Intellectual Property in India
Guides to trademarks, patents, copyright, designs and domain names in India: how the law works, what the deadlines are, and what the process actually involves.
Protection of trademarks, patents, copyright, designs, geographical indications and domain names in India is governed by specific intellectual property legislation alongside the general law, including the common law.
All applications to the Indian Intellectual Property Office can be filed online. There are five Intellectual Property Offices, in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Ahmedabad.
As a signatory of the Paris Convention, India accepts convention applications claiming priority. Indian courts provide both civil and criminal remedies for IP offences.
A note on appeals
The Intellectual Property Appellate Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021. Appeals against decisions of the Registrar of Trade Marks, the Controller of Patents and the Registrar of Copyrights now lie to the High Courts, and the Delhi High Court has established a dedicated Intellectual Property Division.
Material published before 2021 that refers appeals to the IPAB is out of date on this point.
Trademarks
Registering, protecting and enforcing trademarks in India.
19 guidesPatents
Filing and prosecuting patents in India.
1 guideCopyright
Registering, licensing and enforcing copyright in India.
6 guidesDesigns
Registering and protecting industrial designs in India.
1 guideDomain Names
Securing domain names and resolving .IN domain disputes.
0 guidesEnforcement
Anti-counterfeiting, customs recordal and IP litigation in India.
3 guides