For the seventh straight year, China-based companies have increased the number of new filings for trademarks in the US.

A Dechert report reveals Chinese companies filed 1,750 applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2007, more than three times the amount in 2003. In 2000, China had 320 new filings.

Japan led its regional neighbours with 2,920 new filings in 2007, down from 3,040 in 2006.

After China, South Korea and Taiwan registered about 1,000 new filings each.

The Chinese trademark applications were for luggage, electrical wiring, tools, kitchen accessories, clothing, engine parts, hotels and restaurants.

The report also noted that Chinese companies are filing trademark applications for their own homegrown brands, rather than adopting a more American-friendly name. Examples include luggage brand "Kongzhongniao", which translates to "a bird is in the air", and electrical wiring brand "Wuhandianzianerchang", which means "flying crane".