Every month, business owners show us a receipt for a "trademark registration" they bought for a few thousand rupees, and ask why the Registry has now sent them a letter. They paid for a filing. The status field on IP India's portal is where that difference becomes visible, and this guide reads it for you.
How to check your trademark status
- Open IP India's public search portal at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/eregister.
- Choose Trade Mark Application / Registered Mark.
- Enter the seven-digit application number from your filing receipt, complete the captcha, and click View.
- Read the Status row in the application details. That is the word this guide explains.
If you do not have the application number, the agent who filed for you must give it to you. It is your application, filed in your name.
Before examination
New Application Waiting
The application has been received and data entry is in progress. Nothing has been checked yet.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None
- What to do
- Nothing. Keep the filing receipt and application number safe.
Send to Vienna Codification Waiting
Your mark contains a logo, device or stylised element. The Registry is assigning it Vienna codes, an international classification of figurative elements, so it can be searched against other logos. Word-only marks skip this step.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None
- What to do
- Nothing.
Formalities Chk Pass Waiting
The most misunderstood status on the portal. It means the application passed the formalities check: the form is complete, the fee is paid, the power of attorney and any translations are in order. It is now in the queue for examination. It has not been examined and confers no rights.
This is where the ₹2,000 "registration" ends. If your status has read Formalities Chk Pass for months, the application is simply waiting its turn.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None yet
- What to do
- Wait, and make sure someone will receive and act on the examination report when it comes.
Formalities Chk Fail Action needed
Something is missing or defective: an unsigned power of attorney, a missing translation, a wrong applicant category, an underpaid fee. The Registry issues a compliance notice.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- Usually one month from the notice to cure the defect
- What to do
- File the missing document or correction. Left unanswered, the application can be treated as abandoned.
Examination and objections
Marked for Exam Waiting
The application has been allotted to an examiner. The examination report follows, usually within a few weeks.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None yet
- What to do
- Watch the portal and the email address on record.
Exam Report Issued Action needed
The examiner has written the examination report. Either the mark is accepted outright, or the report raises objections. Read it: it is available on the portal under the application's documents.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- One month from receipt of the report to file a reply, if it raises objections
- What to do
- Have the report read by someone who can tell a Section 9 objection from a Section 11 objection, because the reply is different for each.
Objected Action needed
The examiner has objected to registration. The two common grounds are Section 9, the mark is descriptive, generic or not distinctive, and Section 11, the mark is identical or similar to an earlier mark on the register for similar goods. Most applications receive at least one objection; it is a normal stage, not a refusal.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- One month from receipt of the examination report
- What to do
- File a written reply with evidence and argument. If the reply is not filed in time, the status changes to Abandoned.
Ready for Show Cause Hearing Action needed
The written reply did not satisfy the examiner, so the Registry will list the application for a hearing before a hearing officer. You, or your attorney, must appear and argue why the mark should be accepted. Hearings are scheduled in batches, often months later, and are now largely held by video.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- Attend on the listed date; adjournments are limited
- What to do
- Prepare written submissions and evidence of use. Not appearing usually leads to Abandoned or Refused.
Acceptance, publication and opposition
Accepted Waiting
The Registrar has accepted the mark for registration. It will next be advertised in the Trade Marks Journal so that third parties can oppose it. Accepted is good news, but it is still not registration.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None
- What to do
- Wait for publication.
Accepted & Advertised Opposition window open
The mark has been published in the weekly Trade Marks Journal. From the date of advertisement, anyone may file a notice of opposition for four months. If nobody does, the mark proceeds to registration.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- Four months from the journal date for others to oppose
- What to do
- Note the journal number and date. Make sure the address for service is being monitored, because an opposition notice is served there.
Advertised bef acc Opposition window open
"Advertised before acceptance." The Registrar has chosen to publish the mark in the Journal before formally accepting it, which the Act allows in some circumstances. Practically the same as the status above: the four-month opposition window is running, and acceptance follows if no opposition succeeds.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- Four months from the journal date for others to oppose
- What to do
- As above.
Opposed Action needed
A third party has filed a notice of opposition, usually the owner of an earlier similar mark. The Registry serves the notice on you. This begins a contested proceeding with pleadings, evidence and a hearing.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- Two months from receipt of the notice to file a counter-statement
- What to do
- File the counter-statement in time. If it is not filed, the application is deemed abandoned under Section 21, even though it had cleared examination.
Registered
Registered You own the mark
The only status that means what people think "trademark registration" means. The registration certificate is issued, the mark is entered on the register, and you may use the ® symbol. Registration runs for ten years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely in ten-year blocks.
- Registered?
- Yes
- Deadline
- Renewal before the tenth anniversary of the filing date
- What to do
- Download the certificate from the portal, start using ®, and diarise the renewal.
Dead ends
Abandoned Ended
A deadline was missed: no reply to the examination report, no appearance at the hearing, no counter-statement to an opposition. The application is treated as abandoned and the government fee is not refunded. In our experience this is the most common ending for a "₹2,000 registration", because nobody was watching the deadlines after filing.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- A review petition may be possible within one month of the abandonment order
- What to do
- Act immediately if the window is open. Otherwise, a fresh application is usually the realistic path.
Refused Ended
After a hearing, the Registrar has refused registration and given reasons.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- An appeal lies to the High Court within the period set by the Act
- What to do
- Take advice on whether an appeal or a fresh, differently drafted application makes more sense.
Withdrawn Ended
The applicant withdrew the application, usually as part of a settlement with an opponent or after deciding to file a different mark.
- Registered?
- No
- Deadline
- None
- What to do
- Nothing, unless the withdrawal was not yours, in which case contact the Registry at once.
Removed Ended
A registered mark has been taken off the register, most often because it was not renewed at the ten-year mark. There is a grace period for restoration with a surcharge; after it, the mark is gone.
- Registered?
- No longer
- Deadline
- Restoration is possible for a limited period after removal
- What to do
- Apply for restoration and renewal without delay.
After registration
Rectification Filed Action needed
Someone has asked the Registry or the High Court to remove or correct your registration, typically claiming non-use for five years or that it should never have been registered. The registration stands until the proceeding is decided, but it must be defended.
- Registered?
- Yes, under challenge
- Deadline
- Set in the notice served on you
- What to do
- File a counter-statement with evidence of use.
Every status at a glance
| Status | Registered? | Deadline for you | Where cheap filings usually stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Application | No | None | |
| Send to Vienna Codification | No | None | |
| Formalities Chk Pass | No | None | Service ends here |
| Formalities Chk Fail | No | About one month | |
| Marked for Exam | No | None | |
| Exam Report Issued / Objected | No | One month to reply | Extra fee, or silence |
| Ready for Show Cause Hearing | No | Attend the hearing | Rarely covered |
| Accepted | No | None | |
| Accepted & Advertised / Advertised bef acc | No | Four-month opposition window | Nobody watching the journal |
| Opposed | No | Two months for the counter-statement | Rarely covered |
| Registered | Yes | Renewal at ten years | |
| Abandoned / Refused / Withdrawn / Removed | No | Short review or restoration windows |
What a fixed-fee engagement changes
Every status above that says "action needed" is a piece of legal work with a deadline. With a filing-only service, each one is a new quotation, or a missed deadline. Our professional fee of ₹10,000 covers the whole path from search to certificate: the examination reply, the hearing, publication, an opposition if one comes, and the certificate. Government fees, ₹4,500 per class, are separate and paid to IP India at actuals. The registration process guide walks through each stage in order.
Frequently asked questions
Does "Formalities Chk Pass" mean my trademark is registered?
No. It means the Registry has checked that the application form, fee and documents are in order and has queued it for examination. Nothing has been examined yet, and you do not have any registered rights.
How long does an application stay at Formalities Chk Pass?
Usually a few weeks to a few months before it moves to Marked for Exam and then to an examination report. Timelines vary by Registry office and by how many applications are in the queue.
My status says Objected. Have I lost the trademark?
Not yet. Objected means the examiner has raised an objection, most often under Section 9 (the mark is descriptive or not distinctive) or Section 11 (it is similar to an existing mark). A written reply is due within one month of receiving the examination report. If the reply is not filed, the application is treated as abandoned.
Can an Abandoned trademark application be revived?
Sometimes. If the abandonment resulted from a missed deadline, a review petition can be filed within one month with reasons and the missing document. Beyond that, the practical route is usually a fresh application. Speak to an attorney quickly, because the review window is short.
Can I use the ® symbol once my status is Accepted or Advertised?
No. The ® symbol may only be used for a registered mark. Using it before the status reads Registered is an offence under Section 79 of the Trade Marks Act. Until then, use ™.
What is the difference between Accepted & Advertised and Advertised bef acc?
Both mean the mark has been published in the Trade Marks Journal and the four-month opposition window is running. Accepted & Advertised means the Registrar accepted the mark before publishing it. Advertised bef acc means it was published before formal acceptance, which the Registrar may do in certain cases; acceptance follows if no opposition succeeds.
How do I check my trademark status?
Go to IP India's public search portal, choose Trade Mark Application / Registered Mark, enter the seven-digit application number, complete the captcha and click View. The status appears in the application details table.
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.