Is a Power of Attorney required for trademark registration in India?

A Power of Attorney is required when an advocate or registered trademark agent files a trademark application on behalf of an applicant. If the applicant is filing directly themselves through the IP India portal, a POA is not required. However, when an agent is named in Form TM-A, a signed POA must be uploaded as an attachment to the application.

What stamp paper value is required for a trademark Power of Attorney?

The stamp paper value for a trademark Power of Attorney varies by state. In Kerala, a ₹600 non-judicial stamp paper is typically used. In other states, the value may differ. The stamp paper should be purchased in the state where the POA is being executed (signed). E-stamp paper from the respective state's treasury is accepted.

What is the attorney code in a trademark Power of Attorney?

The attorney code is the Trade Marks Registry registration number assigned to the advocate or trademark agent. It is distinct from the Bar Council registration number. The attorney code is generated when an agent registers with the Trade Marks Registry to appear in proceedings. This code appears at the top of the POA document and identifies the agent in the registry's records.

Who signs the trademark Power of Attorney?

The POA is signed by the applicant — the person or authorised signatory of the company that owns or is applying for the trademark. For a company, the signatory should be an authorised officer such as the Managing Director, Director, or a person holding board-authorised signatory power. The advocate or agent named in the POA does not sign it — they receive the authority through it.

Can one Power of Attorney cover multiple trademark applications?

The standard trademark POA format authorises the agent for 'making applications to obtain registration of trademarks and for all proceedings and procedural compliances' under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 — this wording is general enough to cover multiple applications by the same applicant. However, some practitioners prefer a separate POA per application for clarity. The Trade Marks Registry generally accepts a general POA for the same applicant-agent combination across multiple applications.

Trademark Power of Attorney Sample — Format India

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A Power of Attorney (POA) is required when an advocate or registered trademark agent files a trademark application on your behalf under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. This sample shows exactly what the document looks like — what clauses it contains, who signs it, and what stamp paper is required. All company and brand names are fictional.

Stamp duty varies by state. This sample shows a Kerala e-stamp of ₹600 — the rate applicable in Kerala for a Power of Attorney in any other case. The required stamp paper value is different in each state. Always purchase stamp paper from the treasury of the state where the POA is being signed, not necessarily where your business is registered. Check your state's current Stamp Act schedule before purchasing.

NON JUDICIAL

₹600

Government of Kerala

e-Stamp · Non-Judicial Stamp Paper

e-Stamp Serial Number: KL202627000001234567 Verification Code: 123456789V

Govt. Reference No. (GRN)

KL0123456789202627E

Purpose

Power of Attorney — in any other case

Amount of Stamp Paper

₹600 · Rupees Six Hundred

Stamp Paper Purchased on

03/07/2026 10:00:00

First Party Name

MANAGING DIRECTOR

First Party Address

ZESTORA FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED, INDIRANAGAR, BENGALURU

Second Party Name

JOSE GEORGE

Second Party Address

PAIKADA HOUSE, KIZHATHADIYOOR PO, PALA

Attorney code: XXXXX

THE TRADE MARKS ACT, 1999

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I/We, ZESTORA FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED, a Company incorporated under the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 and having its registered office at No. 12/45, Commercial Complex, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka — 560038, hereby authorize Jose George, Advocate, having office at Kerala, India, to act as my/our Agent for the purpose of making applications to obtain registration of trademarks and for all proceedings and procedural compliances under the provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the rules made thereunder, and request that all notices, requisitions and communications relating thereto may be sent to such Agent at the above address.

Authorization paragraph: This is the operative clause of the POA. It authorises the named advocate to act as your agent with the Trade Marks Registry — filing the TM-A application, responding to examination reports, attending hearings, and handling all proceedings. The scope is broad ("all proceedings and procedural compliances") which is standard. This paragraph must match the applicant's exact legal name and registered address as it appears in the TM-A form.

I/We hereby revoke all previous authorizations, if any, in respect of the proceeding.

Revocation clause: This ensures that if a previous advocate was authorized for the same proceedings, that authority is cancelled when this POA is executed. This prevents conflicts where two agents both claim authority to act.

All communications relating to this application may be sent to the following address in India:

Jose George, Advocate Kerala, India

Address for communications: This is the address to which the Trade Marks Registry will send all correspondence — examination reports, hearing notices, objections, and registration certificates. If you are using an advocate, this should be the advocate's address, not the company's registered office.

Date: 03/07/2026

Company
Seal

For ZESTORA FOODS PRIVATE LIMITED

A. Krishnamurthy

Managing Director

Zestora Foods Private Limited

Signatory and company seal: The POA is signed by an authorised officer of the company — typically the Managing Director or Director. For a company, the company's rubber stamp/seal should be affixed alongside the signature. The advocate does not sign the POA — they receive the authority through it. An individual applicant (not a company) signs in their own name without a company seal.

The Registrar of Trademarks,
New Delhi
Ahmedabad
Mumbai
Chennai
Kolkata

Why all five offices? The POA is addressed to all five Trade Marks Registry offices because your application may be processed at any of them depending on your jurisdiction, and proceedings may involve multiple offices. Addressing it broadly ensures the POA is valid regardless of which office handles any part of the proceedings.

This sample shows a Kerala e-stamp of ₹600. The stamp paper value varies by state — always purchase from the treasury of the state where the POA is being signed. ₹600 is the rate in Kerala; check your own state's Stamp Act schedule for the applicable value. The executed POA should be scanned and uploaded as an attachment when filing Form TM-A on the IP India portal.

5 things to know about the trademark POA

₹600 is Kerala's rate — check your own state

The ₹600 stamp paper shown in this sample is specific to Kerala. Every state has its own Stamp Act with different rates for a Power of Attorney. The stamp paper must be purchased from the treasury of the state where the POA is being signed — not necessarily where your company is registered or where the Registry office is. Always verify the current rate on your state's treasury portal or with a local stamp vendor before purchasing.

The attorney code is not the Bar Council number

The attorney code at the top of the POA (e.g., XXXXX) is the advocate's Trade Marks Registry registration number — issued when the advocate registers to appear in trademark proceedings. This is different from the Bar Council enrolment number. The TM-A form asks for this registration number in the agent section.

Company applicants need a company seal

When the applicant is a company (private limited, public limited, LLP), the POA signature must be by an authorised officer of the company, accompanied by the company's rubber stamp. This confirms that the signatory had corporate authority to grant the POA.

The POA covers the full application lifecycle

The scope of the standard POA — "all proceedings and procedural compliances" — covers not just the initial filing but also responding to examination reports, attending hearings, filing evidence in opposition proceedings, and any rectification applications. You do not need a new POA for each stage.

Upload as scanned attachment in TM-A

The original signed POA on stamp paper should be scanned (clear, full page, including the stamp paper header) and uploaded as an attachment when submitting Form TM-A on the IP India e-filing portal. The original physical document should be retained by the applicant.

Common questions about the trademark POA

A POA is required when an advocate or registered trademark agent files on behalf of the applicant. If you are filing directly through the IP India portal yourself, a POA is not needed. But when an agent is named in Form TM-A, the signed POA must be uploaded as an attachment.

The stamp paper value depends on the state where the POA is executed. In Kerala it is ₹600. Every other state has its own rate under its Stamp Act — do not assume the Kerala rate applies elsewhere. The stamp paper should be purchased from the treasury of the state where the document is being signed. E-stamp paper from the state treasury portal is widely accepted.

The attorney code is the Trade Marks Registry registration number assigned to the advocate or trademark agent when they register to appear in trademark proceedings. It is separate from the Bar Council enrolment number. This code appears at the top of the POA and is also entered in the agent section of Form TM-A.

The POA is signed by the applicant — for an individual, by themselves; for a company, by an authorised officer such as the Managing Director or Director. The advocate named in the POA does not sign it — they receive authority through it. For companies, the company's rubber stamp should be affixed alongside the signature.

The standard trademark POA is worded broadly enough to cover all trademark proceedings by the same applicant with the same agent. Most practitioners accept a single POA for multiple applications by the same company with the same advocate. However, some practitioners prefer a separate POA per application for clarity. Check with your advocate on their preference.

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