Trade Marks Registry
The Trade Marks Registry was established in India in 1940. It administers the provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. The Registry functions as a resource and information centre and facilitates matters relating to trade marks in the country.
The objective of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is to provide for the registration of trade marks relating to goods and services, ensure better protection of trade marks, and prevent fraudulent use of marks.
The primary function of the Registry is to examine and register trade marks that qualify for registration under the provisions of the Act and Rules, and to maintain the Register of Trade Marks.
India is a member of the Madrid Protocol under the Madrid System for the international registration of marks. The Trade Marks Registry functions as:
- the Office of Origin for applications made by Indian applicants seeking international registration of their trade marks; and
- the Office of the Designated Contracting Party for international registrations in which protection in India has been designated.
The Trade Marks Registry operates through branch offices located at Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
In addition to registration-related activities, the Registry performs several statutory and administrative functions, including:
- conducting searches for issuing certificates under Section 45(1) of the Copyright Act, 1957 regarding identical or deceptively similar trade marks;
- producing annual statistical reports;
- publishing the official Trade Marks Journal in electronic form; and
- submitting an Annual Report to Parliament.
The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks heads the Trade Marks Registry and functions as the Registrar of Trade Marks. The Controller General may assign the functions of the Registrar to other officers appointed by the Central Government.
The functions of the Trade Marks Registry are carried out through an automated Trade Marks System that enables electronic filing and processing of applications. The system operates through secure digital infrastructure designed to ensure efficient processing, data integrity, and continuity of services. All branch offices are connected through a secure network to facilitate coordinated and timely handling of trade mark records and related activities.
