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Trademark Registration In India: Process, Fees & Benefits Explained

Pragya Pathak

Author

Updated: 04-04-2026 at 3:30 PM

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500K+ Users

In today’s competitive world, businesses are no longer just concerned about the kind and quality of the goods and services provided to customers or consumers, but also concerned about protecting the goods and services they provide. And one of the ways to protect their provided goods and services is through trademark registration. A trademark helps businesses create a unique identifier for themselves, using which people can recognise their business from other businesses in the market.

Trademark registration is a legal procedure that people interested in procuring a trademark are required to follow. It is governed by the Trade Marks Act of 1999 and overseen by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. Successfully going through the registration process and obtaining a Trademark Registration Certificate provides exclusive rights to an individual or company over a specific mark.

Read the article to learn more about the specifics of the trademark registration, ranging from its meaning and important things to know about it to types of trademark and a detailed breakdown of the registration process.

Trademark Registration Overview

The table below summarises key details concerning trademark registration online India that one should know about.

Trademark meaning	A trademark is a legally recognised sign, symbol, word, phrase, logo, or design of a business entity used to differentiate itself from other businesses.
Governing law	Trade Marks Act of 1999.
Regulatory authority	Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks.
Types of trademarks	Product mark, service mark, word mark, device mark, collective mark, certification mark, shape mark, pattern mark, etc.
Classes of trademark	Total 45 classes (1 to 34 for goods and the remaining 11 for services).
Name of the application form	Form TM-A
Validity	Maximum 10 years

What Is A Trademark?

A trademark is a legally recognised sign, symbol, word, phrase, logo, or design of a business entity used to differentiate itself between the goods or services provided by them from that of others. It serves the role of a unique identity marker that helps customers or consumers identify a product from a specific business entity. The government provides trademark protection under laws like the Trade Marks Act of 1999 (which replaced the old Trademark Registry established in 1940), giving a person or entity an exclusive right to use the mark that no one else can use. A trademark is valid for around 10 years, after which the owners are required to renew it.

The main reason behind applying for trademark registration is to highlight one’s goods or services from those of others and protect the goodwill of a business entity. Trademarks are often a sign of a good reputation as well, which directly has a positive impact on the commercial value of a business entity.

Types Of Trademark

There are various types of trademarks recognised under the Trade Marks Act of 1999. All of them are mentioned below in a tabular format:

Types of trademark	Description
Product Mark	Used to identify goods or products and therefore comes under classes 1 to 34.
Service Mark	Used to identify services and therefore comes under classes 35 to 45.
Word Mark	Especially for words, letters, or numbers without any design.
Device or Logo Mark	This is specifically for logos, symbols, styled text, and graphic elements.
Collective Mark	Used by members of an association or a group to indicate affiliation.
Certification Mark	This mark indicates that a certain good or service meets standards of quality.
Shape Mark	This is for the protection of a particular share of a product or packaging.
Pattern Mark	This is for recurring patterns used in branding.
Colour Mark	This is especially for a colour or a combination of colours used by a brand.

Who Can Apply For A Trademark?

One of the best things about the trademark law is the fact that it is not restricted to any one type of people or business organisations. Eligible people or entities that can apply for a trademark are as follows:

Individuals
Joint owners
Proprietary firms
Partnership firms, including Limited Liability Partnerships
Private Limited Companies or Public Companies
Trusts and Societies
Foreign applicants

How To Register A Trademark In India?

The procedure of trademark registration works as per the Trade Marks Act of 1999 and is administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. The authorities have tried to make the process as straightforward as possible, but every stage needs to be done carefully.

Some things to take care of before starting the formal trademark registration process are laid down below for one’s holistic understanding:

Firstly, it is better to ensure that whatever one is getting the trademark for is unique and distinguishable from other existing things in the marketplace. Please check the class you belong to. As of now, there are 45 classes of goods and services (classes 1 to 35 are for goods and the rest for services) under which a trademark can be registered.
After finalising the mark for which you would like to get a trademark, conduct a trademark search India to check if it matches with any already trademarked symbol. One can do it through the official website of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks. There is a dedicated option concerning this; just select it, choose the class under which your mark falls, and do a public search.

We have broken down the entire trademark registration process step by step for one’s better understanding and clarity:

Step 1: After doing the preliminary steps mentioned above, please visit the official website of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks.

Step 2: Fill out the application form. i.e., form TM-A carefully and accurately. One can file for multiple classes, a series trademark, or a collective trademark through just one application, instead of multiple.

There are two options for submitting the form TM-A.

One option is manual filing, wherein you would have to personally deliver the application form with the supporting documents to the Registrar's Office of Trade Marks, situated in various cities, like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. The manual process takes around 15 to 20 days for issuing the receipt of acknowledgement.
Another option is electronic-filing. Here, you can submit the form along with the documents through the website itself. The best part is that the acknowledgement receipt is generated instantly, as everything happens on a digital platform.

Step 3: The next step is payment. There are two separate costs for this particular form:

Rs 9,000 or Rs 10,000: If you have a small enterprise or you are a sole proprietor, you will fall under this payment option. Rs 9,000 is for when one selects the e-filing submission, while Rs 10,000 is for when one opts for manual filing of the application form.
Rs 4,500 or Rs 5,000: If you have a startup, you will fall under this option. Rs 4,500 is for when one selects the e-filing submission, while Rs 5,000 is for when one opts for manual filing of the application form.

Step 4: Before the final submission, please recheck the filled information in the application form, as any errors can lead to delays or worse, rejection of the application altogether. One has to attach or upload a picture of the proposed mark (in 9 x 5 cm dimensions) along with 5 duplicates of the same.

Step 5: After successful submission of the applications, the relevant authorities will complete their verification procedures, after which the Registrar of Trademarks will provide the trademark on the proposed mark and will then publish it in the Indian Trademark Journal.

Please note that there should not be opposition concerning the trademark application for at least 4 months after its publication. After 4 months, if there is no opposition, the Registrar of Trademarks issues the final and formal Trademark Registration Certificate.

What Should One Do If The Opposition Gets Filed?

If, however, anyone files for an opposition concerning your published trademark, you would be required to send a counter-statement within 2 months to the Registrar, which will be forwarded by the Registrar to the party who filed for the opposition.

You would be required to submit all the evidence possible to support your trademark application. The Registrar will set up a hearing after the submission of the evidence. After considering both parties involved in the case, it is up to the Registrar to either accept or reject the trademark application. If accepted, the Trademark Registration Certificate with the seal of the Trademark Registry will be issued.

Also Read On Top 10 Government Schemes For Entrepreneurs & Startups In India In 2026

How To Check The Status Of One’s Trademark Registration Application?

People can also check the status of their trademark applications by following some simple steps. The steps of checking one’s trademark application status are as follows:

Step 1: Please visit the official website of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks.

Step 2: Navigate to the option concerning ‘Application Status Check’ and then fill in the allotment number that you must have received after the successful submission of your trademark application.

Step 3: If the allotment number is correct, the system will show you the status of your application.

What Are The Documents Required While Applying For A Trademark?

The documents that people are required to attach while applying for trademark registration for things like brand name registration India are as follows, for one’s reference:

Business registration-related documents.
If it’s a sole proprietorship, ID proof of the proprietor is required, like an Aadhaar card or a PAN card.
Proof of address of the place of business.
Soft copy of the thing that is to be trademarked.
Proof of claim of the proposed mark.
Signed power of attorney.

Trademark Registration Fees India

The trademark registration fees India are mentioned below. Please note that these are not exact numbers but are subject to varying a little:

Trademark registration fees for individuals are around Rs 16,000.
Trademark registration fees for companies are around Rs 16,000.

Important Things To Know Concerning Trademark Registration

Before getting into the formal registration process concerning trademarks, there are some things that people should know. All of these essential things are described below in detailed points for one’s reference:

A trademark is a type of intellectual property. After its proper registration, it automatically becomes an intangible asset of a company, an organisation, or an individual’s business. It can be traded, franchised, and commercially contracted and distributed for additional profits. Businesses with a trademark are also easily identifiable and easy to differentiate from other businesses in the market.
A trademark comes under a legal framework, which means that the owner of a trademark has an exclusive right over that particular mark for which they got the trademark for. This also means that no one else can use the trademark without the owner’s permission, and if they do, the owner can exercise their legal right and ensure that such a third party using their mark without any permission bears all the legal consequences.
Under the trademark framework, the government of India has classified goods and services into 45 different sectors, and each sector is called a class. People are required to register their trademark under the correct applicable class. Out of the 45 different classes, 34 are exclusively for goods, and the remaining 11 are for services.
It is a completely voluntary decision to apply for a trademark or not. However, if one applies for a trademark, it gives them sole ownership over a mark that no one else will be able to use without their permission. Such owners of trademarks are supported and backed by the law.
A registered trademark has a validity of a maximum of 10 years, after which the owners of the trademark are required to get their trademark certificates renewed. Please note that the renewal process can only be started one year before the expiry of the registered trademark. If anyone fails to comply with these timelines, their trademark will be removed, but removed trademarks can be reinstated through the process of restoration of the trademark.
There are various types of trademark symbols, such as Trade Mark (™), Service Mark (SM), Registered Trademark, and Copyright Trademark.

Symbol	Description
Trade Mark	Used for a word, logo, phrase, or design. This symbol can be used immediately after filing for it or even before filing, as long as one intends to file for its formal registration. Ideal for early-age startups
Service Mark	Used for services rather than tangible goods. Ideal for businesses involved in providing services, like consultation, education, hospitality, digital services, etc. The main purpose is to discriminate between businesses that provide goods and those that provide services.
Registered Trademark	This symbol can only be used after the completion of the formal trademark registration process and approval. It symbolises that the said trademark is under full legal protection and the owner is the sole person who can use the registered trademark.
Copyright	Copyrights are specifically for creative works, like artwork, photography, videography, literary works, and software. It is also valid for a lifetime, hence, no need for renewal.

Conclusion

Trademark registration is not simply a legal formality or a government-related task, but a protective step for all that a business provides. The comprehensive registration process, starting from choosing a mark to eventually passing the approval stage and getting a Trademark Registration Certificate, ensures a strong, unique identity for a business entity. It helps businesses create a unique identity for themselves, as a unique identity helps them in gaining public exposure and considerable revenue.

Anyone planning to apply for a trademark must understand all the specifics of the procedure, from its meaning and types of marks available to the importance of filing under the correct class and the knowledge concerning tackling oppositions if any third party files against it.

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