TRADEMARK REGISTRATION

Trademark introduction

In simpler terms, a trademark means a brand or logo which represents your business.

It is a visual symbol in the form of a word, signature, a device, or a label or numerals or combination of colours applied to articles of commerce to distinguish and indicate to the purchasing public that is a good manufactured or otherwise dealt in by a particular person as distinguished from similar goods dealt or manufacture by other persons to identify their products and/or services. Trademark registration consultant in Jaipur laurels your product with an exquisite trademark that makes it superior to other products.

Trademark registration consultants are highly competent in providing trademark consulting services, and they are well-acquainted with all the lawful needs that are important for trademark registration under Trade Marks Act, 1999.

Legal Requirements for Trademark Registration

The legal requirements for registering a trademark under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 are as follows:

• Graphic Representation The desired mark should be capable of being represented graphically
• Unique

The trademark should be unique enough to distinguish the goods or services of one from products or services of others

• Purpose Defining

The desired mark should be in used or proposed to be used concerning goods or services to indicate or to stipulate a connection in the course of trade between the services or goods and some person have the right to use the mark with or without an identity of that person

Trademark registration not only give the brand an exquisite identity but also prevent fraudulent use of the trademark.

How to Select a Trademark

A trademark is to be selected carefully while launching a product or goods or services. While selecting a trademark that the scope of legal protection you would obtain depends on the type of trademark chosen.
One must select a trademark that complies with government rules and can exclusively depict the high-quality & safety of your product or service.
For selecting a trademark, a better strategy would be to adopt a coined word or an arbitrary word which has no reference or relevance to the goods/services upon which it is used.
Examples include Canon, Lotus Software. Advice from trademark registration consultants is yet another safe way to select a trademark that can stand the test of laws and times, as these professionals stay updated with amendments in legal acts, and they have a good idea of changes which may arrive.
To have a broader scope of protection, a trademark should be more distinctive.

Who can apply for Trademark

Any person i.e., individual, company, proprietor or legal entity claiming to be the owner of the trademark may apply in writing in prescribed manner for registration. The application should specifically contain the goods/services, name and address of applicant and agent (if any) with power of attorney, the tenure for which the trademark is intended to be used.

Is registration of trademark important?

Consumers purchasing decisions are always influenced by trademarks and the reputation such brands represent. A trademark indirectly puts forth a wide array of benefits of purchasing a particular brand. There are numerous benefits of Trademark registration. Some of the benefits of registering a trademark in India are as follows:-

• Protects your Brand Name, Trademark registration prevents the fraudulent use of your trademark.
• Builds trust & Goodwill, Trademark registration built in the trust factor and goodwill among the minds of existing consumers as well as potential clients.
• A Valuable Asset, Trademark is a valuable asset that belongs just to you and for you. This asset can neither be snatched away nor be hampered, and the benefits from it never perish.
• Gives uniqueness to the brand and becomes easily Identifiable, Trademark registration stamps your brand with a unique identity that makes your brand easily distinguished from others.
• Serves as a lifelong support, Trademark registration comes with life-time support. The benefits of a trademark are not limited to a certain period of time. It is a lifelong recognition.
• For business expansion Once your trademark is registered, it represents your business even in the absence of your words. It helps you retain your existing customers, give a sense of authenticity to the potential customers and transform your target market into your permanent clients.

Documents required

Documents which are required for the registration of a trademark are as follows:

• ID Proof (Driving License, Voter ID card or passport, pan card, Aadhaar card)
• Brand Name (a soft copy of brand name and logo to be registered)
• Power of Attorney
• Board Resolution (in case the Company is the applicant)

Trademark Classification and Classes

Trademark classification and classes lead to the preparation of a hierarchy that showcases which trademark is being adopted under which category. This facilitates the government bodies to easily work with the trademark classes list at national as well as international levels.

A sum of 45 classes of a trademark is there for different goods and services. Out of the total of 45, 34 is for products while 11 is for services.

Process for Registration of a Trademark

The whole process of registration of a trademark can be divided into 5 steps, which are as follows:

Trademark Search

The first and foremost step for the registration of a trademark is to search for the availability of the proposed name. Picking up a brand name that is catchy, different, trendy, as most of the generic names would already be in someone’s hands.
There are two ways to test its availability – one by searching word marks, and the second is phonetically under the required class. Once found to be unique, you can proceed to the next step.

Submission of Documents

The next step is to submit the documents and to begin with the same information is submitted to the department in the form of application to be submitted online. Documents can be submitted to Trademark registration consultants, and he shall thoroughly check the documents followed by the submission of the same to the Registrar online.

Preparation of TM application

The Trademark application is prepared in Form TM-A by logging on the portal, which can be done by the Applicant/Proprietor or Agent or the Attorney of such applicant/Proprietor or Trademark registration consultants. The relevant information is required to be entered in the respective tabs. The information as entered can be saved and modified before the submission. If you avail the Trademark registration services from the concerned consultants, you keep getting notifications about the status of trademark application via SMS or Email.

Trademark Challan

Upon the successful submission of a trademark Application to the registrar in TM-A form, a Challan is generated which contains the trademark application no., date of filing and applicant name along with attorney name. This serves as proof that the application is successfully submitted to the registrar and is pending under the governmental process.
The evidence of successful applicants must be kept safe with you or if you have extended the responsibility of trademark registration to a Trademark registration consultant, he shall bear the complete responsibility to take care of the same.
The applicant can start using a filled mark by writing “TM” upon receiving the Challan.

Trademark Registered

On the successful completion of the above-mentioned four steps, it takes around one year to get the desired mark registered. It is a long process to get the “R” Mark.

Upon the acceptance of the application request by the registrar, the same is published for four months in the journal for third-party opposition. Further, if no objection is received by the Registrar, then the proposed mark will be registered by him within the period of 6 months which shall be valid for ten years and can be renewed by filing a renewal application within 6 months before the expiry of 10 years.

Advantages

• Establishes a public record                 
• Right to sue infringers in court
• Creation of Goodwill
• Protects the Brand Name

Eligible Category

• Brand Name
• Brand Logo
• Numeric Combinations
• Name and Surname

Government fees for Trademark Registration

You can simply entrust a recognizable sign, expression or design to your product by choosing a trademark for it. The delegation of the trademark and service mark to your products and services offer a wide array of benefits to your business apart from legal distinguished identification.