How to Register Trademark/Brand Name Online in India?

Trademark registration is not just a matter of ego or pretence, it is the matter of providing your brand with intellectual property protection to make sure that no one else can use your mark. Trademark registration is the reason that there is only ONE Coca-Cola, and there is only ONE Pepsi. It is this registration that once paved the way for their success that you see now.

If you want the same sort of success to happen to your brand, you should follow the following steps to register a trademark/brand name online in India and apply for online brand registration:

Step 1: Decide on the trademark that you want:

Before you begin with the process of registration, it is important for you to create a mark that signifies your trade in the best way. There are many rules stated in the Trademark Act that your mark should fall under. However, as this first step is just meant for you, you need to take care that the mark that you have created:

• Does not offend any particular religion, person or a community.
• Is not a copy of anything that is prevalent currently in the market

Step 2: Perform a trademark search to see if the mark is available:

This step is to make sure that the mark that you have chosen is actually available in the market. It means that the mark is not a copy of anything. There exists a government portal that allows you to do a trademark search on your mark to see if the mark is available. If not, you would need to do some rectifications in your mark so that it becomes accepted later on. After the search, you would also know the class of your mark.

Step 3: File the application Online

Now that you have searched the trademark and have created one that at this stage is suitable, all you need to do is fill an online trademark application. This application entails a space for the word-mark or logo that you have chosen and a space for the descriptions of goods and/or services. Make sure to fill every detail with the utmost care. To make sure that the application is filled in the correct manner, you can take assistance from a trademark agent.

If the mark is a pictorial logo and not a wordmark, it will go through Vienna codification where it will be further categorized.

Step 4: The mark will then go to the trademark office:

It would then be forwarded to the Trademark office. At this juncture, you can use the “TM” symbol with your mark. The trademark office will then check and double-check your trademark for errors and if they are none, it will be published in the trademark journal. That being said, there might be an objection at this stage. To that end, make sure that you are prepared to file a reply for it.

After this, the trademark journal takes the centre stage. For the next 4 months, the mark will remain in this journal and if there are no oppositions to the mark up until this point, the trademark registration will be accomplished.

These steps are just brief explanations. Therefore, it would be better for you if you consult with professionals before taking on such an endeavour.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.