I want to register a trademark for my clothing brand in India. What is the process and how long does it take?

Detailed Legal Analysis

Under the Trade Marks Act 1999, you can apply for trademark registration by filing Form TM-A with the Registrar of Trademarks through the IP India portal either online or at the appropriate trademark office. You must specify the class of goods or services under the Nice Classification; for clothing, the relevant class is typically Class 25.

After filing, the application is examined for distinctiveness and conflicts with existing marks, and an examination report is usually issued within one to two months. If there are no objections or oppositions, the trademark proceeds to publication in the Trademarks Journal for a four-month opposition period.

If no opposition is filed, the registration certificate is typically issued within 6 to 12 months, though the entire process can take 18 to 24 months in practice. Once registered, the trademark is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods.