From 1 August 2016, the Indian Trade Marks Office stopped posting paper registration certificates and began generating and emailing them automatically — a quiet but welcome step toward a faster, paperless registry.
What changed
By public notice, the Trade Marks Office (TMO) announced that from 1 August 2016 the entire process of generating and dispatching registration certificates would be automated. In effect, the TMO would now issue only E-Registration Certificates — generated online and sent to the applicant or authorised agent by email.
The pre-requisites
It sounds straightforward, but a mark must satisfy all of these to get an automatic e-certificate:
- published in Trade Marks Journal 1720 or later (i.e. advertised on or after 23 November 2015);
- no amendment requests pending;
- a copy of the original application is available in the Registry’s electronic database;
- no pending compliances — fees, power of attorney, association requests, etc.; and
- registration not prohibited by any Court, IPAB or competent authority.
If those are met, the certificate is generated automatically and emailed. The Office asked applicants/agents to supply a valid email address at the Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad or Kolkata offices. Certificates are also uploaded to the Registry’s website alongside the online application status, to download and print at will. Applications that don’t meet a requisite are handled case by case under the ongoing procedure at the Mumbai office.
Why it mattered
From paper filing to comprehensive e-filing, and now e-certificates, the TMO was going both green and digital. Beyond saving paper, e-certificates are quicker and cheaper (no postage), help the Registry clear its backlog, and encourage more national and international filings — the ingredients of a healthier trademark system.
The takeaways
- Certificates now arrive by email, not post — faster and cheaper.
- Eligibility has conditions — Journal 1720 onward, and no pending amendments, fees or compliances.
- Keep a valid email on file with the Registry to receive your e-certificate.
- Certificates are also downloadable from the Registry’s website with the live status.
Frequently asked questions
Does India issue trademark registration certificates by email? Yes — since 1 August 2016 the Trade Marks Office generates E-Registration Certificates and sends them to the applicant or agent by email.
Which trademarks qualify for an automatic e-certificate? Those advertised in Trade Marks Journal 1720 or later (on/after 23 November 2015), with no pending amendments, fees or compliances, an original application on the electronic database, and no prohibiting order.
Where can I get my e-certificate if it isn’t emailed? Certificates are uploaded to the Registry’s website alongside the application status and can be downloaded and printed.
Why did the Office switch to e-certificates? To go paperless, cut postage costs and delays, clear the backlog, and encourage more filings.
Useful official resources
- The Trade Marks Act, 1999
- Trade Marks Registry — IP India