As competition intensifies in the stationery market, trademark protection has become a cornerstone for companies to safeguard their brand image and prevent infringement.

Using the Kangxin IP Platform (eservice.kangxin.com), we have gathered statistical reports on Class 16 trademarks in Mainland China, the United States, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and the WIPO (WO) database. (All data screenshots in this article are sourced from the Kangxin IP Platform.)

Mainland China: Trends in Class 16 Trademark Applications Over the Past Five Years

US, EU, Japan, Korea, WO: Trends in Class 16 Trademark Applications Over the Past Five Years

These reports provide a comprehensive view of the current state and trends in trademark protection within the stationery sector, analyzing dimensions such as trademark ownership, application volume, registration rates, and applicant nationality distribution.

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the China Trademark Office

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the United States Trademark Office

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the Japan Trademark Office

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the Korea Trademark Office

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the European Union Trademark Office

The Volume of Class 16 Trademarks Held at the WIPO Trademark Office

Key Insights from Leading Brands

Prominent brands such as M&G Stationery, Staples, Mitsubishi Pencil, and Monami have established significant positions in the global stationery market. These brands maintain strong influence in their domestic markets while actively expanding their trademark portfolios internationally to strengthen their global presence. Below, we examine their recent application trends and global trademark strategies.

M&G Stationery

As a leading stationery company in China, M&G Stationery excels in trademark protection. The Kangxin IP Platform’s applicant statistics reveal that M&G has a commanding lead in trademark applications within China and has strategically expanded into the US, EU, and other regions. This comprehensive trademark strategy ensures robust support for its global market expansion.

M&G Stationery Applications in Mainland China

M&G Stationery Global Trademark Strategy

Staples

Staples, a global leader in office supplies retail, demonstrates a strong trademark presence in the US market, as shown by Kangxin IP Platform data. The company has also extended its trademark portfolio to the EU and Japan, underscoring its commitment to a global protection strategy that supports its international business growth.

Staples Applications in the United States

Staples Global Trademark Strategy

Mitsubishi Pencil

A flagship company in Japan’s stationery industry, Mitsubishi Pencil has not only fortified its domestic trademark portfolio but also strategically extended protection to markets such as the US and EU. This approach helps safeguard its brand image and intellectual property, ensuring a competitive edge in the global market.

Mitsubishi Pencil Applications in Japan

Mitsubishi Pencil Global Trademark Strategy

Monami

In South Korea, Monami has built a solid market foundation with its innovative designs and high-quality products, earning a large consumer base. To preserve its brand's uniqueness and reputation globally, Monami has undertaken extensive trademark registration and protection efforts. These measures effectively prevent infringement and counterfeit issues, ensuring consumers can access genuine Monami products.

Monami Applications in South Korea

Monami Global Trademark Strategy

Key Takeaways for Stationery Companies

Analysis of these leading brands’ trademark statistics and global strategies highlights meticulous operations and strategic planning in trademark protection. Here are three critical insights:

1.Comprehensive Global Strategy

Successful stationery companies prioritize comprehensive trademark protection across global markets. This not only strengthens their position domestically but also provides a solid foundation for international expansion.

2. Multi-field Layout

In addition to traditional stationery products, the trademark layout of stationery-related classes and new stationery classes should also be taken seriously.

Dayang Company holds the "晨光" trademark, which is approved for use on Class 8 goods such as knives and scissors. In 2021, Dayang Company filed a lawsuit with the People's Court of Nansha District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province because it found that Yongxin Stationery Store sold "M&G 晨光" brand scissors. The first-instance judgment held that the alleged infringing mark "M&G 晨光" was similar to Dayang Company's trademark in the case, which was likely to cause confusion among consumers, and therefore constituted trademark infringement. The court ordered Yongxin Stationery Store to stop selling infringing goods and pay Dayang Company CNY 10,000 in reasonable expenses to stop the infringement. Yongxin Stationery Store filed a second instance with the Guangzhou Intellectual Property Court. The second instance court held that the alleged infringing goods and the goods approved for use by the trademark in the case were different in consumer objects and uses, and did not belong to the same or similar goods. In addition, Yongxin Stationery Store, as a distributor, was not the user of the mark, and its sales behavior did not constitute infringement. Therefore, the second instance court revoked the first instance judgment and rejected Dayang's lawsuit. Although Dayang filed for a retrial, it was not supported.

Although this case did not have a substantial impact on the M&G brand, it can be seen that in addition to paying attention to the registration of 16 categories of trademarks in the stationery field, the trademark layout of other categories of stationery-related products that may be involved should also be taken seriously.

3.Early Market Entry

Being proactive in trademark registration is crucial. Leading brands secure trademark rights in new markets ahead of their entry, ensuring their brand identity and intellectual property remain uncompromised.

4.Attention to Detail

Meticulous attention to detail in trademark protection is key. Successful companies ensure the accuracy and completeness of application documents and strictly comply with laws during trademark use to avoid potential infringements.

As competition intensifies in the stationery industry, trademark protection has become a vital strategy for long-term growth. Effective trademark protection is not merely a defensive legal measure but a core strategy for enhancing brand value.