The Trade Marks Registry publishes every pending and registered mark in a free public database. The examiner who reads your application will search it. So will the owner of any similar mark, four months later, when yours is advertised. Searching it yourself first is the cheapest step in the whole process, and the one most often skipped by services that charge ₹2,000 to file.
Where to search
The public search is at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch. No login is needed. It has three modes, and a thorough search uses all three.
1. Wordmark search
Finds marks containing the letters you enter. Choose the match type carefully:
- Start with: marks beginning with your term. Good for a first pass.
- Contains: marks with your term anywhere inside. Catches compound names such as "SuperFresh" when you search "fresh".
- Match with: the exact term only. Useful to confirm a specific hit, useless on its own.
Enter the class to narrow results, then repeat with the class field empty to see the whole register. Search each distinctive word of the name separately as well as the name as a whole. If the name is two words, search both orders.
2. Phonetic search
Finds marks that sound like your term regardless of spelling. This is the search that matters most, because the legal test for similarity is how the marks are heard and remembered by an ordinary buyer, not how they are spelt. "Kwik", "Quick" and "Quik" are the same mark to the Registry. Run the phonetic search on every word you ran the wordmark search on, in the same classes.
3. Device (logo) search by Vienna code
Logos are indexed by Vienna codes, an international classification of figurative elements: a lion is 3.1.1, a five-pointed star 1.1.2, a circle 26.1.1. To search a logo, select the codes that describe its main elements and the portal returns marks sharing them. The results are large and need a trained eye, which is why a device search is usually the part people leave to an attorney.
Reading the results
Each result shows the mark, application number, class, applicant and status. For every mark that resembles yours, note three things:
- Status. A conflicting mark that is Abandoned, Refused, Withdrawn or Removed usually cannot block you. Registered, Accepted, Advertised, Objected and Opposed marks can. The status guide decodes each one.
- Goods or services. Open the record and read the specification. The same class can hold unrelated businesses; similar goods within it are the problem.
- How similar, really. Compare sound, appearance and meaning together. A shared common word ("Royal", "Star", "Indian") is less dangerous than a shared distinctive one.
What the register does not show
- Unregistered marks in use. Indian law protects prior users even without registration. A business trading under the name for years can oppose or sue. Search Google, marketplaces, app stores, the MCA company register and domain names as well.
- Applications filed in the last few days. Data entry lags filing. A very recent application may not appear yet.
- Well-known marks. A famous mark can be cited against you in any class. The Registry keeps a list of well-known marks; check it.
- Descriptiveness. The search finds conflicts, not Section 9 problems. A name with no conflicts can still be refused for describing the goods. The objection guide explains that test.
A search checklist
| Step | Where | Looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Wordmark, each word, "contains", your classes | IP India public search | Identical and containing marks |
| Wordmark, whole name, all classes | IP India public search | Same name anywhere on the register |
| Phonetic, each word, your classes | IP India public search | Sound-alikes with different spelling |
| Vienna code, if there is a logo | IP India public search | Similar figurative elements |
| Well-known marks list | IP India | Famous marks that block across classes |
| Web, marketplaces, app stores, social handles | Google and the platforms | Unregistered prior users |
| Company and LLP names | MCA portal | Incorporated entities using the name |
| Domain availability | Any registrar | Whether you can own the .in and .com |
What a professional availability report adds
The public search gives results; a report gives a judgment. Ours lists every identical, similar and phonetically similar mark in the relevant and companion classes with its status and goods, assesses the likelihood of a Section 9 objection, a Section 11 citation and an opposition, and recommends a class set and specification. If the name is risky, it says so before you have paid a government fee, and suggests what to change. We provide this report free of charge, whether or not you go on to file with us; the request form is on the home page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IP India trademark search free?
Yes. The public search on IP India's portal is free and needs no login. It covers pending applications and registered marks across all 45 classes.
What is the difference between a wordmark search and a phonetic search?
A wordmark search finds marks containing the letters you type. A phonetic search finds marks that sound alike even if spelt differently, which is how the examiner and the courts judge similarity. Run both; a name that passes one often fails the other.
My search shows no results. Can I file safely?
A clean public search removes the obvious conflicts but not all of them: marks that sound alike, look alike as logos, or are used but never registered can still block you. Treat a clean search as a good sign, not a guarantee.
Should I search in one class or all classes?
Search the classes you will file in and the companion classes for your business, then search all classes for the exact name. A well-known mark in an unrelated class can still be cited against you.
Does a Google search count as a trademark search?
It is a useful extra, because it finds unregistered marks in use, which the register misses. It is not a substitute for the register search, which finds pending applications no website mentions yet.
What does a professional trademark search report contain?
The register results for identical, similar and phonetically similar marks in the relevant classes, the status of each, an assessment of the risk of a Section 11 objection or an opposition, and a recommendation on the name, the classes and the specification. We provide this free before filing.
How do I search a logo?
Logos are searched by Vienna code, the international classification of figurative elements. Pick the codes that describe your logo's shapes and the portal returns marks with the same elements. This search is harder to do well without training.
Information only. This guide explains a legal process in general terms; it is not legal advice and not a solicitation. Wording of statuses is as shown on IP India's public portal at the date above and may change.