Trademark filing and management in India
Your trademark filed. Every next step managed.
From filing to objections, hearings and renewal, our team manages the work and keeps you informed. See where your mark stands, what happens next and when we need you.
Already filed elsewhere? We can take over.
What happens after you file a trademark in India
Filing is step one. The Registry's own numbers show where trademark applications get stuck and lost.
Bars are drawn against applications filed in the year. The Registry works through applications from earlier years too, so these are yearly volumes, not one batch followed through.
applications treated as abandoned in a single round of notices (Feb 2023): about 98,900 because no one replied to the examination report, and about 82,700 because no counter-statement was filed after an opposition.
of applications decided in 2023-24 ended without registration: 1,54,035 refused, abandoned or withdrawn out of 4,33,754.
Sources: CGPDTM Annual Report 2024-25, Chapter VI (Trade Marks), activity table; Trade Marks Registry public notices dated 6 February 2023 on unprosecuted and opposed applications. Percentages calculated from those figures.
Trademark problems owners face after filing
Status they can't read, objections they don't understand, delays and renewals. Everything after the filing receipt.
We filed. I thought that was it.
Filing is the first of eight Registry steps. An examination report, a hearing notice or an opposition can arrive months later, each with a short deadline.
See the eight steps →
I don't know what the next step is, or if I need to do anything.
e-Status shows a label like "Objected" or "Formalities Chk Pass", not what it means for you.
See a mark's status →
I paid the full fee. Why is it taking two years?
The fee pays for filing and examination, not for speed. In 2024-25 the Registry examined 1.56 lakh applications against 5.52 lakh filed, so applications wait in a queue.
See the dated updates →
I can track my mark, but who actually deals with it?
Tracking software is mostly sold to law firms, and an alert alone does not reply to an objection or attend a hearing.
Compare the options →
Trademark objection reply, hearing and opposition: who handles what
Most options stop at filing, or at an alert.
| File it yourselfIP India portal | Filing-only service | Tracking softwareusually for firms | Snigdha360tracked and managed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Search and filing | You do it | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Watches e-Status and every notice | You check | Varies | ✓ | ✓ |
| Explains the status and next step in plain words | — | Varies | — | ✓ |
| Drafts and files the objection reply in 30 days | You do it | Often extra | — | ✓ |
| Attends the show-cause hearing | You attend | Often extra | — | ✓ |
| Counter-statement if your mark is opposed | You file | Often extra | — | ✓ |
| Renewal counted from the filing date | You remember | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| All marks across your companies in one view | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Trademark registration timeline in India, one mark from filing to renewal
Follow one example mark through objections, a hearing and an opposition. See what we handle, the updates you receive, and the few moments that need you.
Trademark registration process in India, step by step
The Registry examines and registers marks under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. These are its steps, with the point where each one can go wrong.
You receive the application number the same day. Logos also get a Vienna code.
e-Status: New ApplicationYou: use ™ from today.
The Registry checks the application is complete.
e-Status: Formalities Chk PassIf a deficiency notice comes, we tell you what is needed and the date.
Checked under Sections 9, 11 and 13: distinctiveness, similar earlier marks, and chemical or INN names.
e-Status: Marked for ExamYou: nothing to do.
The examiner may object. A reply must be filed.
e-Status: ObjectedYou: share any proof of use we ask for. Reply due 30 days from the report date.
If the reply is not accepted, a hearing is listed, in person or virtual.
e-Status: Objected, hearing listedYou: sometimes asked for more evidence before the date.
The mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal for four months.
e-Status: Accepted & AdvertisedYou: nothing to do. Opposition window: 4 months.
Someone objects to your mark after publication.
e-Status: OpposedYou: decide with us whether to defend. Counter-statement due in 2 months.
The certificate issues. Protection counts from the filing date.
e-Status: RegisteredYou: use ® from now. Renewal due 10 years from filing.
Registry steps summarised from IP India's Trademark application workflow and About the Trade Marks Registry. Status can be checked anytime on IP India e-Status.
Trademark status meanings, and what to do at each
The labels you see when you check your trademark status on IP India e-Status, in plain words.
| e-Status label | What it means | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| New Application | Filed and given an application number. Nothing has been checked yet. | Nothing. Use ™ from now. |
| Send to Vienna Codification | Your logo's design elements are being coded under the Vienna classification. Only for device and logo marks. | Nothing. |
| Formalities Chk Pass | The Registry found the application complete. It now waits for examination. | Nothing. Waiting in the examination queue is normal. |
| Formalities Chk Fail | Something is missing or wrong in the application, such as a document or the applicant's details. | Reply to the deficiency notice by its deadline, or the application can be abandoned. |
| Marked for Exam | An examiner has been assigned to check the mark under Sections 9, 11 and 13. | Nothing yet. Watch for the examination report. |
| Objected | The examination report raises objections, usually under Section 9 (not distinctive) or Section 11 (similar earlier mark). | Reply within one month (30 days) of the report. No reply means the application is treated as abandoned. |
| Accepted | The examiner accepted the mark, with or without a hearing. It will be published next. | Nothing. Watch for the Journal publication. |
| Advertised before Accepted | Published in the Trade Marks Journal before formal acceptance, so others can object first. | Nothing, unless someone files an opposition. |
| Accepted & Advertised | Published in the Trade Marks Journal. Anyone can oppose for four months. | Nothing, unless an opposition is filed. |
| Opposed | A notice of opposition has been filed against your mark. | File a counter-statement (TM-O) within two months of receiving the notice, or the application is treated as abandoned. |
| Registered | The registration certificate has issued. Protection runs ten years from the filing date. | Use ®. Renew with TM-R before the ten years end. |
| Refused | The Registrar refused the application after a hearing. | Review or appeal is possible within strict time limits. Act quickly. |
| Abandoned | Treated as abandoned, usually because a reply or counter-statement was not filed in time. | Check with a professional at once; in some cases it can be restored. |
| Withdrawn | The applicant withdrew the application. | A fresh application is needed to protect the mark. |
| Removed | A registered mark was removed from the register, for example for non-renewal. | Restoration may be possible within a limited period after expiry. |
Check your status any time on IP India e-Status with your application number. If you are not sure what a status means for your mark, send us the number.
Trademark registration fees in India
Official TM-A e-filing fee, per class.
Startups with DPIIT recognition and MSMEs with a Udyam certificate.
Companies, LLPs and firms without a startup or MSME certificate.
These are the Registry's fees, paid at filing. Our professional fee is quoted before we start and depends on the number of marks and classes.
Trademark registration in India: frequently asked questions
How long does trademark registration take in India?
Usually about one to two years from filing, and longer if the mark is objected to or opposed. The Registry examined 1,56,403 applications in 2024-25 while 5,52,190 were filed, so applications wait in a queue. You can use ™ from the day you file.
Why is my trademark taking so long when I paid the full fee?
The official fee pays for filing and examination, not for speed. Waiting in the examination queue is normal, and objections, hearings and the four-month opposition window each add time. A clean, well-drafted application avoids the extra months objections cause.
How many days do I have to reply to a trademark objection?
One month (30 days) from the examination report. If no reply is filed, the application is treated as abandoned under Section 132 of the Trade Marks Act. In February 2023 alone, about 98,900 applications were treated as abandoned for no reply.
What happens at a trademark show-cause hearing?
If the examiner is not satisfied with the reply, a hearing is listed in the Registry's cause list, in person or in a virtual hearing room. Your representative argues the objection; the mark is then accepted, the hearing adjourned, or the application refused.
What is trademark opposition and how long do I have to respond?
After your mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal, anyone can oppose it within four months. If it is opposed, you must file a counter-statement (TM-O) within two months of receiving the notice, or the application is treated as abandoned.
How do I check my trademark status in India?
Enter your application number on IP India e-Status. The status labels are explained in the table above; we also send you each change in plain words with the next step.
I filed my trademark through someone else. Can you take over?
Yes. Share the application number. We check e-Status, tell you what is pending, and file a new authorisation (TM-48) so we can act for you from then on.
When does a trademark registration expire, and how do I renew it?
Ten years from the filing date, not the registration date. Renew with Form TM-R before it expires, and it stays protected for another ten years. Registration can be renewed without limit.
When can I use ® instead of ™?
Only after the mark is registered. Using ® on an unregistered mark is an offence under the Trade Marks Act.
What is the government fee for trademark registration in India?
₹4,500 per class for individuals, DPIIT-recognised startups and MSMEs with a Udyam certificate, and ₹9,000 per class for others, when e-filed. Our professional fee is quoted separately before we start.
Already filed? Bring your mark to us.
Send us your application number. We check its status, pick up anything pending and manage every notice and deadline from here to registration and renewal. New marks are welcome too.