What are the Different Kinds of Trademarks Used in India

It is very important from consumer point of view to know source of the product. In this way, we can define Trade mark as visual mark which works as identity for goods and services and indicate their trade origin.

Product fulfils the demand or the basic need of the consumer, but the brand offers the wide variety of choices to satisfy that need and creates the consumer driven environment where he or she chooses his or her preferred brand. In absence of Trademark of product or service, it shall be very difficult for consumer to decide what to buy.

Trademark Registration could be used for anything like a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods, packaging or combination of colours or any combination thereof.

Kinds of Trademark:

• Service Mark:

Service mark is a trademark used to distinguish services rendered by an organization from other. Titles, characters names are registered as servicemark
Example: Airtel, Reliance, LIC and Star TV.

• Certification Mark:

A certification mark is a symbol, name, or device used to vouch for products and services provided by others. Certification mark shows that product has passed certain quality checks. It is like an audit tool to judge product quality. Examples of certification marks:

• Collective Mark:

Collective mark is not associated with one product or service rather it represent the whole group under which those product are manufactured or services are rendered. For example: 

• Textile Mark:

Textile mark is a trademark used in textile goods Example: Raymond

• Well known Trademark:

A well-known trademark uses goods or services rendered using the name of a mark, which has gained popularity among substantial segment of the public. For example: Airtel, Reliance, Britania, Liberty, Bata etc.

• Series Trademark:

Series Trademark means Trademark which is very similar to each other. Series trademark application is filed when marks don't differ in substantial manner. Sometimes, it is also called family mark. It is not an individual Trademark form but comprises a series of mark intended to have one specific distinctive element function as a point of recognition for the relevant public.

• Shape Trademark:

Graphical representation of the trademark capable of distinguishing the mark from the competing entities is called shape trademarks.

• Sound Trademark:

When the signature tunes have gained popularity is called sound trademark.

Sound track can be unique and can be protected by registering the same. To register the sound Trademark, it must be graphically shown, by using music notes (music language). Example: Airtel Signature tunes.

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.