monday to Friday

Staff members work at the new trademark affairs service window in China (Hubei) Pilot Free Trade Zone Wuhan Area in Optics Valley [Photo provided to China Daily]

An applicant fills in a form at the trademark affairs service window, Dec 3. [Photo provided to China Daily]

An applicant shows off his trademark application at the public service center in Optics Valley, Dec 3. [Photo provided to China Daily]