Trademark & IP Services

Protect your intellectual property, brand identity, and innovations.

Trademark & IP services

Trademark & IP: complete guide

Introduction

Intellectual property is often the most valuable thing a business owns. A brand name that customers recognise, a logo that sets a product apart, an invention that solves a technical problem, the shape of a product, a piece of software, a book, a song or a film can all be worth far more than the physical assets of a business. Indian law protects these assets through a set of specific statutes: the Trade Marks Act, 1999 for brand names, logos and other marks; the Copyright Act, 1957 for literary, artistic, musical, dramatic and cinematographic works and software; the Patents Act, 1970 for inventions; and the Designs Act, 2000 for the visual appearance of products.

Each of these laws gives the owner a set of exclusive rights, but most of them are most effective, or available at all, only when the right is registered. A registered trademark gives its owner the exclusive right to use the mark for the registered goods or services and the right to sue for infringement. A patent gives an inventor the right to stop others from making, using or selling the invention for twenty years from the filing date. A registered design protects the look of a product for up to fifteen years. Copyright arises automatically when a work is created, but registration provides strong evidence of ownership if a dispute arises. These registrations are administered by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and the Copyright Office, through online filing systems.

Protecting intellectual property is not only about filing applications. The right has to be chosen carefully, searched against existing rights, described correctly, defended against objections and oppositions, renewed on time, monitored for copycats and enforced when someone infringes it. A trademark filed in the wrong class, a patent specification that does not fully disclose the invention or a missed renewal deadline can leave a business without protection exactly when it needs it most.

Our team of advocates, intellectual property professionals and support staff helps businesses, startups, creators and inventors through the entire life of their intellectual property, from the first search to registration, renewal, licensing, assignment, international protection and enforcement. This page sets out the services in this category, who they are for, how to choose the right one, how we work and how our pricing is structured. Intellectual property laws, rules and office practices change from time to time, and we check the current position at the time of filing.

Services in This Category

Search for Trademark. Before you adopt or file a brand name or logo, a trademark search checks the trademark register for identical and similar marks in the relevant classes. We search for phonetic, visual and conceptual similarity, review the results and give you a written opinion on the risk of objection or conflict. This helps you avoid investing in a brand that may later be blocked or challenged.

Trademark Registration. We prepare and file your trademark application under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, choosing the correct class or classes under the international classification of goods and services, drafting the description of goods or services and filing the required user affidavit where prior use is claimed. Once filed, you can use the trademark symbol to indicate a pending application. We track the application through examination, publication in the Trade Marks Journal and registration.

Respond to TM Objection. Most trademark applications receive an examination report raising objections on absolute grounds, such as lack of distinctiveness, or relative grounds, such as similarity with an earlier mark. We draft a detailed reply with legal arguments, supporting evidence and case law, file it within the time allowed and represent you at the show cause hearing if one is scheduled.

Trademark Renewal. A registered trademark in India is valid for ten years from the date of application and can be renewed indefinitely for further ten-year periods. We file the renewal application before expiry, or within the grace period allowed with an additional fee, and help restore a mark that has been removed for non-renewal where the law permits.

Trademark Assignment. When a brand is sold, transferred to a group company, contributed to a new business or licensed, the ownership change must be documented and recorded. We draft assignment deeds and licence agreements, advise on assignment with or without goodwill, and file the request to record the new owner on the trademark register.

Trademark Watch. New applications are published in the Trade Marks Journal every week, and some of them may be similar to your brand. Our watch service monitors new publications for marks that conflict with yours and alerts you in time to file an opposition within the period allowed under the law.

Trademark Infringement. If someone uses a mark that is identical or deceptively similar to your registered trademark, or passes off their goods as yours, we help you take action. This includes evidence gathering, cease and desist notices, opposition and rectification proceedings, and civil suits for injunction and damages before the appropriate court. We also defend businesses that receive infringement claims.

Well Known Trademark. Indian law gives extra protection to marks that have become well known among the relevant section of the public, extending protection across all classes of goods and services. We assess whether your mark qualifies, compile evidence of reputation, use, advertising and enforcement, and file the request with the Registrar for inclusion in the list of well known trademarks.

International Trademark. Businesses expanding abroad can protect their brands in other countries through the Madrid Protocol, using an Indian application or registration as the base, or by filing national applications directly in each country. We advise on the right route, prepare filings and coordinate responses with local counsel where needed.

USA Trademark. For businesses selling to customers in the United States, a US trademark registration protects the brand in that market. We prepare and file the application with the US trademark office, advise on use-based and intent-to-use filings and the specimen of use, and coordinate responses to office actions.

Logo Design. A logo is often the first thing customers notice about a brand. Our design service creates original logo concepts that are distinctive and suitable for trademark registration, avoiding common elements that make a logo hard to protect. The final design is delivered to you so it can be registered as a trademark in your name.

Copyright Registration. Copyright protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, sound recordings, films and software. Although copyright exists from the moment of creation, registration with the Copyright Office under the Copyright Act, 1957 provides prima facie evidence of ownership. We prepare and file the application, including the statement of particulars and the required copies of the work, and respond to any objections.

Copyright Infringement. If your work is copied, reproduced, published or distributed without permission, including online, we help you take action through notices, takedown requests, civil suits for injunction and damages, and criminal complaints where appropriate. We also advise businesses accused of infringing copyright.

Design Registration. The Designs Act, 2000 protects the shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colours applied to an article, where the features appeal to the eye. We check novelty, prepare representations of the design in the required views, file the application in the correct class and track it through examination to registration. A registered design is protected for ten years, extendable by a further five years.

Indian Patent Search. Before filing a patent, it is important to know whether the invention is new and involves an inventive step. Our patent search covers Indian and international patent databases and published literature to identify relevant prior art, and our report helps you decide whether to file, how to draft claims and where your invention stands against existing technology.

Provisional Application. A provisional patent application secures an early filing date for an invention that is still being developed. We draft the provisional specification describing the invention and file it with the Patent Office. The complete specification must then be filed within twelve months, or the application is treated as abandoned.

Permanent Patent. A complete patent application, sometimes called a permanent patent filing, includes the full specification, claims, drawings and abstract. We draft the specification and claims, file the application, request examination within the time allowed, respond to the first examination report and represent you at hearings until the patent is granted or the application is finally decided.

Patent Infringement. When someone makes, uses, sells or imports a product or process covered by your patent without permission, we help you assess infringement, send notices and file suits for injunction and damages. We also advise on defences, such as invalidity challenges and revocation petitions, for businesses accused of infringing a patent.

Who These Services Are For

Our trademark and intellectual property services are used by a wide range of clients:

  • Startups and new businesses that want to secure their brand name and logo before launch, and protect their technology or product designs before approaching investors.
  • Small and medium enterprises that have built a local reputation and want to stop copycats, register their marks and expand into new product lines or regions.
  • Established companies and groups that manage portfolios of trademarks, patents and designs across many classes and countries, and need renewals, assignments and monitoring handled systematically.
  • Inventors, researchers and universities that have developed new products, processes or technologies and want to protect them through patents or explore licensing.
  • Creators and publishers such as authors, artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, game developers and software developers who want to register and protect their works.
  • E-commerce sellers and direct-to-consumer brands that need registered trademarks to list brands on online marketplaces and to act against counterfeit listings.
  • Exporters and businesses expanding abroad that need international trademark protection or a US trademark before entering foreign markets.
  • Businesses facing disputes who have received a notice alleging infringement, or who have discovered someone copying their brand, work, design or invention.

How to Choose the Right Service

The right service depends on what you want to protect and where you are in the process. A few practical questions can help:

  • What are you protecting? A brand name, logo, slogan or other sign that identifies your goods or services is protected by a trademark. An invention that is new, inventive and capable of industrial application is protected by a patent. The visual appearance of a product is protected by a design registration. Creative works and software are protected by copyright. Many businesses need more than one type of protection for the same product.
  • Have you checked availability? Before filing a trademark, start with a trademark search. Before filing a patent, start with a patent search. These steps reduce the risk of objections and help you draft a stronger application.
  • Is your invention ready? If the invention is still being developed but you want to secure a filing date, a provisional application is often suitable. If the invention is complete and tested, a complete application can be filed directly.
  • Have you received an examination report? If your trademark application has an objection, choose the objection response service. If a third party has opposed your mark or you want to oppose theirs, speak with us about opposition proceedings.
  • Is your registration close to expiry? If your trademark is approaching its ten-year term, choose renewal. If your design registration is approaching its first ten years, consider the extension.
  • Is ownership changing? If you are selling a business, moving brands to a holding company or licensing your mark, choose trademark assignment.
  • Are you expanding abroad? For protection in several countries, the international trademark service is usually most effective. If the US is your main market, choose the USA trademark service.
  • Is someone copying you? If you suspect infringement of a trademark, copyright or patent, speak with us about the relevant infringement service. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence and strengthens the case for interim relief.
  • Do you need a brand identity first? If you are starting from scratch, our logo design service creates a logo with registration in mind, followed by a search and filing.

If you are unsure, book a consultation. We review your situation and recommend the service or combination of services that fits.

How We Work

Our approach is the same across every intellectual property matter:

  1. Understanding your goals. We begin with a consultation to understand what you want to protect, how you use it, where you sell, and any concerns about competitors or existing rights.
  2. Search and assessment. Wherever relevant, we start with a search of existing rights, followed by a written assessment of risks and options.
  3. Clear scope and quote. We confirm in writing what the service includes, the expected timeline and our professional fee, so there are no surprises.
  4. Careful drafting. Applications, specifications, replies, deeds and pleadings are drafted by professionals who work in that area, and reviewed before filing.
  5. Filing and tracking. We file through the official online systems, share acknowledgements promptly and track every application through its stages, including examination, publication, hearings and grant.
  6. Deadline management. Intellectual property is full of strict deadlines for replies, oppositions, examination requests, complete specifications and renewals. We diarise these and remind you well in advance.
  7. Representation. Where hearings or proceedings are needed, our advocates and authorised representatives represent you before the Registrar, the Controller, the Copyright Office or the courts, as applicable.
  8. Ongoing support. After registration, we help you with renewals, watch services, assignments, licensing and enforcement, so your intellectual property remains protected over its full life.

We keep you informed at each stage and explain the options in plain language. We do not promise outcomes, since decisions rest with the relevant office or court, but we work to put forward the strongest possible case for your rights.

Pricing

Each service in this category is priced separately, and the professional fee for each service is shown on its own service page. For standard filings such as trademark searches, trademark registrations, objection replies, renewals, copyright and design registrations and patent searches, we charge a fixed professional fee that covers the scope described on that page.

For matters that depend heavily on the facts, such as infringement actions, well known trademark recognition and international trademark filings, pricing is quoted after we review your matter. The quote reflects the work involved, such as the number of countries, classes or parties, the volume of evidence and whether court proceedings are needed.

Official fees charged by the Trade Marks Registry, the Patent Office, the Designs Office, the Copyright Office, foreign offices and courts are not part of our professional fee. They are payable at actual and depend on factors such as the type of applicant, the number of classes or claims and the stage of the matter. Where local counsel are needed abroad, their fees are also charged at actual. Before we begin, we confirm in writing what our fee covers and which charges are payable separately.

FAQs

What is the difference between a trademark, a copyright, a patent and a design?

A trademark protects a brand name, logo or other sign that identifies the source of goods or services. A copyright protects original creative works such as books, music, art, films and software. A patent protects an invention that is new, inventive and industrially applicable. A design registration protects the visual appearance of a product.

Do I need to register a trademark to use it?

No, you can use an unregistered mark, and unregistered marks have some protection through passing off actions. However, registration gives you the exclusive right to use the mark for the registered goods or services and makes it much easier to stop others.

How long does trademark registration take in India?

If there is no objection or opposition, the process from filing to registration usually takes several months. If an objection or opposition is raised, it can take longer. You can use the trademark symbol to show that your application is pending in the meantime.

How long does protection last?

A trademark registration lasts ten years and can be renewed indefinitely. A patent lasts twenty years from the filing date, subject to annual renewal fees. A registered design lasts ten years, extendable by five years. Copyright generally lasts for the author's lifetime plus sixty years, with different terms for some works.

Can I protect my brand outside India?

Yes. Trademark rights are territorial, so you need protection in each country where you do business. You can file through the Madrid Protocol based on your Indian application or registration, or file national applications directly.

Is copyright registration mandatory?

No. Copyright exists automatically once an original work is created. Registration is optional, but it provides evidence of ownership that is useful if you need to enforce your rights.

Can I patent a software program?

Under the Patents Act, 1970, a computer programme per se is not patentable. However, inventions that involve software and produce a technical effect or contribution may be patentable, depending on how they are claimed. We assess each case individually.

What should I do if someone is copying my brand?

Gather evidence of the copying, such as photographs, invoices, screenshots and dates. Then speak with us. We can assess the strength of your rights and recommend a notice, opposition, rectification or court action.

Can I sell or license my trademark?

Yes. A trademark can be assigned with or without the goodwill of the business, or licensed to others. The assignment should be documented and recorded with the Trade Marks Registry so that the new owner's rights are clear.

What is a provisional patent application?

A provisional application secures a filing date for an invention that is still being developed, using a description that need not include full claims. The complete specification must be filed within twelve months, or the application is treated as abandoned.

How do I know which trademark class to choose?

Goods and services are divided into forty-five classes under the international classification system. The right class depends on what you sell and plan to sell. We review your business and recommend the classes that give you appropriate coverage.

Do you handle disputes as well as registrations?

Yes. Our team handles objections, oppositions, rectification proceedings, notices and infringement actions for trademarks, copyrights and patents, as well as defending businesses that receive such claims.

Are government fees included in your service fees?

No. Official fees are separate and payable at actual. Each service page shows our professional fee, and we tell you before filing which official fees apply to your matter.