Trademark Registration
Own your name before somebody else does.
A trademark is what stops a competitor from trading under your name. Registration gives you an exclusive statutory right to the mark in your class of goods or services across India — and the right to stop others using anything confusingly similar.
- Government fee
- ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and MSMEs · ₹9,000 for others
- Timeline
- ™ immediately on filing · ® in 12–24 months
Get started with Trademark
Free eligibility check · No obligation
What Trademark is, and who it applies to
A trademark can be a brand name, logo, tagline, shape, packaging or any mark capable of distinguishing your goods or services from someone else's. Registration is done class by class under the NICE classification, which divides all commerce into 45 classes — classes 1 to 34 for goods and 35 to 45 for services. You register in the classes your business actually operates in, and protection extends no further.
The single most valuable step happens before filing: a proper search. If an identical or similar mark already exists in your class, your application will be objected to or opposed, and the government fee is not refunded. We run the search across the trademark registry, company names and common law use, and tell you honestly if the mark is weak — including when we think you should choose a different name.
Once the application is filed you can use the ™ symbol immediately. The registry examines the application and issues an examination report, which frequently raises objections under sections 9 or 11 — that the mark is descriptive, or similar to an existing one. A well-drafted reply resolves most of these. The mark is then published in the Trade Marks Journal for four months, during which anyone may oppose it. If unopposed, it proceeds to registration and you may use ®.
Registration lasts ten years and is renewable indefinitely, which makes a trademark one of the few business assets that can appreciate forever. It is also assignable and licensable, and for many businesses the mark eventually becomes more valuable than the physical assets.
Who needs Trademark
- Any business trading under a distinctive brand name
- Startups protecting a name before scaling or raising funds
- E-commerce sellers — Amazon Brand Registry requires a trademark
- Restaurants, cafés and food brands
- Manufacturers protecting product names and packaging
- Service businesses — consultancies, agencies, clinics
- Anyone who has received a cease and desist notice
- Businesses franchising or licensing their brand
Why it matters
Exclusive legal right
Statutory exclusivity over the mark in your class across India, enforceable through infringement proceedings.
Stop copycats
The legal basis to act against anyone using a confusingly similar name, including through takedowns on marketplaces.
Amazon Brand Registry
A registered or pending trademark is required to enrol, which unlocks A+ content and counterfeit protection.
A real business asset
Trademarks can be sold, licensed, franchised or used as collateral, and are valued in acquisitions.
Renewable forever
Ten-year terms, renewable indefinitely — unlike patents, which expire.
Documents required
Scans on WhatsApp are fine. We check every document against the officer's checklist before filing.
For individuals and proprietorships
- PAN and Aadhaar of the applicant
- Logo in JPEG format, if registering a device mark
- Form TM-48 — power of attorney, signed
- Proof of first use of the mark, if already in use
- Udyam certificate, to claim the reduced government fee
For companies, LLPs and partnerships
- Certificate of Incorporation or partnership deed
- PAN of the entity
- Udyam or startup recognition certificate, for the reduced fee
- Form TM-48 signed by an authorised signatory
- Logo file and list of goods or services
- Board resolution, where applicable
How we do it
- 1
Free trademark search
We search the registry for identical and similar marks in your class and give you an honest assessment of the risk before you spend anything.
- 2
Class selection
We identify the correct class or classes for your actual business activity. Registering in the wrong class buys you protection you cannot use.
- 3
TM-A filing
The application is filed electronically. You can begin using ™ from this point and the priority date is secured.
- 4
Examination reply
If the registry raises objections under section 9 or 11, we draft and file a detailed legal reply within the deadline, with evidence of distinctiveness where relevant.
- 5
Publication and registration
The mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal for four months. If unopposed, the certificate is issued and you may use ®.
What it costs
We do not publish a rate card, because the right fee depends on your entity type, turnover and how much of the groundwork is already done. Tell us what your business does and we will quote a fixed figure for your case — before you commit to anything.
We quote a fixed professional fee for your case before any work begins, and it excludes GST. Government fees, where applicable, are shown separately and paid directly to the department. Statutory fees and thresholds change by notification — we confirm the current position for your case before you commit.
What non-compliance costs
- Using ® on an unregistered mark is an offence and can be penalised
- Without registration, stopping an infringer requires a passing-off action, which is slower, costlier and harder to prove
- A competitor who registers your name first can force you to rebrand entirely
Trademark — frequently asked questions
How long does trademark registration take?
Twelve to twenty-four months if the application proceeds without objection or opposition. You can use ™ from the day of filing, so brand protection effectively starts immediately — it is only the ® symbol that waits for the certificate. Objections or oppositions extend the timeline considerably.
What is the government fee for a trademark?
₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises filing electronically, and ₹9,000 per class for all other applicants. Claiming the reduced rate requires a valid Udyam or DPIIT startup certificate. The fee is per class, so a business registering in three classes pays three times.
What is a trademark class and how do I choose?
The NICE classification divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods and 35 to 45 cover services. You register in the classes matching what you actually sell — a restaurant is typically class 43, clothing is class 25, software is class 9 or 42. Choosing wrongly means paying for protection that does not cover your business.
Can I use ® before registration is complete?
No. Using ® on an unregistered mark is an offence. Use ™ from the date of filing — it signals a claim to the mark and is perfectly lawful — and switch to ® only once the registration certificate is issued.
My application got an objection. Is it over?
Not at all. Objections under section 9 (descriptiveness) or section 11 (similarity to an existing mark) are extremely common and are routinely overcome with a well-argued reply, supported by evidence of use and distinctiveness where available. Many marks that receive objections go on to register successfully.
How long does a registered trademark last?
Ten years from the date of application, renewable indefinitely for further ten-year terms. A renewal application should be filed before expiry — there is a grace period, but letting a mark lapse entirely risks losing it.
Can I register a name that is already in use but not registered?
Possibly, but it carries real risk. The prior user may have common law rights through established use and can oppose your application or bring a passing-off action even without registration. Our search covers common law use, not just the registry, so you know what you are walking into.
Does an Indian trademark protect me abroad?
No. Trademark rights are territorial. An Indian registration protects you in India only. For international protection you file in each country, or use the Madrid Protocol to file a single international application designating multiple countries — which we can also handle.
Trademark by city
Local fees, the specific authority handling your application and city-level timelines.
Ready to start your Trademark?
Send us a message and we will confirm what you need, what it costs and how long it takes — before you pay anything.
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