How to Conduct a Trademark Search in India: Simple and Effective Steps
What is a Trademark Search?
A trademark search means reviewing existing registered or pending trademarks in the government-maintained database maintained by the Trade Marks Registry of India. This procedure helps identify whether your proposed trademark is free to use or if it overlaps with any existing mark.
Conducting a trademark search early in the branding process reduces the risk of infringement and ensures your trademark identity remains unique and legally secured.
Why Checking Trade Marks Before Filing Matters
Doing a trade mark search prior to filing is not just wise—it’s essential for ensuring success. A thorough search lets you:
- Steer clear of already-used marks
- Save money from rejected applications
- Reduce opposition risks
- Maintain exclusivity
- Streamline the registration process
Without proper checking, your trademark application might be rejected, wasting time and resources.
How to Check a Trade Mark in India?
The Trade Marks Registry provides an official platform where anyone can run a trademark search. To search:
- Visit the Trade Marks Registry website
- Navigate to the public search section
- Type your brand name or logo text
- Choose the correct class
- Check for matches
This tool gives you visibility into both registered trademarks and filed requests, so you know where your brand stands.
Understanding Trademark Classes
Each trademark belongs to a specific class. In India, there are 45 trademark classes—34 for goods and 11 for services. Selecting the right class ensures your search is accurate.
For example, a clothing label usually search under Class 25, while tech products often go under Class 9. Knowing your class is key to getting precise results.
Different Types of Trademark Checks
When checking for trademark availability, do both wordmark and phonetic searches. A wordmark search looks for same or close spellings. A sound-based check finds names that are pronounced similarly, even if spelled in a different way.
This helps you catch trademarks that could pose legal issues, giving you better security before applying.
Resources and Platforms for Trade Mark Checks
The Indian IP Office provides a free, official search tool. There are also private platforms that offer advanced features like:
- Smart filters
- Expert analysis
- Trademark risk reports
These tools simplify trademark checking for new brands and help ensure your trademark is ready to file.
Searching for Non-Text Trade Marks
If your trademark includes a logo, you must perform a visual mark check. Searching logos is more complex than wordmark searches, but the Registry portal supports visual filters and keyword tagging.
This ensures your design or icon doesn’t infringe on another registered design, avoiding legal issues.
Why Hire a Trademark Consultant?
While anyone can search, a legal expert brings depth to the process. Professionals:
- Know trademark law deeply
- Spot potential conflicts
- Suggest alternatives
- Support filing and follow-up
For serious businesses, professional support adds accuracy and legal confidence.
After You Search: What’s Next?
Once your search confirms the mark is available, you public search of trade marks can start the application process. This includes:
- Preparing documents
- Selecting classes
- Submitting payments
The process then enters review, publication, and if no objections arise, your mark is officially registered.
Secure Your Brand with Smart Trade Mark Checks
A proper trademark search in India is the most important step in securing your identity. It ensures your brand assets are free to use, legally safe, and ready for registration.
With easy-to-use tools and expert help, the process is now accessible. Begin with clarity—because a strong brand needs a strong foundation.