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AshuTrustIP & Corporate Law
Trademark

Trademark Registration in India

A registered trademark turns your brand name and logo into an asset you own and can enforce. We handle search clearance, class selection, TM-A drafting and every stage that follows — right through to the registration certificate.

  • Free pre-filing search and risk opinion
  • Correct class selection under the NICE classification
  • TM-A drafted and filed by IP professionals
  • Objection and hearing support included

Get a free consultation

No obligation. We will tell you honestly what you need and what it costs.

Your details stay confidential and are never shared. We do not send marketing spam.

Government fee from
₹4,500
Our fee from
₹3,499
Typical timeline
12–24 months total
Overview

What trademark registration actually gives you

Why it matters

What trademark registration gives you

The practical advantages, not the marketing version.

Exclusive nationwide rights

Your registration covers all of India for the classes you file in, not just the state or city you operate from.

Legal remedy that works

An infringement suit on a registered mark is far stronger and faster than a passing-off action based on reputation alone.

Use the ® symbol

Once registered you may use ®. Until then you can use ™ from the day the application is filed.

Marketplace brand protection

Amazon Brand Registry, Flipkart, Meta and Google ad policies all require a registered or applied-for mark to act on copycats.

A licensable, sellable asset

A registered mark can be licensed, franchised, assigned, pledged or valued — it appears on your balance sheet as intangible property.

Ten years, renewable forever

Protection runs for ten years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in ten-year blocks.

How it works

The process, step by step

Every stage, with realistic timelines — including the ones that depend on the registry rather than on us.

  1. 11–2 days

    Search and clearance

    We run identical, phonetic, visual and device searches across the TMR database and adjacent classes, then give you a written risk view before a rupee is spent on filing.

  2. 21–2 days

    Class and specification drafting

    We map your actual and near-term business activity to the right NICE classes and draft a specification of goods and services that is broad enough to protect you and specific enough to survive examination.

  3. 3Same day

    TM-A filing

    Application filed electronically with the Trade Marks Registry. You receive the application number the same day and can begin using ™ immediately.

  4. 46–14 months

    Examination and reply

    The Registry issues an examination report. If objections are raised under Section 9 or 11, we draft and file a reasoned reply with supporting evidence, and attend the hearing if one is listed.

  5. 54 months

    Journal publication

    On acceptance the mark is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. A four-month window opens during which third parties may oppose.

  6. 612–24 months total

    Registration certificate

    If unopposed, the Registry issues the registration certificate. Protection is backdated to your original filing date.

Timeline

What to expect, and when

StageDuration
Filing to formality check1–3 weeks
Examination report3–12 months
Reply and hearing1–6 months
Journal publication1–3 months
Opposition window4 months
Registration1–3 months
Documents

What you need to provide

Have these ready and the filing moves quickly. We tell you if anything is missing before we start.

For every applicant

  • Clear soft copy of the logo or wordmark (JPEG, preferably 8cm × 8cm)
  • List of goods or services the mark will be used for
  • Applicant name, address and nationality
  • Signed Form TM-48 (Power of Attorney) — we prepare this for you
  • Date of first use, plus evidence, if the mark is already in the market

Individual or proprietorship

  • PAN card of the applicant
  • Aadhaar or passport as address proof
  • Udyam / MSME certificate to claim the reduced ₹4,500 fee

Company, LLP or partnership

  • Certificate of Incorporation or LLP agreement
  • Company PAN
  • Udyam registration or DPIIT startup recognition, if claiming the reduced fee
  • Board resolution or authorisation for the signatory
Official fees

Official Trade Marks Registry fees

These are statutory fees payable to the government, separate from our professional fee. We never mark them up.

Fee typeAmount
Individual, startup or small enterprise — e-filing₹4,500
Company, LLP or other applicants — e-filing₹9,000
Individual, startup or small enterprise — physical filing₹5,000
Company or other applicants — physical filing₹10,000
Notice of opposition (TM-O)₹2,700
Renewal after 10 years₹9,000
Renewal with surcharge (within 6 months of expiry)₹13,500
Restoration and renewal₹18,000

Government fees are charged per mark per class and are non-refundable, including where an application is objected to or refused. There is no government fee for filing an examination reply or attending a hearing.

Our pricing

Transparent professional fees

Fixed fees, quoted upfront. Government fees are charged at cost and shown separately on every invoice.

Essential

For founders who already know their mark and class.

₹3,499+ government fee
  • Public database search
  • Class selection guidance
  • TM-A drafting and e-filing
  • Form TM-48 preparation
  • Filing receipt and ™ usage guidance
Get startedEssential plan for Trademark Registration
Most chosen

Professional

The complete filing-to-certificate path. Most founders choose this.

₹6,999+ government fee
  • Comprehensive search with written risk opinion
  • Multi-class strategy and specification drafting
  • TM-A drafting and e-filing
  • Examination reply drafting included
  • One hearing representation included
  • Journal and opposition-window monitoring
  • Dedicated IP professional on WhatsApp
Get startedProfessional plan for Trademark Registration

Portfolio

For brands filing across multiple marks, classes or jurisdictions.

Customper year
  • Everything in Professional
  • Multi-mark and multi-class portfolio planning
  • Trademark watch with weekly alerts
  • Renewal and deadline docketing
  • Opposition and rectification handling
  • Quarterly portfolio review call
Request a quotePortfolio plan for Trademark Registration
FAQ

Questions we get asked

If your question is not here, send it over — we answer directly rather than routing you to a form.

How long does trademark registration take in India?
If the application is not objected to and nobody opposes it, registration typically completes in 12 to 18 months. Objections or opposition can extend this to 24–36 months. Importantly, your rights date back to the filing date, and you can use the ™ symbol and enforce against copycats from day one.
What is the difference between ™ and ®?
™ can be used the moment your application is filed and simply signals that you claim rights in the mark. ® may only be used after the registration certificate is issued. Using ® on an unregistered mark is an offence under Section 107 of the Trade Marks Act.
Can I file a trademark before starting my business?
Yes. You can file on a 'proposed to be used' basis before launch. This is often the smarter sequence — clearing the name before you spend on packaging, domains, signage and advertising avoids an expensive rebrand later.
How many classes do I need to file in?
One class per distinct category of goods or services. A clothing brand that also runs a retail website typically needs Class 25 and Class 35. A SaaS product usually needs Class 42, and Class 9 if there is a downloadable app. Each class carries its own government fee, so the right answer is the narrowest set that genuinely covers your business.
What happens if my trademark is objected to?
An objection is not a refusal. The examiner raises a concern — usually descriptiveness under Section 9, or similarity to an earlier mark under Section 11 — and you get 30 days to reply. A well-drafted reply with evidence of distinctiveness or use resolves a large share of objections. If the Registry is not satisfied, a hearing is listed and we appear on your behalf.
Is a trademark valid outside India?
No. Trademark rights are territorial. An Indian registration protects you in India only. For international protection you can file national applications in each country or use the Madrid Protocol to designate multiple countries from your Indian application.
Can I register a descriptive brand name?
Descriptive words are difficult to register because Section 9 bars marks that directly describe the kind, quality or purpose of the goods. 'Fresh Milk' for dairy would be refused. Such marks can sometimes be registered by proving acquired distinctiveness through long and substantial use, or by pairing the word with a distinctive device element.
What if someone has already registered a similar mark?
It depends on how similar, and in which class. A search tells us early. Options include adjusting the mark, filing in a different class, obtaining a consent letter from the prior owner, or — where the earlier mark is unused for five years — filing a rectification to remove it.

Still unsure? Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right service for you.

Ready to start your trademark registration?

Talk to an IP professional first. No obligation, no sales script — just a clear view of where you stand and what it will cost.