Give your brand a stronger legal foundation
For founders, growing businesses and established brands looking to protect their identity in India.
Discuss your trademark ↗Protect the brand you are building
A distinctive name or logo helps customers recognise your business. BIAT Legal assists individuals and businesses with trademark searches, application preparation and support through the registration process in India.
Registration is administered by the Trade Marks Registry. Protection relates to the mark and the goods or services covered by the registration; registering a company name or buying a domain is a separate step.
Support at each stage
Before you file
Review your proposed mark, ownership details and business activities to prepare a considered filing strategy.
During examination
Understand Registry communications and arrange responses and representation where required.
After registration
Plan monitoring, renewal and ownership updates as your business grows.
Who can apply?
Individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, LLPs, companies and other eligible legal entities can seek protection for a mark they own or propose to use. Existing use is not essential for a proposed-to-be-used application.
Choose the applicant carefully: the owner named in the application should reflect who owns the brand. BIAT Legal can review ownership where a founder, group company or partnership is involved.
What can you protect?
- Word marks: distinctive brand names, product names or slogans.
- Device marks: logos or a distinctive combination of words and visual elements.
- Other eligible marks: specialist applications may involve shapes, sounds, collective marks or certification marks, subject to their legal requirements.
Avoid treating every name as registrable. Distinctiveness, descriptive wording and conflicts with earlier rights require careful assessment.
Start with a meaningful trademark search
A search should consider similar spellings, pronunciation and relevant goods or services, rather than only an exact name match. We help assess search results and explain issues that may affect the proposed application.
A preliminary review informs your decision; the Registry conducts its own examination and may raise issues even when a search appears favourable.
Trademark classes: choosing the right class
The specification of goods and services defines the scope of the application. Tell us what you sell now and what you reasonably plan to offer so we can review the appropriate classes and wording.
A clothing business, a restaurant and a software company have different filing needs. Explore our guide to trademark classes to understand the classification of goods and services. Businesses with several activities may need more than one class. A broad business description should not replace a carefully prepared specification.
Trademark registration fees in India
The government e-filing fee for a TM-A application is ₹4,500 for an individual, eligible startup or small enterprise, and ₹9,000 for other applicants, per mark and per class. Eligibility for a reduced fee must be supported by the required documents.
These are official application fees, not the total service cost. Professional fees, applicable taxes and work on objections, hearings or opposition depend on the agreed scope. Additional marks and classes increase the filing cost. Request a quote for your trademark application with your applicant details and business activities.
Source: IP India’s official fee schedule. Fee information checked on ; confirm the applicable fee before filing.
Documents required for trademark registration
- Applicant’s legal name, address, contact details and entity information.
- The exact brand wording and a clear logo file, if applicable.
- A description of the goods or services for which protection is sought.
- Relevant identity, incorporation or business documents, depending on the applicant.
- Authorisation for professional representation, where applicable.
- For a claim of earlier use, the claimed date, an affidavit and supporting evidence such as invoices or advertising records.
- Relevant startup or small-enterprise supporting documents, where applicable.
BIAT Legal will confirm the documents required for your particular application before filing.
Trademark registration process in India
- Review the mark and ownership. Share your brand and business details so we can identify the proposed applicant and filing scope.
- Search and classify. Assess similar marks and select the appropriate goods or services.
- Prepare and file. Finalise the representation, specification and supporting documents for the TM-A application.
- Follow examination. Monitor the application and review objections or hearing requirements if they arise.
- Journal publication. An accepted mark is published for public scrutiny. The statutory opposition window is four months.
- Registration and ongoing care. Where the application proceeds successfully, retain the certificate and plan renewals and monitoring.
An objection is different from an opposition
Registry objection
The examiner may question registrability or identify similar earlier marks. A response should address the grounds and include appropriate submissions or evidence. A hearing may follow.
Third-party opposition
Another party can challenge a published application. This is a separate contested proceeding that may require a counter-statement, evidence and representation.
Share the complete notice and any deadline with our team promptly so the next step can be assessed.
Trademark registration timeline, validity and renewal
Filing an application is different from obtaining registration. Examination, objections, hearings and opposition can affect the time required, so a filing date should not be presented as a guaranteed registration date.
Application filing versus registration
Filing produces an application reference for tracking; it does not establish that the mark has been registered. Examination comes next, followed by publication if accepted and the four-month opposition period. Objections, hearings or opposition can extend the process. Use the application number to check progress through IP India’s trademark e-services.
Registration lasts ten years from the application date and can be renewed for successive ten-year periods. Maintain accurate ownership records and track renewal dates to avoid preventable interruptions.
How BIAT Legal supports your brand
We translate your business requirements into a practical filing plan and explain the steps that follow. Our support can cover search review, application preparation, filing coordination, status monitoring and advice on Registry communications, within the agreed engagement. Your engagement should identify the filing work, monitoring and communications included, and whether objections, hearings, opposition or renewal require a separate quote.
For established brands, we can also discuss renewal, assignment, hearings and trademark watch. Businesses in Delhi can explore our Delhi registration service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply before launching my business?
Does my company registration protect my brand as a trademark?
Should I register my brand name or my logo?
Can one application protect every business activity?
What happens if the Registry raises an objection?
How long does trademark registration take?
How long is a registered trademark valid?
How much does trademark registration cost in India?
How can I track my trademark application?
How do I start with BIAT Legal?
Official trademark resources
Consult the IP India filing guide, Trade Marks Rules, 2017 and Trade Marks Act, 1999 for official process and legal references. Learn about BIAT Legal LLP and contact our team to discuss your application.
Ready to discuss your brand?
Bring your name, logo and business plans. We will help you understand the next step.
Contact BIAT Legal ↗