Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Trademark Status on IP India Portal
The official IP India trademark status portal is tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in. This is the only portal you need — do not use ipindia.nic.in (deprecated) or any third-party website claiming to show trademark status.
If your status shows "Objected," the 30-day countdown to file your reply started on the date of the Examination Report — not the date you discovered the status. Many Vasai and Mira Road business owners check their status weeks after the report was issued and assume they still have the full 30 days. You do not. Count from the status date, not today's date. Call Trademark Registration by TNP immediately at 77589 38424 if your status shows Objected.
Every Trademark Status Explained — What Each One Means
The IP India portal shows specific status codes at each stage of the trademark registration journey. Here is every status you may see — colour-coded by urgency — with a clear explanation and action required.
Your application has just been filed and received by the Trade Marks Registry. "Send to Vienna Codification" means the logo (device mark) is being assigned an international visual classification code. This is the very first internal step after filing — it does not affect your rights or timeline.
The ™ symbol is usable from this moment. Your application number is your proof of filing date.
The Registry has completed its initial formalities check — verifying that Form TM-A was correctly filed, the correct fee was paid, and the application is complete in all required respects. Your application has passed this first internal hurdle and is now in the queue for substantive examination.
The initial formalities check found an issue — incorrect fee paid, incomplete form, missing document, or technical error in the filing. The Registry will issue a notice requiring correction. This is relatively rare with professionally filed applications.
Your application has been picked up by a Trade Marks Examiner and is actively being reviewed for Section 9 (absolute grounds — descriptiveness, lack of distinctiveness) and Section 11 (relative grounds — similarity to existing marks) objections. This is the most important substantive stage.
After examination, the status will change to either "Accepted" (clean, no objection) or "Objected" (objection raised in Examination Report).
The Trade Marks Examiner has issued an Examination Report raising an objection — either Section 9 (the mark is descriptive, lacks distinctiveness, or contains prohibited elements) or Section 11 (the mark is similar or identical to an existing registered or pending trademark in the same or related class).
Under Rule 45 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, you must file a written counter-statement reply within 30 days of the date on the Examination Report. This deadline is absolute — no extension is possible at the Registry level. Missing it permanently abandons your application with no refund of fees.
"Accepted" means the Trade Marks Examiner reviewed your application and found no Section 9 or Section 11 grounds for objection — your mark has been cleared at the examination stage. "Accepted & Advertised" means the mark has additionally been published in the Trademark Journal, starting the 4-month public opposition window.
This is excellent news. It means no existing registered mark was found to conflict with yours, and the Examiner found your mark to be distinctive and registrable.
A third party has filed a Notice of Opposition during the 4-month Trademark Journal publication window — objecting to the registration of your mark. The opposer believes your mark conflicts with their rights. You must file a Counter Statement (Form TM-O) within 2 months of receiving the copy of the Notice of Opposition under Rule 17 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017.
Opposition proceedings involve pleadings (evidence affidavits from both sides) and may take 1–3 years to resolve before the Trade Marks Registry.
After a written counter-statement objection reply has been filed, the Trademark Officer may schedule a show-cause hearing via video conferencing to allow both sides to present their arguments orally. A hearing date and time is communicated through the IP India portal and typically via email/SMS.
Your trademark is now fully registered under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Registration Certificate has been issued and your mark is on the Trade Marks Register. You may now use the ® symbol on all branding, products, packaging, advertising, and digital platforms.
Registration is valid for 10 years from the date of the original application filing — not from the registration certificate date. Mark your renewal date in your calendar now.
Your trademark registration has reached the 10-year mark and renewal is due. File Form TM-R on ipindiaonline.gov.in before the expiry date to renew for another 10 years. The renewal fee is ₹9,000 per class (e-filing, all applicants — no MSME discount at renewal stage). There is a 6-month grace period after expiry with a 50% surcharge.
"Abandoned" means your application has been treated as withdrawn — most commonly because the 30-day Rule 45 counter-statement deadline was missed after an Examination Report. It can also result from failure to pursue the application after an adverse show-cause hearing, or non-payment of fees.
An abandoned application cannot be revived or restored. Your filing date and the government fees paid are permanently lost. To protect your brand name, a fresh Form TM-A application must be filed — with a new, later filing date — and all fees paid again from scratch.
Removed: A registered trademark has been removed from the register — either for non-renewal after the grace period, or following a successful rectification petition under Section 47 (non-use) or Section 57 (other grounds). Cancelled: A registered mark has been cancelled by court or Registry order. Refused: The application was refused after examination and hearing — the mark was found unregistrable.
Status: Objected — The Most Critical Status and What to Do
Of all the trademark statuses, Objected is the one that demands immediate action and where the most Vasai, Mira Road, Dahisar, Nalasopara, and Bhayandar businesses make fatal mistakes — usually by missing the 30-day deadline.
Two Types of Objection — Section 9 vs Section 11
| Objection Type | Legal Ground | Common Reasons | How TNP Responds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 9 Absolute Grounds |
Trade Marks Act, 1999 — Section 9 | Mark is descriptive of goods/services; lacks distinctiveness; geographical name; common word in trade; deceptive | Argues acquired distinctiveness through evidence of use; cites case law on registrability of similar marks; submits supporting affidavits |
| Section 11 Relative Grounds |
Trade Marks Act, 1999 — Section 11 | Mark is identical or similar to an existing registered mark in the same or related class; risk of confusion | Distinguishes marks on visual, phonetic, and conceptual grounds; argues different trade channels; submits evidence of co-existence; challenges validity of cited mark |
An "Objected" status is not a rejection of your application — it is an invitation to respond. The majority of objections, when professionally responded to within 30 days with well-drafted legal arguments and supporting evidence, are successfully overcome either at the written reply stage or at the show-cause hearing. The critical requirement is to respond within 30 days. Trademark Registration by TNP has a strong track record of overcoming objections for Vasai, Mira Road, Dahisar, Nalasopara, and Bhayandar clients — call 77589 38424 immediately.
Typical Trademark Journey — What Status Appears When
| Timeline | Status on Portal | What's Happening |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | New Application | Filed on ipindiaonline.gov.in. Application number issued. ™ symbol usable. |
| Days 3–10 | Formalities Check Pass | Registry confirms filing is complete and fee is correct. |
| 4–6 months | Marked for Examination | Application reaches an Examiner's queue for substantive review. |
| Within 30 days if expedited | Objected / Accepted | Examination Report issued — either clean (Accepted) or with objection (Objected). |
| If Accepted | Accepted & Advertised | Mark published in Trademark Journal. 4-month opposition window begins. |
| If Objected | Scheduled for Hearing | After counter-statement filed, hearing may be scheduled. |
| After publication | Registered | No opposition filed or opposition defended. Registration Certificate issued. ® permitted. |
| After 10 years | Renewal Due | File Form TM-R to renew for another 10 years. |
5 Common Mistakes Businesses Make When Checking Status
Mistake 1 — Checking Status Only Rarely (or Never)
Many Vasai and Mira Road business owners file their trademark application, receive their application number, and then don't check the status again for months. If your status changes to "Objected" and you miss it for 30 days, your application is permanently abandoned. Check your status on tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in at least every 2 weeks during the examination period.
Mistake 2 — Relying Only on SMS or Email Alerts from IP India
The IP India portal sends SMS and email alerts when status changes — but only to the contact details registered on the application. If your mobile number has changed, if the email address is wrong, or if the SMS is filtered as spam, you will not receive the alert. The 30-day clock does not stop because you didn't get a notification. Always check the portal directly.
Mistake 3 — Counting 30 Days From When You Discovered the Objection
The 30-day deadline under Rule 45 runs from the date on the Examination Report — not when you logged in and saw the "Objected" status. If the report was dated 3 weeks ago and you're seeing it today, you have approximately 9 days left, not 30.
Mistake 4 — Using the Wrong Portal
Several websites — including the deprecated ipindia.nic.in and various third-party "trademark status check" websites — show stale or incorrect status information. Always use tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in directly. If the status on a third-party site says "Pending" but the official portal shows "Objected," the official portal is correct and your 30-day clock is running.
Mistake 5 — Misreading "Accepted" as "Registered"
"Accepted" means the Examiner cleared your application — it does not mean you are registered. After Accepted comes a 4-month Trademark Journal publication window, during which third parties can oppose your mark. Only after this publication period closes with no opposition — and the Registration Certificate is issued — does your status change to "Registered" and the ® symbol become legally available.
