Trademark Rectification

A trademark (popularly known as brand name) in layman’s language is a visual symbol which may be a word signature, name, device, label, numerals or combination of colours used by one undertaking on goods or services or other articles of commerce to distinguish it from other similar goods or services originating from a different undertaking. The legal requirements to register a trademark under the Act are:

  • The selected mark should be capable of being represented graphically (that is in the paper form).
  • It should be capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others.
  • It should be used or proposed to be used mark in relation to goods or services for the purpose of indicating or so as to indicate a connection in the course of trade between the goods or services and some person have the right to use the mark with or without identity of that person.

Any person, claiming to be the proprietor of a trademark used or proposed to be used by him, may apply in writing in prescribed manner for registration. The application should contain the trademark, the goods/services, name and address of applicant and agent (if any) with power of attorney, the period of use of the mark. The application should be in English or Hindi. It should be filed at the appropriate office.
The applications can be submitted personally at the Front Office Counter of the respective office or can be sent by post. These can also be filed on line through the e-filing gateway available at the official website.

Rectification is the legal procedure to correct or rectify an error or an omission that has been made in the details of a trademark as recorded in the trademark register, after the trademark registration.In such cases, the Indian Trademark Act provides for file rectification of the registered trademarks.Hence, in cases wherein the Trade Mark Registrar marks the application as Formalities Chk Fail or Send Back to EDP, the applicant has an opportunity to rectify and resubmit the trademark application. The rectification deed to the Trademark Examiners note must be prepared based on the reasons and facts as to why the mark was not allowed for further processing. If the Trademark Examiner finds the rectification sufficient and addresses all the concerns raised by him/her, application is allowed to be processed and marked for examination by a Trademark Examiner for preparing Trademark Examination Report.