Legal Tool

Trademark Guide

Trademark cost scales per class. See government and professional fees before filing, and when you can use ™ and ®.

Applicant category (Govt fee determinant)

What are you protecting?

Primary business vertical / sector

Number of trademark classes to protect

Filing procedure

Current usage of the brand

Trademark Filing Plan

Statutory Government Filing Fee

₹5K

Strictly government fee: ₹5K × 1 class(es)

Professional Assistance Fee

₹4K

Search, drafting specification, filing & tracking

Total Planning Estimate

₹8K

Government fee + professional assistance

Symbol usage timeline

™ from filing date

® strictly after registration certificate is issued (typically 8–18 months)

Recommended Nice Classes:

Class 9, Class 42

Class selection defines the legal perimeter of your monopoly. Filing in the wrong class leaves your core commercial activity unprotected.

Statutory Filing Lifecycle

Comprehensive Public Search: Check phonetic and visual conflicts on IP India registry before paying government fees.
Filing Form TM-A: Generation of application number enabling immediate legal use of the ™ symbol.
Examination Stage: Trademark examiner inspects mark for distinctiveness (Sec 9) and similarity (Sec 11).
Journal Publication: Mark advertised in the official Trademark Journal for 4 months for public scrutiny.
Registration Certificate: Valid for 10 years across all states in India, renewable indefinitely.

Indicative guidance only for general planning purposes. Rules, thresholds, statutory fees and compliance requirements are subject to government amendments. Please verify with the relevant government portal (gst.gov.in, mca.gov.in, ipindia.gov.in) or a qualified professional before taking action.