Trademark filing is a simple 30 minute procedure. But to know exactly what you need to do, it takes practice for years. Anyway I would like to demonstrate to you a few steps in a simplified knowledge base that will get you a perspective overall.

See, a company can be created in a week but brands are made in years. So, you really need to like your brand name. No matter how interesting or how boring your brand name is, once it starts clicking, it will be there in the memories of people for a long time.

First thing first, a short and best way for any newcomer to get a catchy, trendy, and an interesting brand name is to google it, it won’t hit in a minute, but as you will search deeper, you will find some interesting names. Choosing a brand name that is short n simple is definitely a wise move since most of the generic names would already be in booked. Moreover, Investing in a particular name requires a quick research process to ensure yourself that you are not picking a brand name that is already in use. The best part here is that you can invent or coin some words with a mix of generic words to create a unique brand name for yourself. Like our brand name is “Taxaj” which is a coined term. Tax represents our business, and “AJ” is our founder Abhilesh Jha.

Step 2: Preparing a trademark application

The following supporting documents together with the application have to be submitted for online trademark registration:-

1. Trademark Application Copy (TM-A) - This is an application where all the relevant details are mentioned.

2. Business Registration Proof. (COI, or PAN card

3. Owners identity proof (Director, Partner, Proprietor, etc.) 

4. Address proof of the business has to be submitted.

Step 3: Filing the application of brand name registration

    Manual Filing and e-filing are the two different ways for filing the registration.If you choose ‘manual filing’ then you have to personally move and handover your application for the registration to the Registrar Office of Trade Marks situated in the major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Chennai. After that, you have to wait for at least 15 -20 days to receive the receipt of the acknowledgment.

But in the case of an e-filing system, you will be signing the application through Digital Signature. You will receive your receipt of acknowledgment instantly on the government website. Once after receiving your acknowledgment, you are eligible to use your TradeMark (TM) symbol beside your brand name!

Step 4: Examining the process of the brand name application

    Once the application is dispatched, the Registrar will check out whether you have followed certain terms that your brand name complies with, the existing law. Moreover, there should not be any conflict or dispute amongst any existing or pending brands for the registration. This is the reason why we preferred you to choose a quirky brand name!

Step 5: Publication of your brand in the Indian Trade Mark Journals

    After the process of examination, the registrar will publish your brand name in the Indian Trade Mark Journal. This is certainly the most important part of the trademark registration and there should not be any opposition within 3 months (i.e. 90 days) or 120 days, in some cases, from the date of publication. Then your brand name is proceeding towards acceptance.

Step 6: The trademark registration certificate issuance

    The Registrar will accept your trademark application if there’s no opposition being raised within the stipulated period of 90 days. Wow! And this will be the happiest moment for you as the Registrar issues the Registration Certificate with the Trademark Registry seal.

    Right from the moment you have been issued with your certificate, you can use the registered trademark symbol (®) beside your brand name.Thus, with this blog post, we feel that even a beginner can understand all about creating a brand name and registering it successfully.