You check your application on the IP India portal and it says something like “Sent back to EDP” or “Advertised before acceptance”. This page explains what each status means and, more usefully, whether you need to do anything about it.
Quick reference
| Status | What it means | Action needed? |
|---|---|---|
| New Application | Filed, not yet processed | No |
| Sent back to EDP | With the data entry section | No |
| Formality Chk Pass | Filing formalities in order | No |
| Formality Chk Fail | Something is deficient | Yes, urgently |
| Marked for Exam | Queued for examination | No |
| Objected | Examination report issued | Yes, one month to reply |
| Refused | Objections not overcome | Yes, appeal window |
| Advertised as Accepted (AAA) | Accepted, then advertised | Monitor for opposition |
| Advertised before Acceptance (ABA) | Advertised with reservations | Monitor for opposition |
| Opposed | Third party has opposed | Yes, two months for counter-statement |
| Abandoned | Deadline missed | Yes, take advice quickly |
| Registered | Granted | Diarise renewal |
The statuses in sequence
New Application
The application has been filed and received. Nothing has happened to it yet.
Sent back to EDP
EDP is Electronic Data Processing. Applications are sorted, scanned, uploaded and data-entered before the legal process begins.
This status also appears where the Registry has spotted errors in data entry and sent the file back for correction. Either way, it is administrative and there is nothing for you to do.
Formality Chk Pass
The Registry has confirmed that the filing formalities were properly observed. Documents such as the Power of Attorney are in order and the application will progress.
No action needed. Wait.
Formality Chk Fail
This one needs attention.
There is a deficiency in the formalities. A missing or defective Power of Attorney is the most common cause, along with incomplete applicant details or a missing priority document.
There is no prescribed timeframe attached to this status, which makes it deceptively easy to ignore. Check with the Registry to establish what is deficient and cure it promptly. An application sitting in formality check fail is going nowhere.
Marked for Exam
The application has been taken up for examination, or is due to be examined shortly.
Examination checks the mark against the absolute grounds in Section 9 and the relative grounds in Section 11. See trademark examination.
No action needed at this point.
Objected
The application has been examined and an examination report has issued, setting out objections to registrability.
You have one month from receipt to reply. This is a short window and missing it puts the application at risk.
The objections will be under Section 9, Section 11, or both. See marks that cannot be registered for what the arguments look like.
Advertised as Accepted (AAA)
The Registry accepted the application and then advertised it in the Trade Marks Journal.
This is the stronger of the two advertisement statuses. It means the Registry has no reservations. In practice it is less common than ABA.
The four-month opposition window now runs. Monitor it.
Advertised before Acceptance (ABA)
The mark has been advertised, but with reservations.
Section 20(1) allows the Registry to advertise before acceptance where it considers that Section 9(1) or Section 11(1) or (2) may apply. In other words, the Registry is not fully convinced about distinctiveness or about conflict with existing marks, and wants to see whether opposition emerges before deciding.
This is a weaker position than AAA. The mark is not accepted, and the Registry retains its reservations.
The four-month opposition window runs from advertisement either way.
Opposed
A third party has filed a notice of opposition, asking the Registry to refuse the mark, usually on Section 9 or Section 11 grounds or both.
You have two months from service to file a counter-statement, and there is no extension available. Failing to file within that window means the application is deemed abandoned for non-prosecution.
This is the single most common way applicants lose marks they could have defended. If your status shows opposed, act on it.
Refused
The Registry has refused registration, either after examination or following a show cause hearing.
There is an appeal route, now to the High Court following the abolition of the IPAB in 2021, and the window is limited.
Abandoned
A deadline was missed. Common causes are failing to reply to an examination report, failing to file a counter-statement, or failing to file evidence in opposition proceedings.
The developing case law on automatic abandonment may offer a route to revival in some circumstances, but it is contested and expensive. Take advice quickly rather than assuming the mark is gone or assuming it can easily be revived.
Registered
The mark has been registered and you are the registered proprietor. A registration certificate issues, and the details are entered in the Register of Trade Marks.
The online record will show the registration date and the expiry date. Registration lasts ten years and must be renewed. See renewal and restoration.
Diarise the renewal independently. The Registry is required to send an O-3 notice before expiry, but it goes to the recorded address for service, and relying on it is how registrations get lost.
Why status checking matters
The Registry has moved to email service for many communications. If your recorded address for service is out of date, notices go somewhere you are not looking, and the first you learn of an examination report or an opposition may be when the status changes to abandoned.
Checking the portal periodically is a cheap safeguard. The statuses that carry deadlines are Objected, Opposed and Formality Chk Fail.
Frequently asked questions
What does “sent back to EDP” mean? The application is with the Electronic Data Processing section for scanning, uploading or correction of data entry errors. It is administrative and requires nothing from you.
My status says objected. What do I do? An examination report has issued and you have one month from receipt to reply. Read the objections, assemble any evidence of use if distinctiveness is in issue, and respond in time.
What is the difference between AAA and ABA? Advertised as Accepted means the Registry accepted the mark then advertised it. Advertised before Acceptance means it was advertised despite reservations, so the Registry can see whether opposition emerges before deciding.
How long does a status stay unchanged? There is no prescribed timeframe for most stages, and Registry backlogs vary considerably. Long periods without movement are common and not by themselves a cause for concern, with the exception of formality check fail.
My mark shows abandoned. Is it gone? Not necessarily, but the position is difficult. There is developing case law on whether abandonment is automatic, and the practical route depends on which deadline was missed and when. Take advice promptly.
How often should I check the status? Monthly is reasonable during prosecution, and more often once the mark is advertised, since the opposition window is four months.
Useful official resources
- IP India public search — check your application status
- Trade Marks Journal
- IP India e-filing portal
Status showing something that needs a response? Talk to us. The deadlines on objected and opposed are short and not extendable.