How registration works
- Search. We check the Trade Marks Registry for identical and similar marks in your classes.
- Filing. Application in TM-A. You get an application number the same day and can use the ™ symbol.
- Examination. The Registry may issue an examination report with objections. The reply is due within one month.
- Publication. Once accepted, the mark is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal, and anyone can oppose it within four months.
- Registration. If there is no opposition, or it is decided in your favour, the mark is registered and you can use ®.
Choosing classes
Goods and services are divided into 45 classes, and protection applies only to the classes you file in. Choosing too narrowly leaves gaps competitors can use; choosing too broadly invites objections. We map your current and planned products to the right classes.
What we need
- Applicant name and address: company, LLP, firm or individual
- The mark: the word, or the logo as an image
- Goods or services, and the date of first use if the mark is already in use
- MSME or startup certificate, if any, which lowers the government fee
- Signed authorisation for us to file (TM-48)
How long protection lasts
A registered trademark is valid for ten years from the application date and can be renewed for further ten-year terms indefinitely, in TM-R.
Questions we are asked
Can I use my brand while the application is pending?
Yes. Use ™ from the date of filing. Use ® only after registration; using it earlier is an offence.
How long does registration take?
It depends on objections and oppositions. A clean application can be registered within months; contested ones can take a few years.
Should I register the name or the logo?
The word mark protects the name in any style and is usually the priority. Register the logo separately if it is distinctive.