PRAKASH K PRAKASH is the name to reckon with if you want to avail the best solutions for establishing product identity through Trademark Services in India. Our Trademark Related Services include Trademark Registration Services in Delhi that are delivered by providing you with comprehensive knowledge about role, selection, types, importance, uses and benefits of trademark for your products and overall business. Besides, the team of Patent & Trademark Consultants at PRAKASH K PRAKASH will make you understand all the legalities and procedures involved in Trademark Registration.
Trademark in India: Registering Procedures & Laws and Challenging Trademarks
The Indian law of trademarks is enshrined in the new Trade Marks Act, 1999 which came into force with effect from September 15, 2003. The Trade Marks Rules, 2017 also came into effect w.ef. March 06, 2017. The new Trademarks Act of 1999 and The Trade Marks Rules, 2017 is in line with the WTO recommendations and is in conformity with the TRIPS Agreement to which India is a signatory.
MAIN FEATURES OF NEW LEGISLATION IN INDIA
Under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017:
WHAT IS A TRADEMARK
A ‘Mark` may consist of a word or invented word, Signature, Device, Letter, Numeral, brand, heading, label, name written in a particular style, The shape of goods other than those for which a mark is proposed to be used or any combination thereof or a combination of colors and so forth. Subject to certain conditions, A trademark may also be symbolized by the name of a person, living or dead.
For the purpose of registration, A mark chosen should be capable of distinguishing goods or services of one person from those of the others. Further it should not be deceptively similar to an existing mark of another person and not the one expressly prohibited under the Act.
The marks devoid of any distinctive character, or which are only indicative of the kind, Quality, Quantity, Purpose, Value or geographical origin of the goods, or which are marks already in vogue in the trade due to their customary use may not be registered. But these disqualifications do not apply to marks, Which have already acquired distinction due to their popularity and consistent use. Internationally acclaimed brand names are freely available for use in India.
WHAT IS COVERED UNDER TRADEMARKS
A trademark is a mark used in relation to goods or services so as to indicate a connection in the course of trade between the goods or services and some person having the right as proprietor to use the mark.
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF A TRADEMARK
Under modern business condition a trade mark performs four functions :
HOW TO SELECT A TRADEMARK
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF TRADEMARKS THAT CAN BE REGISTERED
Under the Indian trademark law the following are the types of trademarks that can be registered :
WHAT ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRADEMARKS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION
WHO CAN APPLY FOR A TRADEMARK
Any person (Individual/ Startup/Small Eneterprise, etc.) who claims to be the proprietor of the trademark can apply for the registration of its mark for goods as well as services. A person may apply for registration of a trade mark to the Trademark office under whose jurisdiction the principal place of the business of the applicant in India falls.
In case, the principal place of business is outside India, then the application can be filed in the Trademark office under whose jurisdiction the office of the lawyer appointed by you is located. In case of a company about to be formed, anyone may apply in his name for subsequent assignment of the registration in the company's favor. Before making an application for registration it is prudent to conduct a trademark search in context of the already registered trademarks to ensure that registration may not be denied in view of resemblance of the proposed mark to an existing one or prohibited one.
WHO CAN USE A TRADEMARK
The right to use a mark can be exercised either by the registered proprietor or a registered user.
WHAT ARE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION OF TRADEMARK IN INDIA
The legal requirements to register a trade mark under the Legislation are:
WHAT IS THE DURATION OF A TRADEMARK IN INDIA?
Term of registration of a trademark is ten years, which may be renewed for a further period of ten years on payment of prescribed renewal fees.
Non-user of a registered trademark for a continuous period of five years is a ground for cancellation of registration of such trademark at the behest of any aggrieved party.
CONVENTION APPLICATION AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
India has declared certain countries as convention countries, which afford to citizens of India similar privileges as granted to its own citizens. A person or company from a convention country, may within six months of making an application in the home country, apply for registration of the trademark in India. If such a trademark is accepted for registration, Such foreign national will be deemed to have registered his or her trademark in India, from the same date on which he or she made application in the home country.
Where the applications have been made for the registration of trademark in two or more convention countries, the period of six months would be reckoned from the date on which the earlier or earliest of those applications was made.
Although the recovery of damages for infringement of a trademark is possible only if the infringement takes place after the date of filing application for registration with the concerned trademark office in India, yet the deemed seniority in making application in home country may entitle the applicant to initiate an action in India for injunction, delivery of impugned labels and so on.
WHAT ARE BENEFITS OF TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
The registration of a trade mark confers upon the owner the exclusive right to the use of the registered trade mark and indicate so by using the symbol (R) in relation to the goods or services in respect of which the mark is registered and seek the relief of infringement in appropriate courts in the country. The exclusive right is however subject to any conditions entered on the register such as limitation of area of use etc. Also, where two or more persons have registered identical or nearly similar mark due to special circumstances such exclusive right does not operate against each other.
REMEDIES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF TRADEMARK IN INDIA AND PASSING-OFF
Two types of remedies are available to the owner of a trademark for unauthorized use of his or her mark or its imitation by a third party. These remedies are:
While former is a statutory remedy, the latter is a common law remedy. In an action involving infringement or passing off, a court may grant relief of injunction and/or monetary compensation for damages for loss of business and/or confiscation/destruction of infringing labels and tags etc. Although registration of trademark is prima facie an evidence of validity of a trademark, yet the registration can not upstage a prior consistent user of trademark, for the rule is ‘priority in adoption prevails over priority in registration`.
HOW TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION OF A TRADEMARK IN RESPECT OF PARTICULAR GOODS OR SERVICES
Goods and services are classified according to the International Classification of goods and services (NICE Classification Latest Edition) published by the World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO). The Registrar is the final authority in the determination of the class in which particular goods or services fall.
WHAT PURPOSE THE TRADEMARK SYSTEM SERVES
WHO BENEFITS FROM TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
The Registered Proprietor : The Registered Proprietor of a trade mark can stop other traders from unlawfully using his trade mark, sue for damages and secure destruction of infringing goods and or labels. The Purchaser and ultimately Consumers of trademarks goods and services. The Government: The Trademarks Registry is expected to earn a substantial annual revenue, which is perpetually on the rise.
WHAT DOES THE REGISTER OF TRADEMARK CONTAIN
The register of trade mark currently maintained in electronic form contains inter alia the trade mark the class and goods/ services in respect of which it is registered including particulars affecting the scope of registration of rights conferred or disclaimers, if any; the address of the proprietors; particulars of trade or other description of the proprietor; the convention application date (if applicable), Where a trade mark has been registered with the consent of proprietor of an earlier mark or earlier rights, that fact.
CAN ANY CORRECTION BE MADE IN THE APPLICATION OR THE REGISTER OF TRADEMARKS
Yes. But the basic principle is that the trade mark applied for should not be substantially altered affecting its identity. Subject to this changes are permissible according to rules detailed in the subordinate legislation.
CAN A REGISTERED TRADEMARK BE REMOVED FROM THE REGISTER
It can be removed on application to the Registrar on prescribed form on the ground that the mark is wrongly remaining on the register. The Registrar also can suo moto issue Notice for removal of a registered trade mark. Non use of a registered trademark for continuous period of 5 years is also a ground of removal.
CAN I APPLY FOR A DESIGN/LOGO REGISTRATION FOR SAME GOODS AND SERVICES IN BLACK & WHITE AS WELL AS COLOR
Yes. You can do so in one application as India recognizes the system of series application.
WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE IF A COMPETITOR HAS ALREADY REGISTERED MY MARK IN INDIA
The Indian trademark law provides for invalidation proceedings and you have the right to initiate a cancellation action should a competitor have registered your trademark in India. You also have the right to initiate either a civil or a criminal action against any party that is violating your mark in India.
WHO CAN USE SYMBOL ® IN INDIA
Only the proprietor of a trademark whose trademark has been registered in India can use the symbol ® in India. Using the symbol ® unless your mark has been registered in India is unlawful.
WHEN CAN THE SYMBOL ™ BE USED IN INDIA
Using this symbol with your trademark simply implies that you claim to be the proprietor of the trademark. There is no prohibition on the use of the symbol ™ in India.
WHAT IS THE PENALTY PRESCRIBED UNDER CRIMINAL LAWS FOR INFRINGEMENT OF A TRADEMARK IN INDIA
The penalty for selling or providing services using a false trademark is a minimum of six months and maximum of three years and with fine not less than Rupees fifty thousand but which may extend to Rupees two lakh.
AS A FOREIGN INVESTOR HOW CAN I REGISTER MY TRADEMARK IN INDIA
Registration of trademarks is one of the important protections that businesses should avail in India. Many foreign and domestic Applicants have been able to successfully register their marks in India. Indian courts have upheld many of those registrations and granted favorable decisions to rights holders.
In addition to the registering of their trademarks in India, businesses need to adopt other strategies for protecting their trademarks. Some of them are mentioned below:
AS A FOREIGN CORPORATION CAN I FILE A SINGLE APPLICATION FOR USE OF MY MARK ON MORE THAN ONE GOOD OR IN ASSOCIATION WITH MORE THAN ONE SERVICE IN INDIA
Yes. India recognizes the system of multi-class applications and follows the International Classification. There are 45 classes in which the goods and services have been divided in India (as per NICE Classification) and you can file for multi-class applications both for goods and services.
BEING A FOREIGN CORPORATION, MUST I SELL MY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES IN INDIA BEFORE SEEKING TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
No, Indian trademark law allows filing of a trademark application in India on an ‘intent-to-use’ basis. However the registered proprietor of the trademark in India has to commence use of the mark within 5 years and 3 months of the date of registration. Otherwise the registered trademark is open to invalidation proceedings.
WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF TRADEMARK LEGISLATION
WHAT ARE THE FORMALITIES FOR MAJOR TRADEMARK TRANSACTIONS
As per Trade Marks Rules 2017, there are prescribed forms depending on the nature of application such as Form TM-A for filing application to register trademark; TM-M for filing miscellaneous applications such as Extension of Time, Duplicate Registration Certificate, Amendment in the Trade Mark Application, etc.; TM-O to file a Notice of Opposition to oppose an application published in the Trade Marks Journal, Counter Statement; TM-R for Renewal of a Regd. Trademark, Surcharge for belated renewal, Restoration of removed mark, Application for rectification of a registered trade mark; TM-C for Copyright search request and issuance of certificate.
Contact PKP for Trademark Related Services in Delhi
Contact Person : Mr. Prakash k Gupta
Email - pgupta@pkpconsult.com
Telephone Numbers : +91-11-23312207/ 23328753
Mobile Number : +91-9811031841