Chinese intellectual property services startup registers your trademark for free, gets $3.7M funding

Zhiguoguo, an online legal services startup specializing in intellectual property, announced today it secured US$3.7 million in series A funding led by Matrix Partners China, according to 36kr. Legend Star, the venture capital arm of Legend Holdings, also participated in the round. Legend Holdings is the parent company of Lenovo, and it recently announced plans for an initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The startup says its valuation has reached RMB 100 million (US$16.1 million) after taking an undisclosed amount of angel funding in June last year.

Zhiguoguo combines legal services with ecommerce, selling specific services for flat fees. To boost early traction, the startup offers basic trademark registration free of charge. Other services include trademark changes and transfers and copyrights for art, texts, and computer software. Prices typically start around RMB 500 (US$80) per task. Just fill out the necessary paperwork, and Zhiguoguo will do the rest.

The company reports it has fulfilled 20,000 orders since it launched in May last year and has over 20,000 registered users. By the end of this year, it hopes to reach 100,000 orders. It will use this latest investment to expand its team, improve its products, and increase marketing.

China reported more than 2 million trademark applications last year, growing at a rapid rate of 30 percent annually. Zhiguoguo founder Liu Sisi told 36kr the intellectual property application and registration system is fragmented and opaque. It wants to establish a transparent agency with no geographical restrictions, eventually becoming China’s biggest IP platform.

(Source: 36kr)