How to Register a Logo for Your

Business?
N O V E M B E R 7 , 2 0 1 9   5 M I N S R E A D

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We are exposed to thousands of brands daily, and this overdose of information
can be overwhelming. When it comes to brand building, the first challenge that
many limited companies or individual brand owners face is “Making an
Impact”. Conveying your brand idea to a generation with a short attention span
is the second one. Hence, writing 1000 words about your company will not do
the job that your company logo would.
From Google to Apple, all the big shots in the commercial world have been
revamping their logos from time to time, just to stay relevant and be trendy.
Minimalism is the key and hence logos are the past, present, and future of the
businesses around the globe.

Now that we have understood how and why a logo is so essential for a
company, we need to understand what makes a good logo, and how to protect
it. 
A good logo would be the one that accomplishes the brand goal and reaches the
correct audience. To tie in an entire brand to a symbol can be tough and time-
consuming. Thus, protecting this unique symbol is equally important, and that is
when trademark registration comes into play. 
Many companies make the mistake of delaying the logo registration and losing
their brand name to a third party.  Hence one should opt for logo registration at
the earliest.

How to Register a logo?

Step 1: Choose a unique logo
It is very important to understand that the logo must be unique and distinct. Any
resemblance with an existing trademark might lead to infringement or
cancellation of the mark. The moment a logo is used commercially, it becomes
the identity of the company or the individual and that is when the product
branding is initiated. To reinforce this legally, registration of the logo is
important. You can consult a legal professional to help you with the
initial trademark search which helps one determine the uniqueness of the brand.
Taking a professional’s help is advisable as a professional would have the
knowledge and expertise to help you in this regard. 

Step 2: Apply for your logo registration at the earliest 

Even if you have not started using the logo commercially, securing it is better.
Organizations protect their trademarks zealously, thus if you file a logo that is
proposed to be used it will ensure, that it will be safe and protected before you
start with full branding and marketing campaign. This would, in the long run,
prove to be much more profitable and beneficial for the company.
After you apply your brand name along with the logo you can start using (™)
mark over the logo. Once the TM application is filed and a receipt is generated
the application is categorized as a new application, the trademark department
reviews the application and if found complete in all respects the application is
marked for examination otherwise a clarification may be sought.

Step 3- Examination of trademark application

During this stage, the mark is examined further by the examiners and if the
application seems proper, the application is advertised in the trademark journal.
On the other hand, if the examiner feels the logo or brand name does not suffice
the requirements; they might be objected against under absolute grounds of
refusal and/or relative grounds of refusal as per the Trademarks Act, 1999.
Subsequently, an examination report will be issued. Once you have received the
intimation regarding the objection through the examination report a reply must
be sent within prescribed time limits.

Step 4- Show Cause Hearing

Here the examiner sends a notice to the applicant regarding the application
notifying that a hearing is scheduled. This happens when the examiner is not
happy with the examination reply filed by the applicant.
If the application is accepted it moves to the next stage.

Step 5-Publication of Mark in Trademark Journal

After examination, the trademark is published in the Trademarks Journal.
Within four months of the publication of the trademark, the application will be
processed by the registrar, provided there is no third-party objection. In case of
an objection, a hearing would be conducted by the registrar where both the
parties would establish their claims, according to which the registrar would
make his decision. 

Trademark registration & certification

The application now reaches its final stage. Once the logo is published in the
journal and no objection is raised; a registration certificate under the seal of the
trademark would be issued. The logo and the brand name would be entered into
the Central Register of Trademarks. 
Registered trademark symbol (®) can be used on the logo once the applicant
received the certificate online. 
The whole brand/logo registration takes about 12-18 months. If it’s a
straightforward application one can expect the registration to be done in 8-9
months. 
Once accepted, it would be valid for a period of 10 years from the date of the
filed application. The logo once registered can be made perpetual by renewing
the mark every 10 years.
One can renew the trademark by filing a Trademark Renewal Application under
TM-R along with the requisite fees. 
However, if registered Trademark is not renewed before six months of its expiry
date then it will be removed from the register of Registrar.