India slashes number of trade mark forms, halves e-filing fees

The initiative is marked to boost the country's IPR regime and to promote ease of doing business

The Indian government on Monday reduced the number of trade mark forms from 74 to just eight, and nearly halved the fee for e-filing applications to Rs 4,500 in order boost the country's Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime and to promote ease of doing business.

Announcing the notification of these changes in the Trade Mark (TM) Rules, 2017, a Commerce Ministry statement here said the salient features of the revamped rules include "number of Trade Mark (TM) forms have been reduced from 74 to 8 and to promote e-filing of TM applications, the fee for online filing has been kept at 10 per cent lower than that for physical filing".

"Based on stakeholders' feedback, the fees for individuals, start-ups and small enterprises have been reduced from that proposed in the draft rules -- only Rs 4,500 as against Rs 8,000 for e-filing of TM applications proposed at the draft stage."

Hearing through video conferencing has been introduced, and number of adjournments in opposition proceedings has been restricted to a maximum of two by each party to help expedite disposal of cases, it said.

Modalities for service of documents from applicants to the registry and vice-versa through electronic means have been introduced to expedite the process, the statement added.