FAQ
Your questions about IP, answered clearly.
Everything founders and businesses ask us most, in plain language. Still stuck? Our assistant in the corner is here to help.
General questions.
Registration is not legally mandatory, but it is what gives you enforceable, exclusive rights. Without it, stopping a copycat is far harder and more expensive. For any brand you plan to grow, registration is one of the best value protections available.
Absolutely. Intellectual property in India is registered at the national level, so we serve clients in every state. Most of the process is handled online, so your location is never a barrier.
Transparently. Your quote depends on the service, the number of trademark classes and whether you qualify for the government's reduced fee, which individuals, startups and MSMEs do. We share a clear, itemised quote before you commit, with no hidden charges.
Objections are common and rarely fatal. We draft and file a reasoned reply, and represent you at a hearing if needed. Our experience with examination reports is a big part of our 98% success rate.
Trademark Registration
You can use the ™ symbol as soon as you file, or even on an unregistered mark, to signal a claim. The ® symbol may only be used once the trademark is officially registered. Using it before registration is an offence.
Allotment of the application number is immediate. If there are no objections or oppositions, registration typically completes in roughly 8 to 18 months, depending on the Registry workload.
Identity and address proof of the applicant, the logo or wordmark, the business details, and for companies the incorporation proof. We share a simple checklist once we know your class.
Yes. If your brand spans goods and services in different classes, for example a clothing line and a cafe, you can file a single multiclass application or separate applications.
Patent Registration
If your invention is still evolving, a provisional application secures an early priority date and gives you 12 months to file the complete specification. If the invention is fully developed, you can file complete directly.
Section 3 of the Patents Act excludes things like abstract theories, mere discoveries, business methods, mathematical methods and traditional knowledge, among others. We assess this during the search stage.
Patents take longer than trademarks, often two to four years, because of the publication and examination stages. Expedited examination is available in certain cases.
Copyright Registration
Yes, copyright exists the moment a work is fixed in a tangible form. But registration gives you a government issued certificate that serves as strong evidence of ownership, which is invaluable if you ever need to enforce your rights.
For most works it lasts for the author's lifetime plus 60 years. For films, sound recordings and photographs the term is generally 60 years from publication.
A logo with artistic elements can be protected by copyright, and is often also registered as a trademark. The two protections complement each other and we frequently advise filing both.
Design Registration
A patent protects how an invention works, its function. A design protects how a product looks, its visual appeal. Many products benefit from both.
No. Novelty is essential. The design must not have been disclosed or published anywhere before filing, which is why we recommend filing before any public launch.
IP Litigation & Enforcement
If your mark is registered, you can act for infringement. Even unregistered marks can be protected through a passing off action if you have reputation. The usual first step is a cease and desist notice, which often resolves matters without litigation.
After a mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal, anyone who believes it conflicts with their rights has four months to oppose its registration. We file and defend oppositions on both sides.
ISO Certification & Consultation
It depends on your goal: ISO 9001 for general quality, ISO 27001 for data security, ISO 22000 for food businesses, and so on. We help you pick the right one in the first consultation.
For most small and medium businesses, the journey from gap analysis to certificate takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on how mature your existing processes are.
Ready to protect your brand? Let's begin.
Book a free consultation and we will tell you exactly what protection you need. No jargon, no obligation.