Trademark Protection Process in

India

By
Vikram Pratap Singh Thakur
Brain League IP Services

© 2009 Brain League IP Services Pvt.

Ltd.
Trademark

• a mark capable of being represented

graphically; and
• which is capable of distinguishing the goods or
services of one person from those of others
Importance of a Trademark

• Indicate the source of goods/services

• Distinguish from others
• Makes it simple to advertise and promote
• Helps to make money
Brand Value

• Google $100.04 billion

• Microsoft $76.25 billion
• Coca-Cola $67.63 billion
• IBM $66.62 billion
• McDonald's $66.58 billion

Source: Investopedia.com
How to choose a trademark
• Fanciful

• Arbitrary

• Suggestive

• Descriptive

• Generic
Protection
Pre-filing Requirements

• Classification of good/service
• Trademark Search
• Trademark Search Opinion
• Take a decision on filing
Filing

• Persons entitled to apply

• Place of application
• Types of application
• Priority date
• Documents
• Online or Hard copy filings
Person entitled to file

 The person himself

 Duly authorized person
 Legal practitioner
 Trademark Agent
 Person under sole and regular employment
 Place of application
TRADEMARK OFFICES TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION

Delhi State of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,

Himachal Pradesh, Union Territory of Delhi and Chandigarh

Kolkata Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal,

Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim , Tripura and Union
Territory of Nagaland, Andamar & Nicobar Island

Ahmedabad Gujarat and Rajasthan and Union Territory of Damman, Diu,

Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Chennai Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Union

Territory of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep Island

Mumbai (Head Office) Maharashtra, MP and Goa

Type of Mark

• Service Mark
• Certification Mark
• Collective Mark – eg. CA device used by the
Institute of Chartered Accountants
• House Mark - eg. Dabur
• Textile Mark – class 22 to 27 eg. Vardhman
Priority date

• Paris Convention
• Time period
Mode of filing & Documents

• Online or hard copy

• Relevant Application Form
• Additional Representations
• Power of attorney
Examination

• Formal check
• Detailed Examination
• Examination Report
• Hearing
Publication

• Type of publication
• Importance of publication
• Opposition
• Registration
Registration

• ®
• Rights
 Use the trademark
 Restrain others
 Acts as a notice to public
 Infringement proceeding
 Prima facie evidence of validity
Opposition

• Opposition filing
• Counter Statement
• Evidence in Support of Opposition
• Evidence in Support of Application
• Reply evidence
• Hearing and decision
Renewal

• Time period
• Renewal window
THANK YOU