Trademark
What is Trademark registration in India?
Trademark registration in India allows the applicant to use symbols or words to represent a business or the products that are offered by a business to distinguish the goods or services that are offered by them from the competitors. After the trademark is registered in India no other organization cannot use it as long as it remains in use.
The “™” symbol can be used with the trademark applicant with the brand once it is registered. Trademark registration is an asset for the company to protect the brand name it is necessary to apply for trademark registration in India. It is always better to obtain the trademark registration under the guidance of an expert as the process has various steps to be followed and also requires regular follow-up from the government.
Trademark can be registered for:
Many aspects of your brand image can be registered as a trademark. The aspect you need to consider is which aspect of your brand stands out to your customers. Pick that aspect(s) for registering.
Logo/Symbol
It is highly recommended to trademark a logo because it visually represents your brand. Your customers can recollect a logo faster than a name. A great example of a logo trademark is the ‘swoosh’ of Nike.
Tagline
If you have a tagline for your brand, you can go ahead and trademark that as well. A tagline tells your customers what you stand for as a business. For example, KFC’s ‘It’s finger lickin’ good’.
Name
- Product Name: You can register a particular product’s name as a trademark. Apple’s iPod is a product name trademark.
- Business Name: Registering a company name as a trademark is the most common route businesses take. Ex: Bajaj.
- Person’s Name/Surname: If your name plays an important part in generating revenue, then you can even trademark your name! Ex: Shah Rukh Khan has trademarked his name.
- Abbreviations: Abbreviations of a company or brand name can also be a trademark. Ex: BMW.
Other Options
- Colour Mark: You can trademark a colour or a combination of colours. (Ex: Cadbury has trademarked the colour royal blue)
- Sound Mark: Musical notes or sounds can be trademarked if we can prove that it’s distinctive. Nokia has trademarked its tune.
- Scent Mark: Even scents can be trademarked.
Importance of Trademark Registration
Trademark registration is important and necessary for a business because:
- It showcases your unique identity
- It helps you build trust and loyalty among your customers
- It offers legal protection for your brand’s identity
- It is an asset in itself
- It prevents unauthorized usage of your brand’s identity
