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Trademark Protection Process in India

By

Vikram Pratap Singh Thakur

Can sound be trademarked?

Trademark

• a mark capable of being represented graphically; and

• which is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one person from those of others

Importance of a Trademark

• Indicate the source of goods/services

• Distinguish from others

• Makes it simple to advertise and promote

• Helps to make money

Brand Value

• Google $100.04 billion

• Microsoft $76.25 billion

• Coca-Cola $67.63 billion

• IBM $66.62 billion

• McDonald's $66.58 billion

Source: Investopedia.com

How to choose a trademark• Fanciful

• Arbitrary

• Suggestive

• Descriptive

• Generic

Protection

Pre-filing Requirements

• Classification of good/service

• Trademark Search

• Trademark Search Opinion

• Take a decision on filing

Filing

• Persons entitled to apply

• Place of application

• Types of application

• Priority date

• Documents

• Online or Hard copy filings

Person entitled to file

The person himself

Duly authorized person Legal practitioner Trademark Agent Person under sole and regular employment

Place of applicationTRADEMARK

OFFICESTERRITORIAL JURISDICTION

Delhi State of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Union Territory of Delhi and  Chandigarh

Kolkata Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim , Tripura and Union Territory of Nagaland, Andamar & Nicobar Island

Ahmedabad Gujarat and Rajasthan and Union Territory of Damman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Chennai Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Union Territory of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep Island

Mumbai (Head Office) Maharashtra, MP and Goa

Type of Mark

• Service Mark

• Certification Mark

• Collective Mark – eg. CA device used by the Institute of Chartered Accountants

• House Mark - eg. Dabur

• Textile Mark – class 22 to 27 eg. Vardhman

Priority date

• Paris Convention

• Time period

Mode of filing & Documents

• Online or hard copy

• Relevant Application Form

• Additional Representations

• Power of attorney

Examination

• Formal check

• Detailed Examination

• Examination Report

• Hearing

Publication

• Type of publication

• Importance of publication

• Opposition

• Registration

Registration

• ®

• Rights Use the trademark Restrain others Acts as a notice to public Infringement proceeding Prima facie evidence of validity

Opposition

• Opposition filing

• Counter Statement

• Evidence in Support of Opposition

• Evidence in Support of Application

• Reply evidence

• Hearing and decision

Renewal

• Time period

• Renewal window

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