TRADEMARK SEARCH
Imagine spending months building your brand — designing the perfect logo, naming your business, and marketing it everywhere — only to find out later that someone else already owns that name! That’s exactly why a Trademark Search is your brand’s first line of defense. Before you file for trademark registration, it’s essential to make sure your proposed name, logo, or tagline is unique and not similar to any existing trademark registered with the Indian Trademark Registry. A Trademark Search helps you avoid objections or rejections during the trademark registration process, prevent legal disputes in the future, and secure a stronger brand identity that truly belongs to you.In short — a 5-minute search can save you from 5 years of legal trouble.
Documents Required for Trademark Search:
- Proposed Trademark Name/Logo/Tagline
- Applicant’s name and nature of business
- Class of goods or services (based on the Nice Classification)
- Description of business activities
- Optional: Design or image file (for logo mark search)
FAQs
There are three main types: Wordmark Search (for brand names), Phonetic Search (for sound-alike words), and Vienna Code Search (for logo or image marks).
Yes, if they belong to distinct industries and do not cause consumer confusion.
Example: “LOTUS” for cars (Class 12) and “LOTUS” for software (Class 9).
Yes. Domain name or social media availability doesn’t mean your brand name is legally safe — only a trademark search ensures that.
While it’s not mandatory, hiring a trademark attorney or IP expert ensures a more accurate interpretation and helps you identify potential conflicts you might miss.
No. Trademark search is a preliminary step to ensure your mark is unique before applying for registration.
No, but it is highly recommended. Without it, your trademark application might face objections or rejection for similarity.