Trademark Registration
Trademark Registration is the legal process of registering a distinctive brand name, logo, symbol, or slogan with the Trademark Registry under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Once registered, it gives the owner exclusive rights to use that mark across India, and legal recourse against anyone who copies or infringes it.
Scope
What can be trademarked
- ✓Business/brand names
- ✓Logos and symbols
- ✓Taglines and slogans
- ✓Product packaging design
- ✓Sound marks and color combinations (in specific cases)
Eligibility
- ✓Any individual, business, or company can apply
- ✓The mark must be distinctive and not identical/similar to an existing trademark
Registration
- ✓Trademark : Search Check for conflicting existing trademarks
- ✓Application : Filing Submit Form TM-A with the Trademark Registry
- ✓Examination : Registry reviews for conflicts and objections
- ✓Publication : Mark is published in the Trademark Journal for 4 months for public objections
- ✓Registration : If no opposition, the trademark certificate is issued
Good to know
- ✓Total process typically takes 12–18 months (can vary based on objections)
- ✓Registration is valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely
- ✓The ™ symbol can be used immediately after filing; ® only after registration is complete
Documents Required
Applicant's PAN Card & Aadhaar Card- Business registration proof (if applying as a company/LLP)
- Logo/wordmark image (if applicable)
- Power of Attorney (Form TM-48, if filed through an agent)
- Proof of first use (if claiming prior use)
