GIVE A OVERVIEW ABOUT TRADEMARK REGISTRATION SERVICES?

It takes a great deal of hard work and resources to build a brand. Hence, It is important to make sure that you have exclusive ownership to use the logo, slogan, shape and packaging of goods, sound, smell, colour combinations or anything else that gives your brand a distinct identity. Trademark Act, 1999 allows you to register a trademark in India. It makes way for exclusive ownership rights and restricts all others from its usage and thereby benefitting the owner of the registered mark.

Application for logo registration can be done quickly and online. One can start using a “TM” symbol as soon as the application is made. However, TM registration process takes up to 15-18 months. It includes various processes for validating original ownership of the mark. Trademark registration in India is going through many innovative changes. Consider this – one can now avail trademark for Unconventional Marks through which even a distinct sound can now be registered as a trademark in India.

Benefits of Trademark Registration in India
Guards the Commercial Goodwill:
A trademark’s registered owner has a right to create, establish and protect the goodwill of his/her products or services. The owner can stop other traders from using his trademark unlawfully. One can also sue the infringer for dilution of the brand name and claim damages for any infringement.

Advertises Goods and Services:
Registering a trademark creates a face of the company or the goods and services. This helps to distinguish and facilitate brand creation. Most of the companies find their identity via trademark hence it pays a pivotal role in advertising and increases the brand value.

Legal Protection:
A registered trademark gives its owner a legal right in case of infringement. Not registering a trademark may leave the owner of the original brand name without any remedy.

Creation of an Asset:
Trademark registration in India creates an intangible asset. Registered TM can be sold, assigned, franchised or commercially contracted to bring benefits to the company or the individual proprietor.

Validity of a registered trademark
Once a trademark application is registered in the Trademark office or online, then the candidate can begin applying the TM symbol on products or the services, and if the trademark is registered then the candidate specifies the ® symbol over his trademark. All registered trademarks are valid for 10 years from the date of registration.

At the end of the validity of a trademark, a trademark can be renewed simply by giving the Government fee for registration within 6 months via “Form TM-12”, from the date of expiry of the trademark.

An expired trademark can be renewed through Form TM-13 (Restoration & Renewal) after 6 months and within 1year from the expiration of the last registration of the trademark.