Trademark Renewal
Is your trademark registration expiring? If so, you should immediately file a trademark renewal application and contact experts to securely renew your trademark in India.
Trademark Renewal- An Overview
Trademarks are graphically represented marks that help people identify the company or person who produced the goods and services. Trademark renewal is crucial, and every trademark owner can renew the trademark. Meanwhile, Trademark registration in India can be renewed every ten years. It is a vital requirement to ensure the continuation and validity of a trademark's legal significance after its registration has expired.
Subsequently, the application for trademark renewal must be submitted at least six months before the registered trademark expires. This is done by submitting the trademark renewal form TM 12 or TM-R form and the required filing fee before the trademark registration office. Trademark register offices are in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.
Entrepreneurs and business owners need to remain vigilant about the ongoing validity and protection of trademarks. They should be aware of and understand the importance of trademark renewal to preserve and protect the reputation of their brands in the market.
Ten years is the limitation term for registered trademarks. A registered trademark grants the owner exclusive rights over the use of the trademark and is legally protected against third parties violating those rights. However, suppose the trademark holder does not renew the trademark within six months prior to its expiration. In that case, the concerned trademark Registrar will publicize his intention to withdraw the mark by advertising the notification preceding removing or deleting it from the trademark journal.
What is Trademark Renewal?
Trademark registration in India can be renewed every ten years by the trademark owner at his liberty.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a recognisable sign, phrase, or symbol that determines the service or product and legally differentiates it from all others of its kind in the market. It creates a specific identity for the company or businesses in the market, giving the trademark owner exclusive rights or ownership of the mark. Trademarks are one form of intellectual property and may or may not be registered.
A company or business with trademarks prevents others from using their brand name or logos without their permission. They also prohibit any marks that are likely to create confusion in the market with an already existing trademark. Some examples of trademarks are corporate logos, slogans, brands, and brand names.
What is Trademark Renewal?
Trademark registration in India can be renewed every ten years by the trademark owner at his liberty. Meanwhile, the trademark registrar provides a window of a six-month trademark renewal period before the end of the ten-year duration of the trademark in India to the trademark owner. Thus, the owner must renew the trademark within the stipulated time frame to enjoy or continue the trademark after the expiry.
On the other hand, if the trademark is not renewed, the registrar will issue an advertisement in the trademark journal with the intention of discarding or removing it.
Why is Trademark Renewal Important?
Trademark renewal is vital because renewal ensures the continuity and validity of the existing trademark registration. A registered trademark provides the trademark holder or owner exclusive rights to use the marks in connection with the goods and services.
Thus, renewal safeguards these rights, strengthens the legal position of an owner, and prevents unauthorized use or infringement of the mark. A registered trademark serves as a powerful tool in litigation and enforcement action, facilitating favourable outcomes for trademark holders.
Consult experts for renewal of trademark in India and leave no scope for mistakes in the process.
Trademark Renewal Provision (Section 25)
According to section 25 of the Trade Marks Act of 1999, the trademark renewal provisions state that trademarks are registered initially for ten years and can be renewed every ten years by applying with the trademark registrar and the prescribed trademark renewal fees. The registrar is responsible for notifying the trademark owner before the date of expiration.
However, if a trademark owner does not pay the prescribed trademark renewal fees, the trademark may be removed from the register after an advertisement in the trademark journal. However, a removed trademark can be restored within one year of expiration by complying with the necessary conditions and trademark rules and the payment of the prescribed fees. Therefore, section 25 ensures that trademark registrations are regularly checked and updated by the concerned owner and provides a mechanism to restore the lapse of trademark renewal.
Power of Central Government to Make Rules (Section 157)
Section 157 of the Trademark Act, 1999 grants the Central Government the power or authority to make rules under this Act vide a notification in the official gazette. This power to make a rule may include a wide range of provisions, such as the forms to be used for any proceeding under this Act, the rule of sending the notice, the trademark renewal procedure in India, and various other matters that are required to be or may be prescribed.
Hence, this section ensures that the Central Government has complete authority to create detailed rules and regulations for implementing such an Act, with guidelines to effectively enforce the provisions of the Act.
What is Trademark Renewal?
Trademark registration in India can be renewed every ten years by the trademark owner at his liberty.
Due Date for filing of Trademark Renewal
Given below are the points to be taken care of on the due date for filing of trademark renewal application to avoid any extra charges:
- A trademark is usually registered for ten years.
- It is mandatory to file a trademark renewal application before its expiry date.
- The Registrar may notify the trademark holder of the expiration, renewal conditions, and trademark renewal fees.
- The due date for filing of trademark renewal is on or within six months before the date of trademark registration.
- In case of lapsed trademark registration renewal or failure to apply before or within the due date, the same can be renewed within six months after its expiry, along with an additional surcharge in the government trademark renewal fee.
- Therefore, the trademark registration gets cancelled if the trademark application is not renewed within the stipulated timeframe.
- Additionally, a cancelled trademark can be restored if a trademark renewal application is filed within six months of the cancellation.
Documents Required for Trademark Renewal Online
The documents required for trademark renewal online, along with the trademark renewal form TM-12 that are to be submitted before the Registrar of Trademarks, are as follows:
- A certified copy of the original trademark registration Certificate.
- Applicant identity proof.
- Applicant residency proof.
- A certified copy of the TM-A form used during the initial registration of a trademark.
- A power of attorney in case the applicant is representing on behalf of the trademark owner.
Process of Trademark Renewal in India
The trademark renewal process in India consists of several steps to ensure the continuation and validity of the trademark registration. Given below is the list of steps to be followed for renewing the trademark registration in India:
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Step 1: Filing an application
An application trademark renewal form, TM 12 form or TM-R, must be filled out and submitted to the Trademark Registry. However, this form can be filled out by an applicant through an official portal of the Indian Patent Office, also known as an e-filing renewal trademark. Some of the mandatory details include trademark registration number, trademark registration status, and applicant contact information. Additionally, an applicant can appoint an agent to apply.
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Step 2: Review and Examination
In this stage, the Registry will review and examine the trademark renewal application. It is the registry's responsibility to find potential conflicts and compliance with trademark laws and regulations. In case any irregularities are found, the registry will raise objections and seek clarification from the applicant. Such clarification shall be filed within a stipulated timeframe.
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Step 3: Trademark Journal Publication
After the objection stage is completed, the registry will publish the trademark renewal details in the trademark journal for four months. This is the time when a third party can raise his opposition to the renewal application. An applicant must reply within the prescribed timeframe.
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Step 4: Grant of Renewal Certificate
Lastly, after successful publishing in the trademark journal and resolving any opposition, the Trademark Registry will grant an applicant the renewal certificate. This certificate confirms the validity of the Trademark Registration certificate for the next ten years.
Trademark Validity in India
The trademark validity in India is for ten years and is granted by the Registrar of the Trademark Office. A trademark registration is followed by a trademark registration certificate issued to an owner, which shall be valid for the next ten years. The Registrar shall enter This trademark registration into the Register of Trademarks when issued. It provides an additional trademark renewal period of protection with trademark renewal to the trademark owner.
Subsequently, the same shall be renewed before the expiration of the trademark registration within the stipulated timeframe to continue and enjoy the legal rights and protections provided by the trademark registration. It is the sole responsibility of the trademark holder to decide if he wants to extend the trademark registration.
What is Trademark Renewal?
Trademark registration in India can be renewed every ten years by the trademark owner at his liberty.
Forms Required for Renewal of Trademark in India
The list of forms required for the renewal of a trademark in India is as follows:
- Form TM-R is an application form the registered trademark owner must complete.
- Form TM-18 is an affidavit form to be filled to support the case statement.
Why Choose a Entermark for Trademark Renewal?
At Entermark, we have a team of lawyers and compliance experts with decades of experience in assisting businesses in trademark renewal, registration and various other services related to trademarks. We help companies ease the complications of trademark compliance and regulations, ensuring a reduction in the chances of error. Given below are the reasons why businesses prefer us for trademark renewal-
Additionally, a cancelled mark can be restored within one year from the date of its expiry, with a restoration fee much higher than the normal renewal fee.
Consequences of Not Renewing a Trademark
Suppose an applicant fails to renew within the deadline before the expiration of the trademark registration. In that case, a grace period of six months from the expiry date is provided under the Trademark Act, though such renewal in the grace period is attached with an additional fee. Subsequently, suppose the trademark is still not renewed within the grace trademark renewal period. In that case, the consequences of not renewing a trademark within the prescribed timeframe lead to the respective mark being cancelled.
Additionally, a cancelled mark can be restored within one year from the date of its expiry, with a restoration fee much higher than the normal renewal fee.
Why Choose a Entermark for Trademark Renewal?
At Entermark, we have a team of lawyers and compliance experts with decades of experience in assisting businesses in trademark renewal, registration and various other services related to trademarks. We help companies ease the complications of trademark compliance and regulations, ensuring a reduction in the chances of error. Given below are the reasons why businesses prefer us for trademark renewal-
- Simplified Trademark Renewal Process for 5000+ Brands
- Save up to 40% on Renewal Fees
- Ensures that you Never Miss a Deadline
- Assistance in Filing Trademark Renewal Application
- Renewal Monitoring Mechanism to Share Timely Reminders
- Help in Obtaining the Renewal Certificate Effortlessly
- 200+ IP Experts to Ensure Accuracy and Reliability
- Round the Clock Support to Help you stay Stress-free