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India · Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

We provide end-to-end intellectual property advisory, protection and enforcement in India and across international jurisdictions — trademarks, patents, copyright, industrial designs and trade secrets. Our work is grounded in India's IP legislation and the bodies that administer it: the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) under the DPIIT, and internationally the Madrid Protocol, the PCT and the Paris Convention.

Where we file & protect
CGPDTM
Trade Marks Registry, Indian Patent Office, Copyright Office & Designs
Statutes
Trade Marks Act 1999, Patents Act 1970, Copyright Act 1957, Designs Act 2000
International
Outward routes from an Indian filing
GCC & non-Madrid
Filings via a trusted associate network (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia)
01 — Our services

Across every IP domain.

India's IP framework is administered by the CGPDTM under the DPIIT, and each domain — trademarks, patents, copyright, designs and trade secrets — is governed by its own statute and filing process. We work across all of them.

01

Trademarks & brand protection

Protecting and strengthening your brand across India and international jurisdictions, through the Trade Marks Registry and the Madrid Protocol.
  • Trademark search & clearance — pre-filing availability searches and conflict assessments to confirm registrability before the Trade Marks Registry.
  • Filing & registration — strategic, multi-class filing and registration of trademarks in India, the GCC and globally through the Madrid Protocol.
  • Facilitation for non-Madrid countries — coordination with trusted associate firms for filings in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other GCC states.
  • Renewals & maintenance — managing 10-year renewal cycles, updates and portfolio maintenance across all registered jurisdictions.
  • Trademark watch & monitoring — identifying potential infringement and unauthorised use in Indian and international markets.
  • Opposition, cancellation & rectification — representation in proceedings before the Trade Marks Registry and the High Courts.
  • Licensing & assignment — drafting, negotiating and registering IP licensing, franchising and assignment agreements.
  • Cease-and-desist actions — notices to stop unauthorised use, with marketplace and platform takedowns.
  • IP due diligence — assessing brand portfolios in M&A, investment and licensing transactions.
02

Patents & invention protection

Safeguarding technological innovation through the Indian Patent Office under the Patents Act 1970, and internationally via the PCT and the Paris Convention.
  • Patent search & analysis — novelty, prior-art and freedom-to-operate searches to evaluate patentability and infringement risk.
  • Patent drafting & filing — specifications, claims and drawings tailored to IPO and international filing standards.
  • National & international filings — through the Indian Patent Office, the PCT system and the Paris Convention route.
  • Patent prosecution — examination and correspondence with the IPO through to grant.
  • Technology transfer & licensing — licensing, assignment and R&D collaboration agreements, in India and cross-border.
  • Patent enforcement — infringement disputes and enforcement actions before the Indian courts.
03

Copyright & creative works

Protecting the originality and value of creative works under the Copyright Act 1957, administered by the Copyright Office.
  • Copyright registration & advisory — software, mobile apps, artworks, music, films and written works.
  • Software & app protection — source code, user interfaces and creative content for IT companies, app developers and tech startups.
  • Licensing, assignment & commission agreements — defining ownership, distribution rights and permitted use.
  • Infringement & takedown procedures — removing infringing content from online platforms and pursuing civil remedies before the Indian courts.
  • Portfolio management — ongoing management of large creative-asset portfolios for corporates, agencies and content creators.
04

Industrial designs

Protecting the aesthetic and visual features of an article under the Designs Act 2000, registered through the CGPDTM.
  • Design registration — shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation and composition of lines or colours, applied in two or three dimensions.
  • Validity assessments & enforcement — before the CGPDTM and the Indian courts, preventing unauthorised copying or imitation.
  • Term of protection — 10 years from registration, extendable by a further 5 years (a 15-year maximum).
05

Trade secrets & confidential information

India has no standalone trade-secrets statute; protection is enforced through contractual obligations, equitable principles and judicial precedent.
  • Non-disclosure agreements & confidentiality policies — tailored to the client’s business and workforce structure.
  • Protection of trade secrets — formulas, algorithms and proprietary processes under Indian law.
  • Misappropriation & breach — investigations and legal action on breach of confidentiality, including employee-level IP breaches.
India, the GCC & beyond
One portfolio, every jurisdiction that matters.

Our coverage spans India, the UAE, the GCC, the Madrid member countries and key international jurisdictions, with a trusted associate network for non-Madrid territories such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. For businesses moving across the India–UAE corridor, a single relationship manages the whole portfolio — filing, renewals, watch and enforcement.

Our UAE IP practice →

02 — Representative experience

A sample of recent matters.

01

Secured and managed multi-jurisdiction trademark portfolios for technology and consumer-goods businesses across India, the GCC and Madrid member countries — multi-class filings before the Trade Marks Registry, opposition proceedings, watch services, renewals, and coordination with associate firms for non-Madrid jurisdictions.

02

Supported technology startups and industrial clients on patent filings before the Indian Patent Office, PCT applications for international protection, and technology-transfer and licensing arrangements across India, the GCC and other jurisdictions.

03

Advised software companies and media creators on copyright registration under the Copyright Act 1957 — covering app interfaces, website content, source code and media-design portfolios — and implemented confidentiality protocols, including responses to employee-level IP breaches.

04

Acted for a consumer brand on multi-class trademark protection and urgent anti-counterfeiting enforcement against counterfeit products in physical and online marketplaces — cease-and-desist notices, marketplace takedowns and opposition proceedings before the relevant IP authorities.

Representative matters. Some details are withheld for client confidentiality.
03 — How we work

What to expect.

Protection is valuable only when it is registrable and practically enforceable.

01

Assessment & search

Clearance searches, novelty and prior-art analysis, or IP portfolio risk reviews across the target jurisdictions.

02

Strategy

A filing roadmap, protection strategy or enforcement plan calibrated to your objectives and budget.

03

Implementation

Filing, prosecution, licensing, assignment, enforcement or dispute representation before the CGPDTM, the courts or international bodies.

04

Ongoing management

Renewals, watch services, portfolio monitoring, regulatory updates and dispute support.

04 — Frequently asked questions

India IP, answered.

What constitutes a trademark in India?
Under the Trade Marks Act 1999, a trademark is any mark capable of being represented graphically and of distinguishing the goods or services of one entity from those of another — including words, names, signatures, devices, labels, numerals, shapes, colours, sounds, and combinations of these.
Do I need to register a trademark in India for protection?
While a passing-off action is available to owners of unregistered marks with established reputation, registration is strongly recommended. A registered trademark grants the exclusive right to use the mark, and a firm basis for opposition and cancellation actions against competing marks.
What is the process and timeline for trademark registration in India?
Applications are filed before the Trade Marks Registry through the IP India portal administered by the CGPDTM. After examination, the Registry issues an examination report to which the applicant responds. Accepted marks are published in the Trade Marks Journal for a four-month opposition window; absent opposition, the registration certificate then issues. The total timeline typically ranges from 18 to 36 months.
Can I register my India trademark internationally through the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. India is a member of the Madrid Protocol, administered by WIPO. A single international application filed through the IP India office can designate multiple member countries. For GCC states that are not Madrid members, we coordinate filings through a trusted associate network.