A preliminary Trademark Public Search on the official portal of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (IP India) is the most critical first step before investing in brand building, domain registration, and government application fees.
The 3 Main Types of Trademark Searches on IP India
The government portal offers three search modalities:
1. Wordmark Search
Used to find exact or partial matches for a brand name or wordmark string. The search dropdown options include:
- Contains: Searches for marks containing the search term anywhere in the string.
- Starts With: Searches for marks starting with the prefix.
- Match With: Exact string match.
2. Phonetic Search
Identifies marks that sound phonetically similar or identical to your proposed name, even if spelled differently (e.g., "Quick" vs "Kwik", "Cure" vs "Kure"). This prevents Section 11 deceptively similar objections.
3. Vienna Code Search (Device / Logo Marks)
Used for graphical devices, shapes, and logos according to the international Vienna Classification (e.g., Category 01 for celestial bodies, Category 03 for animals).
Overview of Trademark Classes (Nice Classification)
All commercial products and services are divided into 45 international classes:
Goods: Classes 1 to 34
- Class 5: Pharmaceuticals & Medical
- Class 9: Software, Electronics, Hardware
- Class 25: Clothing, Footwear & Apparel
- Class 30: Coffee, Tea, Spices & Food
Services: Classes 35 to 45
- Class 35: Advertising, Retail & Business Mgmt
- Class 41: Education, Training & Entertainment
- Class 42: Software Development, IT & SaaS
- Class 43: Restaurants, Hotels & Food Services
Why Request an Advocate-Backed Legal Search?
Online automated search tools frequently miss subtle phonetic similarities, cross-class conflicts, well-known mark registries, and pending court oppositions. At Agile Legal Solutions®, our trademark lawyer in Delhi provides a detailed search report covering conflict risk rating, class scoping, and strategic filing recommendations before proceeding with trademark registration in Delhi. A thorough clearance search minimizes the risk of facing a trademark objection reply or third-party opposition. For in-person guidance, consult our advocates at our trademark lawyer Rohini chambers or review the profile of Advocate Arun Kumar Jha.