The sole purpose of a business enterprise to use a trademark is to ensure that the manufactured products and offered services stand out and are easily distinguishable from several other similar products and services from an entirely different business. You will witness that the trademark logos, symbols, names, and labels are represented with the letter ‘R’ in a relatively small size at the end. Under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, a business organization can get its trademark registered. However, keep in mind that a business cannot register a trademark if it contains state or central government symbols, non-distinct, and offensive representations.
According to Section 25 in the Trade Marks Act, 1999, only for a period of ten years, a trademark remains valid. A business needs to carry out requisite documentation and fulfil the eligibility requirements to renew the registered trademark for another ten years when the validity period gets over. Here are certain key things that businesses need to take into account and follow for the renewal and restoration of the registered trademark.
Trademark Renewal Forms
| Form No. | Objective | Cost (e-filing) | Cost (conventional filing method) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM-R | Application form to renew the registered trademark that a registered business owner will use | Rs.9,000 | Rs.10,000 |
| Application form to renew with a surcharge of Trademark registration | Rs.5000 + Renewal fee | Rs.4500 + Renewal fee | |
| TM-18 | Affidavit form that corroborates the statement of the case | Rs.5000 + Renewal fee | Rs.4500 + Renewal fee |
The proprietor of every business possessing a registered trademark receives a compulsory notice from the Office of the Registrar of Trademarks when only six months are left for the trademark validity period to end. The notice informs a business possessor about the deadline to renew the registered trademark. If the trademark renewal is not done within the stipulated time, the consequences can be immensely harsh to such an extent that the trademark will be removed from the Register of Trademarks.
A business can renew its registered trademark even after failing to do so within the designated period by filing an application for trademark restoration along with the necessary fee.
A business is allowed to restore the registered trademark even after six months or within a year from the date of the expiry of the validity period of the previous trademark registration.
Trademark Restoration Forms
| Form No. | Objective | Cost (e-filing) | Cost (conventional filing method) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TM-R | Application form to renew with a surcharge or restoration or renewal of a Trademark | Rs.9000 + Renewal charge | Rs.10,000 + Renewal charge |
| TM-18 | Affidavit form that corroborates the statement of the case | Rs.9000 + Renewal charge | Rs.10,000 + Renewal charge |
Here are the members who are eligible for filing the applications for trademark renewal/restoration:
Click here to obtain more information about a trademark restoration filing and documentation.