Direct answer
Preliminary publication means CNIPA has preliminarily approved a trademark application and placed it in the official gazette. It is not the same as a final registration, and an eligible opposition may still be filed during the applicable period.
Locate the official gazette record
CNIPA’s application guide places substantive examination before preliminary publication and registration after the publication stage. Record the mark, applicant, application number, designated goods or services, gazette issue and publication date. The official gazette rather than a marketing screenshot is the source for the public record. Where the application was partly approved, match the published goods to the specific portion.
Understand the opposition window
The currently applicable 2019 law allows an opposition within three months from preliminary publication, subject to the grounds and standing in Article 33. A 2026 revision has been enacted but not yet effective; its Article 36 provides a two-month period from 1 January 2027. Any matter close to commencement needs a professional to confirm the transitional rule and start date from the official gazette.
Do not confuse approval stages
A preliminarily published mark is not automatically registered simply because the applicant received a favorable examination step. If no successful opposition intervenes and the legal conditions are met, the office may approve registration and issue the certificate. A brand launching products should not replace a registration-status check with an old announcement page. Monitor both notices and the final registration record.
Questions to put in a case brief
- What exact mark and goods are shown in the gazette?
- What is the publication date and applicable law for this matter?
- Is there an opposition or other notice pending?
- Who will confirm final registration and communicate it to the business?
Legal timing and limits
On 2 November 2026, Article 33 of the 2019 amended Trademark Law gives a three-month opposition period from preliminary publication. Article 36 of the 2026 revised Trademark Law states two months, but that revision does not take effect until 1 January 2027. The transitional treatment of a particular publication or matter must be checked against final implementation rules and the official record; do not apply the two-month text before it is effective.
This page is ChanYond’s independent explanation of public source material, not an official CNIPA or WIPO statement. Exact procedural deadlines, eligibility, fees and available remedies must be checked against the actual notice, the current official instructions and the facts of the matter. A filing or registration outcome is never guaranteed.
Official sources and scope
The links below are the official materials checked on 2 November 2026. For a particular matter, check the operative text, any implementing measures and the actual notice before acting.