Trademark Renewal

A registered trademark in India is valid for 10 years from the date of application, after which it must be renewed to remain on the Register. The renewal process involves filing Form TM-R with the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (IP India) before the expiry date. The ® symbol can only be used for a trademark that is currently on the Register — using ® for an expired or removed trademark is a punishable offence under the Trade Marks Act. The renewal extends the registration for another 10 years, and this cycle continues indefinitely as long as the owner files renewal on time. FinTax24 monitors trademark expiry dates for all clients and initiates the renewal process well before the deadline to ensure uninterrupted protection.

The Consequences of Letting a Trademark Lapse

If the renewal deadline is missed, the trademark is removed from the Register of Trade Marks and the mark becomes available for registration by any third party. From the date of removal, the former owner loses the legal right to use the ® symbol and cannot prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark. The window for restoration is 6 months from the date of removal — during this period, the owner can apply for restoration by filing Form TM-R with the prescribed restoration fee. After the 6-month window closes, the mark is open for fresh application by any party, and the original owner would need to file a completely new application with no priority rights from the original filing date. The risk of letting a well-known mark lapse is significant — re-establishing brand protection from scratch is far more costly than timely renewal.

The Trademark Renewal Filing Process Step by Step

FinTax24 begins each renewal by conducting a trademark expiry audit — identifying all registered marks and their renewal dates in the client's portfolio. We then collect the power of attorney, verify the current registration details against the IP India records, and prepare Form TM-R for e-filing on the IP India portal. The government filing fee is paid at the prescribed rate per class — multiple classes can be renewed in a single application. After filing, IP India examines the renewal request, updates the Register, and issues a fresh registration certificate with the new 10-year validity period. We deliver the renewed certificate and update the client's trademark portfolio calendar with the next renewal date.

Trademark Renewal for Multi-Class Registrations and Global Portfolios

Trademark registrations can cover multiple NICE classes — each class representing a different category of goods or services. A single trademark can be renewed across all classes in one Form TM-R filing. For clients with international trademark portfolios, renewal management becomes more complex — each country's registry has its own renewal timeline, government fees, and procedural requirements. Some countries require notarised or legalised renewal documents. FinTax24 manages multi-class Indian renewals as standard practice and coordinates with international trademark attorneys for global portfolio renewals, ensuring no mark lapses due to missed international deadlines.