Register Your Brand Name, Logo, or Slogan with 1-Day Filing - Starting @ ₹1,499 Only
Listed amounts are IncorpX professional charges for end-to-end assistance. Government / statutory fees are charged separately at actuals.
10-Year Nationwide Protection under Trade Marks Act, 1999. 45-Class TM Search. Objection Handling Included. 100% Online.
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
Trademark registration is the legal process of securing exclusive, nationwide rights over a brand name, logo, tagline, sound, or other distinguishing mark used to identify your goods or services in the marketplace. Once registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, your mark is protected against imitation and misuse anywhere in India, giving you the legal standing to stop infringers, license your brand, and build long-term commercial value around it.
Our experts will handle the entire procedure seamlessly, ensuring full regulatory compliance so that you can focus on running your business. With CA/CS verified guidance, the process is streamlined and hassle-free.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Trade Marks Act, 1999 |
| Governing Rules | Trade Marks Rules, 2017 |
| Regulator | Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) |
| Filing Portal | ipindiaonline.gov.in |
| Primary Filing Form | Form TM-A |
| Total Classes | 45 (Nice Classification — Classes 1-34 for goods, 35-45 for services) |
| Govt Fee (Individual / MSME / Startup) | ₹4,500 per class (e-filing) |
| Govt Fee (Company / Other Entities) | ₹9,000 per class (e-filing) |
| Processing Time | 12-18 months (longer if objected or opposed) |
| Validity | 10 years from the date of filing |
| Renewal | Renewable indefinitely, every 10 years via Form TM-R |
Protects a brand name, business name, or slogan as plain text, independent of any font, colour, or stylisation. It offers the broadest scope of protection because it covers the word in any visual form. Example: registering a company name itself as a word mark.
Protects a specific graphical representation — a logo, symbol, or stylised lettering — exactly as depicted in the application. Any change to the logo's design typically requires a fresh filing. Example: a distinctive stylised logo used on packaging and signage.
Functionally identical to a trademark but used to distinguish services rather than physical goods, filed under classes 35-45 of the Nice Classification. Example: a consulting or financial services brand registering its name for advisory services.
Owned by an association or group and used by its members to indicate that goods or services originate from that group, rather than from a single company. Example: a mark used by members of a regional trade or artisan cooperative.
Indicates that goods or services meet a defined standard of quality, origin, material, or method of manufacture, as certified by the mark's proprietor rather than the manufacturer. Example: a quality-certification mark used on tested electrical appliances.
Protects the distinctive three-dimensional shape or packaging of a product, provided the shape is not purely functional and has acquired distinctiveness. Example: a uniquely contoured bottle shape used by a beverage brand.
Protects a recurring visual pattern or design element used consistently across a product line to signal brand origin. Example: a signature checked or monogram pattern used across a fashion label's products.
Protects a distinctive audio clip, jingle, or tune used to identify a brand, filed as an MP3 recording along with a graphical (musical notation) representation. Example: a short signature chime played at the start of a brand's advertisements.
| Applicant Type | Govt Fee (per class, e-filing) | Eligibility Proof Required |
|---|---|---|
| Individual / Sole Proprietor | ₹4,500 | PAN and Aadhaar / passport of the individual |
| Partnership Firm | ₹9,000 | Registered partnership deed and firm PAN |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | ₹9,000 | LLP incorporation certificate |
| Private Limited Company | ₹9,000 | Certificate of Incorporation |
| Public Limited Company | ₹9,000 | Certificate of Incorporation |
| Trust / Society / NGO | ₹9,000 | Trust deed or society registration certificate |
| Foreign Entity / NRI Applicant | ₹9,000 | Home-country incorporation certificate and Power of Attorney |
| DPIIT-Recognised Startup | ₹4,500 (50% concession) | Valid DPIIT Startup Recognition Certificate |
| MSME / Udyam-Registered Enterprise | ₹4,500 (50% concession) | Udyam Registration Certificate |
Registration gives you the exclusive statutory right to use your mark and to sue infringers under Section 29, with criminal penalties of up to 3 years' imprisonment under Section 103 for anyone falsifying or unlawfully applying your trademark.
Unlike unregistered common-law rights, which are enforceable only where the mark is actually used and known, a registered trademark is protected uniformly across every state and union territory in India.
Only a trademark that has been formally registered by the CGPDTM may lawfully carry the ® symbol; using it prematurely can attract penal consequences under Section 107.
A registered trademark is recognised as an intangible business asset that can be valued, capitalised on your balance sheet, and used to strengthen your standing during fundraising or acquisition talks.
Ownership of a registered mark can be sold, licensed, or transferred to another party under Sections 37-45 of the Act, opening up franchising and royalty-based revenue models.
Marketplaces such as Amazon (via Brand Registry) and Flipkart (via Brand Gateway) require a registered or pending trademark before granting sellers enhanced brand-protection tools and premium listing features.
Professional and filing costs incurred for trademark registration and maintenance are generally allowable as a business expense under Section 37 of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Once granted, protection lasts a full 10 years from the date of application and can be renewed indefinitely thereafter in further 10-year cycles.
Before filing, we run a comprehensive search on the IP India public search database to check for identical or deceptively similar existing marks, reducing the risk of a later objection.
Your goods or services are mapped to the correct class (or classes) among the 45 available under the Nice Classification, since an incorrect class can invite objections or leave gaps in protection.
Identity and address proof, the trademark representation file, Form TM-48, and any MSME/DPIIT concession certificates are compiled and verified for accuracy.
The application is filed electronically on ipindiaonline.gov.in along with the applicable government fee, generating an official application number for tracking.
A Trademark Examiner reviews the application against absolute grounds (Section 9) and relative grounds (Section 11) and issues an Examination Report.
If the report raises an objection, a detailed written reply supported by evidence must be filed within 30 days to keep the application alive.
Once accepted, the mark is published in the Trademark Journal; any third party has 4 months from the publication date to file a formal opposition via Form TM-O.
If the mark remains unopposed, or any opposition is resolved in your favour, the Registrar issues the Certificate of Registration, valid for 10 years from the filing date.
Every trademark application is filed under one or more of the 45 Nice Classification classes. Here are the 10 most-filed classes in India.
| Class | What It Covers | Common Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Class 5 | Pharmaceuticals, medicinal preparations, dietary and nutritional supplements | Pharma, healthcare, nutraceuticals |
| Class 9 | Computer software, mobile apps, electronic devices, scientific instruments | IT, SaaS, electronics, telecom |
| Class 16 | Paper goods, printed publications, stationery, packaging materials | Publishing, stationery, packaging |
| Class 25 | Clothing, footwear, and headgear | Apparel, fashion, footwear brands |
| Class 29 | Meat, fish, dairy, processed and preserved foods, edible oils | Food processing, packaged/perishable FMCG |
| Class 30 | Coffee, tea, bakery items, confectionery, spices, staple foods | Packaged foods, bakery, restaurants |
| Class 35 | Advertising, business management, retail and wholesale services | Retail, e-commerce, agencies, consulting |
| Class 41 | Education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities | Ed-tech, coaching institutes, event management, media |
| Class 42 | Scientific and technological services, software design and development | SaaS, IT services, R&D, design studios |
| Class 43 | Restaurant, catering, and hotel/accommodation services | Restaurants, cafés, hospitality, cloud kitchens |
| Component | Individual / MSME / Startup | Company / Other Entities |
|---|---|---|
| Government Fee (per class, e-filing) | ₹4,500 | ₹9,000 |
| ComplianceBharo Professional Fee (1st class) | ₹1,499 | ₹1,499 |
| Total for 1 Class | ₹5,999 | ₹10,499 |
| Each Additional Class (same application) | ₹4,500 govt fee + ₹999 professional fee | ₹9,000 govt fee + ₹999 professional fee |
Renewal must be filed before the 10-year validity expires using Form TM-R, or within a 6-month grace period afterward with a surcharge. Government renewal fees are ₹5,000 per class for individuals, MSMEs, and startups, and ₹10,000 per class for companies and other entities, filed online.
| Symbol | When to Use It | Registration Required? | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM | As soon as you start using a mark for goods, even before or during the registration process | No | Common-law usage right, not defined in the Trade Marks Act |
| ℠ | For services (not goods), similarly used before or during the registration process | No | Convention adapted for service marks; not a defined statutory symbol in India |
| ® | Only after the Trademark Registry has issued the Certificate of Registration | Yes | Recognised upon registration; misuse is punishable under Section 107 |
| Aspect | Trademark | Copyright | Patent |
|---|---|---|---|
| What It Protects | Brand names, logos, taglines, and other marks identifying the source of goods/services | Original literary, artistic, musical, dramatic, and software works | New inventions with novelty, an inventive step, and industrial applicability |
| Governing Act | Trade Marks Act, 1999 | Copyright Act, 1957 | Patents Act, 1970 |
| Validity | 10 years, renewable indefinitely | Author's lifetime plus 60 years (varies by work type) | 20 years from the filing date, non-renewable |
| Typical Govt Fee | ₹4,500 - ₹9,000 per class | A few hundred to a few thousand rupees per work | Ranges from a few thousand to over a lakh, depending on applicant type and route |
| Typical Registration Time | 12-18 months | 2-3 months | 5-7 years (18-24 months if expedited) |
| Best Suited For | Brand identity, business goodwill, and market recognition | Creative and content-based works, including software code | Technical inventions and product or process innovation |
| Aspect | Trademark Objection (Examination) | Trademark Opposition |
|---|---|---|
| Who Raises It | The Trademark Examiner at the Registry | Any member of the public or a third party |
| Legal Basis | Sections 9 and 11 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 | Section 21 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 |
| When It Happens | During examination, before the mark is published | Within 4 months of publication in the Trademark Journal |
| Reply Form | Written reply filed via the IP India portal | Form TM-O (Counter-Statement) |
| Deadline | 30 days from the date of the examination report | 4 months from the date of journal publication (non-extendable) |
| Outcome if No Reply | Application is treated as abandoned | Opposition may succeed and the application may be refused |
| Status Shown | What It Means |
|---|---|
| New Application | The application has been filed and is awaiting allocation to an examiner |
| Marked for Exam | The application has been assigned to a Trademark Examiner for review |
| Objected | The examiner has raised an objection; a written reply is due within 30 days |
| Accepted & Advertised | The mark cleared examination and is published in the Trademark Journal for opposition |
| Opposed | A third party has filed a formal opposition within the publication window |
| Registered | The Certificate of Registration has been issued; the mark is protected for 10 years |
| Abandoned | No response was filed within the prescribed deadline, and the application has lapsed |
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