Search 5.5 lakh+ registered Indian trademarks instantly. Get a detailed similarity report, class recommendation, and registration probability score — delivered to your WhatsApp in 15 minutes.
A trademark search checks whether your brand name, logo, or slogan is already registered — or if a similar mark exists that could block your application or expose you to legal risk.
Filing without searching is the most common and costly mistake Indian entrepreneurs make. An objection or opposition can cost you months of delay, ₹20,000+ in legal fees, and the risk of losing your brand name entirely.
IPMitra's search goes far beyond a basic name match — we run the same checks a trademark lawyer would.
We check whether your exact brand name already exists as a registered trademark in IP India's database across all 45 Nice Classification classes.
Marks that sound alike can cause objections even if spelt differently. We detect phonetic matches like "Nova" vs "Nava" or "Craftly" vs "Craftlee".
We flag marks with similar visual design or conceptual meaning — catching conflicts that a simple text search would miss entirely.
Your business description is analysed to recommend the exact Nice Classification class(es) your trademark should be filed under — no guesswork.
Every report includes a percentage probability of successful registration — based on conflict analysis, distinctiveness, and current Registry trends.
Our licensed advocates review the search output and flag specific grounds of objection (Section 9, Section 11) before you file a single rupee.
From submitting your brand name to receiving a detailed report on WhatsApp — in four simple steps.
Submit your brand name and a brief description of your business. This takes under 2 minutes — no login or payment required.
Our system searches the IP India registry for identical, phonetic, visual, and conceptual matches across all relevant trademark classes.
A licensed advocate analyses the results, assigns a probability score, identifies risk flags, and writes a plain-language recommendation.
You receive a complete PDF trademark search report on WhatsApp — with class, conflicts, probability, and next steps — within 15 minutes.
Before you invest in branding, packaging, or filing fees, a trademark search is the single most important step an Indian entrepreneur can take. Here is exactly how it works, what to look for, and how to interpret your results.
A trademark search is a systematic examination of the IP India trademark registry to determine whether your proposed brand name, logo, or slogan is already registered — or if a confusingly similar mark exists that could block your application or expose you to legal action.
The IP India trademark registry, maintained by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), contains over 5.5 lakh active trademark registrations across 45 classes of goods and services. A proper search examines this entire database — not just exact matches, but phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarities as well.
In India, trademark rights are granted on a first-to-file basis. This means if someone files a similar mark before you — even if you were using the name first — they may have a stronger legal claim. This makes searching early — ideally before you invest in branding or business registration — critical.
The official trademark search tool is available at the IP India Trademark Public Search portal. Here is how it works:
The limitation of the government portal is that it requires you to already know the correct class, understand how to read the results, and perform multiple search variations manually. A single name may need to be searched across 5–10 phonetic variants and several classes — which is where a professional search service adds significant value.
Every trademark in India is registered under one or more of the 45 Nice Classification classes — 34 for goods and 11 for services. Filing in the wrong class is a common and costly mistake, because your trademark only protects your brand within the classes you register.
| Classes | Category | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Chemicals, Paints, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals | Skincare, medicines, cleaning agents |
| 6–11 | Metals, Tools, Machinery, Electronics | Hardware, appliances, lighting |
| 14–16 | Jewellery, Paper, Stationery | Watches, office supplies, books |
| 18, 25 | Leather, Clothing | Bags, apparel, footwear |
| 29–33 | Food, Beverages, Alcohol | Packaged food, coffee, spirits |
| 35 | Advertising & Business | Marketing, retail, e-commerce |
| 38 | Telecommunications | Apps, internet services, SaaS |
| 41 | Education & Entertainment | Online courses, media, events |
| 42 | Technology & Software | IT services, SaaS, web development |
| 45 | Legal & Personal Services | Legal services, security, social services |
Most startups and e-commerce brands need to register in Class 35 (retail/advertising), plus the class specific to their product. A food brand, for example, would typically need Class 30 or 32 plus Class 35. IPMitra's free trademark search automatically identifies the correct class based on your business description — so you never file in the wrong category.
A trademark examiner at the IP India Trade Marks Registry will reject your application under Section 11 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 if your mark is considered "deceptively similar" to an existing mark. Similarity is judged on three dimensions:
Marks that sound similar when spoken. "Fevicol" and "Fevistick" both belong to Pidilite — but a third party filing "Fevibond" would face a Section 11 objection due to phonetic similarity. Examples relevant for startups: "Zomato" vs "Zamato", "Swiggy" vs "Swiggly".
Marks that look alike in appearance — same word structure, similar letter combinations, or comparable overall impression. "CRAFTLY" and "CRAFTLEE" would be considered visually similar even though the spelling differs.
Marks that convey the same idea or meaning. "GOLDEN EAGLE" and "SONA CHEEL" (both meaning golden eagle in different languages) could be considered conceptually similar, even though the words are entirely different.
Understanding all three dimensions is why a professional trademark search is far more reliable than simply typing your name into the IP India portal and checking for an exact match.
If your trademark application is examined and found to have issues, you will receive an Examination Report citing specific grounds of objection. The two most common are:
Your mark itself has a problem — independent of other marks. Common Section 9 objections include:
A trademark search cannot detect Section 9 issues in advance — only a lawyer reviewing your mark can identify these risks.
Your mark conflicts with an existing registered mark. Common Section 11 objections include:
This is exactly what a proper trademark search detects and helps you avoid before you file.
Once you have your search report, there are three possible paths depending on the results:
A registered trademark in India is valid for 10 years from the date of application. It can be renewed indefinitely in successive 10-year periods by paying the renewal fee. The renewal application should be filed within one year before the expiry date. IPMitra sends renewal reminders so you never lose your mark to a missed deadline.
From the date of filing, your mark is considered "pending" and carries a ™ symbol. Once fully registered, you are entitled to use the ® symbol — which signals a legally protected trademark to customers, competitors, and investors. Start with a free trademark availability check to see if your brand name is registrable today.
A 15-minute trademark search could save you months of delay, ₹20,000+ in objection legal fees, and the risk of losing your brand name altogether.