Procedure For Registration Of Trademark In India

A trademark can be described as a word, name, symbol, design, or combination of elements used in trade regarding goods and services to indicate the connection with goods or services and differentiate it from existing goods and services. The trademark’s primary function is to give purchasers information about the manufacturers or quality of goods and services. Registration of a trademark is a simple and easy process. The Trademarks Act,1999 and the Trademark Rules, 2002 govern the law on the trademark.

Who can file an Application?

Any person claiming to be the proprietor of the trademark can file for the registration of a trademark.

How to Register a Trademark?

Registration of a trademark is done by the Controller- General of Patents, Design, and Trademark (Registrar of Trademarks), situated at Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. The application for registration of the trademark has to be filed based upon the territorial jurisdiction of the place of business of the Applicant.

Steps involved in Registration

Step-1: Application for Registration:

The Applicant must apply in writing to the Registrar of trademarks with the required documents (If any) to get the trademark registered. The Applicant can file a single application for the same or multi-class trademark and the prescribed fees for goods or services.

Particulars of the Application:

1. The name, correspondence, and nationality status of the Applicant.
2. In the case of a partnership firm, the names of all the partners.
3. In the case of a company, the country or state of incorporation.
4. Particulars of goods and services for which registration is sought.
5. Soft copy of the trademark proposed to be registered.
6. Translation copy of mark- if the mark is in a language apart from English.
7. If the proposed application is to claim priority from an earlier filed convention application, details of that application, along with the certified priority document, are required. The Applicant has to submit the
8. said document within one month.
9. Power of attorney signed by the Applicant as per Form TM-M

Step-2: Review of Application:

The Registrar of trademark reviews the application. The Registrar either accepts or refuses the application or proposes modification. The Registrar might deny the registration of two grounds:

• Absolute Grounds of refusal
• Relative grounds of refusal.

But if the Registrar is satisfied that the application is complete without any error, it allows the application number, which later becomes the registration number.

Step-3: Examination Report:

The Registrar of the trademark has to issue an examination report stating the grounds on which the application was accepted or refused. If refused, a trademark might get itself registered if the Applicant can prove that it has acquired a unique or distinctive character with time. The Registrar determines whether the application is accepted, rejected, or put up for show cause hearing based on the examination report.

Upon the issuance of the examination report, the Applicant has to submit the counter reply (reply to examination report) along with the necessary documents (if any) for nullifying the objections raised by the registry within the period of one month from the date of issuance of the examination report.

If the Registrar is satisfied with the reply statement, it will accept the application and publish it in the trademark journal. In case the application is rejected, the Registrar will call the Applicant for the show cause hearing.

Step 4: Advertisement:

After accepting the application, the Registrar will order to advertise the application in the trademark journal to call for public opposition against the subject trademark. The published mark is available on the registry’s website.

Step-5: Filing of Opposition:

Any aggrieved party can oppose the trademark and file it to the Registrar in writing along with prescribed fees within four months from the date of the publication/ advertisement of the trademark in the journal.

If no opposition is filed within the prescribed period, the application is deemed accepted and registered.

Step 6: Counter-Statement to Opposition:

In case of any opposition, the Registrar will serve the copy of the notice of opposition to the Applicant. He has to file the counter reply stating the grounds pf rejecting the oppositions within two months.

The Applicant (attorney acting on behalf of the Applicant) will send the counter-statement to the opposite party. The Registrar will give both parties reasonable opportunity, based on which the Registrar will decide to accept or reject the application.

Step 7: Acceptance of Registration:

Suppose the Registrar is satisfied that the application is complete and decides in favor of the Applicant. In that case, the application is said to be accepted for registration, and the Registrar has to register the trademark within eighteen months from the date of application.

Renewal of Registered trademark:

Trademark protection is valid for ten years, and upon expiry of the said term, it can be renewed from time to time after the payment of prescribed fees to the Registrar. The renewal period is for ten years.

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