Trademark in India: Types, Registration Process, Fees and Legal Requirements (2026)

A trademark is one of the most valuable assets a business can own. It is what makes your brand legally yours — preventing competitors from using a confusingly similar name, logo, or symbol to sell their goods or services. In India, trademark registration is governed by the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and administered through the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks. This guide covers everything you need to know about trademark registration in India — the types of marks that can be registered, who can apply, the official fees, the step-by-step registration process, what happens if your application is objected to or opposed, and how trademark protection differs from copyright and patent.

What is Trademark in India?

A trademark (popularly known as brand name) in layman’s language is a visual symbol which may be a  word signature, name, device, label, numerals or  combination of colors used by one undertaking on goods or services or other articles of commerce to distinguish it from other similar goods or services originating from a different undertaking.

Selecting a good trademark

If the Trademark is a word it should be easy to speak, spell and remember. The best trademarks are invented words or coined words or unique geometrical designs. Avoid selection of a geographical name, common personal name or surname. No one can have a monopoly right on it. Also avoid adopting laudatory word or words that describe the quality of goods (such as best, perfect, super etc.) It is advisable to conduct a market survey to ascertain if the same/similar mark is used in the market.

Who can apply for a trademark and how?

 Any person, claiming to be the proprietor of a trademark used or proposed to be used by him, may apply in writing in a prescribed manner for registration. The application should contain the trademark, the goods/services, name and address of applicant and agent (if any) with power of attorney, the period of use of the mark. The application should be in English or Hindi. It should be filed at the appropriate office. The applications can be submitted personally at the Front Office Counter of the respective office or can be sent by post. These can also be filed online through the e-filing gateway available at the official website.

Legal Requirements to Register a Trademark under the Act

• The selected mark should be capable of being represented graphically (that is in the paper form).
• It should be capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others.
• It should be used or proposed to be used the mark in relation to goods or services for the purpose of indicating or so as to indicate a connection in the course of trade between the goods or services and some person have the right to use the mark with or without an identity of that person.

What are different types of trademarks that may be registered in India?

1. Trademark

A trademark, is a distinctive name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these elements or indicator used by an individual, business organization or other legal entity to be identified by its targeted consumers that the products or services on or with which the trademark appears to originate from a unique source, designated for a specific market, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities.

2. Wordmark

A trademark where the trademark owner is claiming rights only in the word, letters or numbers themselves, without claiming any right in the manner how these words are presented is known as a wordmark. For Example “Corporate Professionals”, ‘AMUL’, MOTHER DAIRY

3. Service Mark

A service mark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods. For Example “Corporate Professionals” will be a service mark for Legal and Financial Services it provides.

4. Certification Mark

A Certification Mark is a mark capable of distinguishing the goods or services in connection with which it is used in the course of trade which is certified by the proprietor so as to differential with respect to. For example WOOLMARK, ISI etc. fall into the category of Certification Marks. These marks can be used only in accordance with defined standards.

5. Collective Mark

A collective trademark is a mark that distinguished the goods or services of the members of an association of persons. Such association of persons is the proprietor of the mark in such a case. For example, ‘CA’ used by ‘The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of India’, ‘CS’ used by ‘The Institute of Companies Secretaries Of India’.

6. Sound Trademarks

A sound can be a distinctive indicator and can also be protected. A sound trademark, therefore, is a sound or melody with a distinctive recognition effect. In order to able to protect it, the sound must be reproducible graphically, for example, using notes. A well-known sound trademark is the jingle of the ICICI bank.

7. 3-Dimension Mark in India

In India definition of mark includes the shape of goods and therefore three dimensional or 3-Dimensional or 3D Marks can be registered under the provisions of Indian Trademark Act, 1999.

Trademark Registration Process

Upon the filing of the application, the registry will issue you with an official receipt with the filing date and number allotted to the application.  The application is then formally examined by the Indian Trade Marks Office, as to its inherent registrability and/or any similarity with existing marks. If an objection to registration is raised, an official examination report will issue. To overcome the objection, it is necessary to file a written response or presenting evidence of acquired distinctiveness and in most cases, an interview/hearing with the examiner is posted.

The Registrar may require the applicant to file an affidavit testifying to such user with exhibits showing the mark as used. If the following examination, the trademark application is considered allowable, a Letter of Acceptance (TLA order) will issue, after which the trademark will be published in the Trade Marks Journal. If there are no oppositions within 4 months from the date of advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal, then the trademark registration certificate will issue.

Trademark Registration Fees in India (2026)

The official government fee for trademark registration in India depends on the type of applicant and the method of filing.

A few important points about trademark fees:

Per class filing

Trademark registration in India is class-based. There are 45 trademark classes — 34 for goods and 11 for services. If your brand operates across multiple categories, you need to file a separate application and pay a separate fee for each class. For example, a company selling software (Class 42) and also providing legal services (Class 45) would need to file in both classes.

10% discount for online filing

The Trademark Rules, 2017 provide a 10% discount on the official fee for applications filed online through the IP India portal compared to physical filings. Online filing is now standard practice.

Professional fees are separate

The government fee above covers only the official filing cost. If you engage a trademark attorney or agent to handle the application, their professional fees are charged separately and vary based on complexity and the number of classes involved.

Expedited examination

Applicants can request expedited examination of a trademark application by paying an additional fee of Rs. 20,000 (for individuals and small enterprises) or Rs. 40,000 (for other applicants). Expedited examination typically reduces the examination timeline from 12 to 18 months down to 3 to 6 months.

How Long Does Trademark Registration Take in India?

Trademark registration in India is not a quick process. Understanding the timeline helps applicants plan their brand protection strategy accordingly.

TM symbol vs R symbol

A common source of confusion: applicants can use the TM symbol (™) on their goods or services from the date of filing the application, even before registration is complete. The ® symbol can only be used after the trademark is formally registered and the registration certificate has been issued. Using the ® symbol before registration is a legal offence under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

Requirements for filing a Trademark application

1. The name, address and nationality of the applicant. If the applicant is a partnership firm, the names of all the partners. Also, mention whether any minor is a partner.
2. If the applicant is a company, the country or state of incorporation.
3. A list of goods and/or services for which registration is required.
4. Soft copy of the trademark to be registered.
5. If the mark contains or consists of non-English words, a translation of those words into English is required.
6. If the application is to claim priority from an earlier filed convention application, details of that application are also required (application number, filing date, country and goods/services). A certified priority document or its duly notarized copy is to be submitted. If the certificate is not in English, a certified/notarized English translation is also required. If it is not readily available, the application can be filed based on the basic application number, date of the application and country of the application. A copy of the priority document can be submitted within 1 month from the filing date of the application.
7. Date of first use of the trademark in India, if at all used
8. Power of attorney simply signed by the applicant (no legalization or notarization is required). For Indian clients, power of attorney to be executed in 100 Rs. stamp paper and signed by the applicant. The power of attorney is not required at the time of lodging the application and can be submitted later with no additional cost.

Trademark Objection and Opposition in India: What to Do

Two of the most common concerns applicants have about trademark registration are objections raised during examination and oppositions filed after publication. These are different things and require different responses.

Trademark objection

A trademark objection is raised by the Trademark Examiner during the examination stage. It means the examiner has found a reason to question whether the mark should be registered. Common grounds for objection include:

• The mark is too similar to an existing registered or pending trademark
• The mark is descriptive of the goods or services it covers (for example, “Fresh Bread” for a bakery)
• The mark lacks distinctiveness
• The mark contains prohibited or restricted elements under the Trade Marks Act, 1999

When an objection is raised, the applicant receives an examination report. The applicant has 30 days to file a written response addressing the examiner’s concerns. If the response is insufficient, a hearing may be scheduled. A well-prepared response backed by evidence of use or distinctiveness can overcome most objections.

Trademark opposition

A trademark opposition is filed by a third party after the mark has been accepted and published in the Trademark Journal. Any person can file an opposition within four months of publication, arguing that the mark should not be registered. Common grounds for opposition include:

• The mark is deceptively similar to the opponent’s existing registered or well-known trademark
• The application was made in bad faith
• The mark is likely to cause confusion among consumers

The opposition process involves an exchange of documents — a notice of opposition, a counter-statement from the applicant, and then evidence from both sides. The matter is then decided by the Trademark Registry. Opposition proceedings can add one to three years to the registration timeline.

Practical advice

Conducting a thorough trademark search before filing significantly reduces the risk of both objections and oppositions. A search of the IP India database for identical and similar marks in the relevant classes, combined with a common law search for unregistered but widely-used marks, is the minimum due diligence recommended before filing.

Trademark vs Copyright vs Patent: What Is the Difference?

These three types of intellectual property protection are frequently confused. Here is a clear comparison.

The key distinction to remember: trademark protects brand identity, copyright protects creative expression, and patent protects technical innovation. A single product can be protected by all three — for example, a software application could have its name trademarked, its code copyrighted, and a unique technical process within it patented.

Trademark Renewal in India

A registered trademark in India is valid for 10 years from the date of registration. It can be renewed indefinitely in successive 10-year periods, as long as the renewal fee is paid and the mark continues to be used in commerce.

Renewal timeline

The renewal application should be filed within one year before the expiry of the current registration period. If the renewal is not filed before expiry, there is a six-month grace period during which the mark can still be renewed with a surcharge. If the mark is not renewed within this grace period, it is removed from the register, though it can be restored within one year of removal by filing a restoration application.

Renewal fees

Use it or lose it

A registered trademark that has not been used in India for a continuous period of five years and three months can be cancelled by a third party on grounds of non-use. Enterprises should ensure their trademarks are actively used in commerce and maintain records of use as evidence in case of any challenge.

Enterprise trademark portfolio management

For businesses with large trademark portfolios spanning multiple classes and jurisdictions, tracking renewal deadlines manually is a significant operational risk. Missing a renewal deadline can result in loss of a registered mark that the business has built significant brand value around. Enterprises managing large IP portfolios typically use dedicated IP management platforms to track renewal dates, receive automated alerts, and maintain a centralised view of their entire trademark portfolio.

Trademark co-existence

Trademark coexistence describes a situation in which two different enterprises use a similar or identical trademark to market a product or service without necessarily interfering with each other’s businesses. It frequently happens that two traders find themselves using the same or a similar trademark with respect to the same or similar goods in different parts of the world. They may remain genuinely unaware of each other’s existence for years until one of them expands the business and starts using the trademark or files a trademark application in the country in which the other operates.

What happens then?

At that point, a trademark office may refuse the application on the grounds that it conflicts with the earlier rights acquired by the other trader. The latter may also object to the application in the course of opposition proceedings, or bring an invalidation action after the mark has been registered. It should be stressed that prevention is better – and cheaper than cure. One of the most basic precautions when selecting and registering a new trademark is to undertake as comprehensive a search as possible, using professionals skilled at the task. A thorough trademark search should minimize the risk of a business coming face to face with a similar mark once on the market.

Conclusion

Trademark registration in India is a multi-step process that requires careful planning, a thorough search before filing, and active management after registration. The value of a registered trademark goes beyond legal protection — it is a business asset that signals brand credibility, prevents competitors from free-riding on your reputation, and can be licensed or assigned as part of commercial transactions.

For individual entrepreneurs and startups, filing early in the relevant class or classes is the single most important step. For enterprises managing portfolios of trademarks across multiple brands, categories, and jurisdictions, systematic tracking of filing dates, renewal deadlines, and potential infringements is as important as the registration itself.