China has approved its first sound trademark

China has seen the highest number of trademark registrations in the world in the last 13 years, and the country's first "sound" trademark has now been registered too.

The news was confirmed by Liu Junchen, Vice Director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, adding that the signature tune of China Radio International has been approved as a sound trademark.

"The newly revised Trademark Law rules clearly that a single sound can be applied as a trademark. For instance, the opening tune of China Radio International has been reviewed and approved as the very first sound trademark."

A sound trademark is a sound that is used to perform the trademark function of uniquely identifying the commercial origin of a product or service. Famous examples include the Nokia tune and the "I'm lovin' it" jingle of McDonald's.

China's top legislature revised the Trademark Law to allow sound to be registered as a trademark in 2013.

The administration has received 450 applications for sound trademarks as of the end of January, since starting to accept such applications in May 2014.