Trademark Registration - Everything you need to know

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that distinguishes the goods and services of one entity from another. Trademark registration in India is an important step to not just build brand recognition but also to protect the identity of your brand against infringement by competitors or other entities. A trademark is an intellectual property that can include a word, phrase, number, graphics, logo, sound, colours or a combination of any of the above. By registering your trademark, you would be giving your brand legal protection. Trademark registration in India can be done online.

Who Can Apply for Trademark Registration?

• Individuals
• Joint owners of a company
• Proprietorship firms
• Partnership firms with a maximum of ten partners
• Limited Liability Partnerships or LLPs
• Indian companies
• Foreign companies
• Trusts
• Societies

Types of Trademark Registrations

There are different types of trademark registrations. Here are a few:

• Certification Marks - This trademark is used to certify that the goods or services comply with quality standards set by regulators or agencies such as the ISI mark by the Bureau of Indian Standards or the FSSAI mark by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The certification mark is a mark of validity and is used to instill confidence among consumers.
• Collective Trademark - This trademark is used to distinguish the goods and services of members of a collective, association or group from another. Collective trademarks are used to ensure that certain standards are met by members with respect to the goods or services. A prominent example of a collective trademark is the CII mark by the Confederation of Indian Industries.
• Word Mark - This trademark includes the textual representation of a brand name, logo, or slogan without regard to its style, design, font, or colour.
• Device Marks - This trademark includes any stylised design or visual or artistic element such as a logo, symbol, sticker, label, or monogram. Nike’s iconic swoosh logo is an example of a device trademark.
• Pattern Mark - This trademark is a unique pattern or design that makes a product or service stand out from its competitors. Prominent examples include Louis Vuitton’s Damier pattern or Burberry’s check pattern.
• Shape Mark - This trademark is characterized by the goods’ or its packaging’s three-dimensional (3D) shape or configuration. Famous examples include Coca-Cola’s bottle shape and Toblerone’s triangular chocolate shape.

How GST Time Can Help

GST Time can ensure your Trademark Registration is smooth and hassle-free by providing our expertise and support in what is an otherwise complicated process. We’ll manage the entire Trademark Registration process and more, so you can do what you do best — focusing on your business.

Our support includes:

• Comprehensive trademark search
• Expert guidance on class selection
• Detailed information on the documents required for Trademark Registration
• Preparing and verifying the documents
• Detailed guidance on filling out the Trademark Registration application
• Submitting the Trademark Registration application
• Expert support in the event of a trademark objection or trademark hearing
• Obtaining trademark registration certificate / renewing trademark license