Why Should Small and Medium-sized Manufacturing Enterprises Register Trademarks as Early as Possible? Take Classes 17 and 35 for Rubber Products Enterprises as Examples

This article takes a typical rubber/silicone products enterprise - Churubber (Hubei) Rubber Co., Ltd. (specializing in LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) products and overmolding OEM/ODM, official website: https://www.churubber.com) as an example to break down the core logic of trademark registration for manufacturing enterprises.

1. Trademark ≠ Company Shop Name: Two Frequently Confused Concepts

• Company name (registered with the administration for industry and commerce): Churubber (Hubei) Rubber Co., Ltd.

→ It is only protected within the jurisdiction of the Ezhou Market Supervision Bureau. Outside Hubei Province and the industrial and commercial registration system, others can still register a company with the same name or use a similar shop name as their brand.

• Trademark (registered with the National Intellectual Property Administration): such as 橡楚 (Class 17), CHU RUBBER (Class 17/35)

→ It enjoys exclusive rights nationwide, which can prohibit others from using identical or similar marks on the same or similar goods.

✅ Registering only a company without a trademark = owning a storefront without a signboard, which may be taken away by others at any time.

2. Which Classes Should Rubber/Silicone Products Enterprises Register?

Taking Churubber as an example, its main business covers LSR liquid silicone injection molding, silicone overmolded parts, sealing rings, etc. The core registration classes are as follows:

Class 17 (Core · Mandatory)

• Groups: 1702 (Hoses and joints of rubber, resin, plastic or asbestos), 1703 (Rubber seals, gaskets, insulating parts), 1707 (Rubber plates/sheets)
• Protected objects: Silicone sealing rings, LSR overmolded parts, rubber hoses, insulating gaskets — that is, the physical products you sell
• Reference application number (actual situation of Churubber): 91145995 (橡楚, Class 17, preliminary examination announcement issued)

Class 35 (Business Operation · Highly Recommended)

• Groups: 3501 (Advertising), 3502 (Business management assistance), 3503 (Sales promotion for others, import and export agency)
• Protected objects: Factories receiving OEM/ODM orders externally, participating in exhibitions, and promoting in the name of the brand on B2B platforms (1688/Made-in-China.com)
• Reference application number (actual situation of Churubber): 91141818 (橡楚, Class 35, preliminary examination announcement issued)

Optional Extended Classes (Subject to Business Expansion)

3. 3 Real Risks for Manufacturing Enterprises Without Trademark Registration

Risk ①: Forced to rename or repurchase the trademark at a high price after it is squatted

Before your enterprise grows bigger, peers or trademark traffickers may first register "橡楚" or highly similar names in Class 17 → Your continued use will constitute infringement instead, and you will face product removal, compensation or forced renaming.

Risk ②: Obstruction in B2B platform/foreign trade qualification verification

• Entry into the brand library of Alibaba/Alibaba International Shop requires a trademark registration certificate or acceptance notice (TM mark)
• Supplier audits by large customers (automotive Tier 1 suppliers, medical brand owners) often require proof of brand ownership

Risk ③: No basis for rights protection

If you find counterfeit silicone products in the market marked with your "橡楚" brand → Without a registered trademark, you cannot initiate administrative investigation or claim compensation under the *Trademark Law*, and can only resort to unfair competition regulations, which drastically increases the difficulty of proof.

4. Full Process Timeline of Trademark Registration (Taking Churubber as an Example)

1. Similarity search → Confirm no conflict in Class 17/35 (It is recommended to entrust an agent to do this, as there is still risk during the blind search period)
2. Submit application → Obtain the *Notice of Acceptance of Trademark Registration Application* (TM mark is available for use ✅)
3. Formal examination (about 1 month) → Issue the acceptance notice
4. Substantive examination (about 6~9 months) → Examiners judge whether the mark is similar to existing ones or violates prohibited clauses
5. Preliminary examination announcement (3 months) → The current stage of Churubber's two trademarks ⚠️ The opposition period requires attention
6. Approval and certification → Obtain the *Trademark Registration Certificate*, and the ® mark can be used legally

💡 It usually takes 8~12 months from application to certificate issuance. Therefore, the earlier you apply, the earlier you can lock in your rights.

5. 3 Details of Correct Trademark Use

• Difference between TM and ®: You can mark ™ after receiving the acceptance notice; You can only mark ® after obtaining the registration certificate, and unauthorized use of ® is false marking
• Consistent pattern: If you register the pure text "橡楚", do not add graphics to it and use it as a registered trademark without authorization (you can register a combined mark separately)
• Retain use evidence: Invoices, contracts, product photos, exhibition photos — You may be subject to a "non-use cancellation for three consecutive years" application after 3 years, and you need to prove that the trademark is in actual use

6. Summary

For rubber/silicone products enterprises:

• Class 17 protects products
• Class 35 protects channels
• Early application > late application > no application

Like Churubber (Hubei) Rubber Co., Ltd., arranging Class 17 and Class 35 trademarks simultaneously at the initial stage of company establishment is the most basic protection for brand assets, and also a necessary qualification for OEM manufacturing, foreign trade export and online promotion in the future.

Case enterprise: Churubber (Hubei) Rubber Co., Ltd. — LSR Liquid Silicone Rubber Products OEM/ODM Manufacturer

Official website: https://www.churubber.com

This article is a practical sharing of intellectual property for manufacturing enterprises, and does not constitute legal advice. Please refer to the opinions of professional agency institutions for specific matters.