Trademark status in India: what each status means and what to do next
Last updated: 26 October 2026
The status on the IP India portal shows where a trademark application is in the Registry's process. Most statuses need no action. A few do, and each has a deadline: Objected (a reply within one month), Opposed (a counter-statement within two months) and Formalities Chk Fail (correct the defect promptly). Accepted & Advertised starts a four-month window in which anyone may oppose the mark.
At a glance
- Applies to
- Anyone with a trademark application or registration in India
- Law and rule
- Trade Marks Act, 1999; Trade Marks Rules, 2017
- Need action
- Formalities Chk Fail, Objected, Ready for Show Cause Hearing, Opposed, Refused, Abandoned
- Key deadlines
- One month to reply to an examination report. Two months to file a counter-statement. Four months for opposition after advertisement.
Anyone who files a trademark application in India soon learns to check its status online. The labels are terse, some sound alarming when they are routine, and a few carry strict deadlines that cannot be extended. This guide explains each status in roughly the order an application moves through them. For the process as a whole, see Trademark Registration.
How to check the status
Search by application number on the Trade Marks Registry's public search (tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in). The result shows the current status, the class, the applicant and the documents on file, including any examination report. The status changes as the Registry acts, so it is worth checking at least monthly while an application is pending, and more often once the mark has been advertised.
Statuses that need no action
These show the application moving through the Registry. Nothing needs to be filed.
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| New Application | Filed and given an application number, but not yet checked. |
| Send to Vienna Codification | Logo marks only. The Registry is classifying the figurative elements so the logo can be searched against others. |
| Formalities Chk Pass | The filing is in order: form, fee and power of attorney. The application now waits for examination. |
| Marked for Exam | In the queue for an examiner, who will check the mark against the Act and against earlier marks. |
| Accepted | The examiner has no objection. The mark will be advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. |
Statuses that need a response
Formalities Chk Fail
The Registry has found a defect in the filing, such as a missing or defective power of attorney, an unclear image of the logo or a wrong fee. The application does not move until the defect is corrected. The portal states no fixed period, so it should be dealt with as soon as it appears.
Objected
The examiner has issued an examination report raising objections, usually that the mark is descriptive or not distinctive (section 9) or that it is similar to an earlier mark (section 11). The applicant has one month from receiving the report to file a reply (Rule 33), and an application with no reply may be treated as abandoned. An objection is routine, and many are overcome with a reasoned reply and, where the mark is in use, evidence of that use. See Trademark Objection & Examination Reply.
Ready for Show Cause Hearing
The reply did not resolve the objection, so the application will be listed for a hearing before an officer of the Registry. The hearing notice gives the date. At the hearing the applicant, or its advocate, presents arguments and evidence. Missing the hearing can lead to the application being refused or treated as abandoned.
Opposed
A third party has filed a notice of opposition after the mark was advertised. An objection comes from the Registry; an opposition comes from someone else, and the procedure is different. The applicant must file a counter-statement within two months of receiving the notice. This period cannot be extended, and an application with no counter-statement is treated as abandoned (section 21). Evidence and a hearing follow. See Trademark Opposition & Rectification.
Advertisement and the four-month window
Accepted & Advertised means the mark has been published in the Trade Marks Journal. For four months from the date of advertisement, anyone may oppose it (section 21). Advertised before Accepted means the Registrar has advertised the mark before formal acceptance, as the Act allows in some cases, often with conditions. It can be opposed in the same way.
Nothing needs to be filed during these four months, but this is the time to watch for an opposition. If none is filed, the mark proceeds to registration.
Final statuses
| Status | What it means, and what to do |
|---|---|
| Registered | The mark is on the register for ten years from the application date. The ® symbol can now be used; using it before registration is an offence (section 107). Note the renewal date. |
| Refused | Registration has been refused after examination or a hearing. The decision can be reviewed by the Registrar or appealed to the High Court within a limited time. |
| Abandoned | Usually a missed deadline: no reply to an examination report, or no counter-statement. Act quickly. Reviving an abandoned application is not always possible, and a fresh application loses the original filing date. |
| Withdrawn | The applicant withdrew the application. |
| Removed | A registered mark has been taken off the register, most often for non-renewal. It can be restored if the request is made within one year of expiry (section 25). |
To keep a registration in force, see Trademark Renewal & Portfolio Management.
How long each stage usually takes
The Act fixes only the deadlines that apply to applicants and opponents. The Registry's own processing times vary with its workload. A clean application, with no objection and no opposition, is commonly registered within about a year; an objection, a hearing or an opposition can extend that considerably. More detail: How long does trademark registration take in India?.
Questions
The examiner has issued an examination report with objections. It is not a refusal. A reply is due within one month of receiving the report.
The mark has been accepted and published in the Trade Marks Journal. Anyone may oppose it within four months of the advertisement; if no one does, it proceeds to registration.
No. The ® symbol may be used only once the status is Registered. Until then, use ™.
The Registry has checked the filing (form, fee and power of attorney) and found it in order. The application now waits for examination. No action is needed.
Search by application number on the Trade Marks Registry's public search at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in. The page shows the current status and the documents on file.
Usually a deadline was missed. Depending on the reason, it may be possible to ask the Registrar to review the decision; otherwise a new application is needed, with a later filing date.
Sources
1. The Trade Marks Act, 1999, ss. 9, 11, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 107.
2. The Trade Marks Rules, 2017, r. 33 and the rules on opposition proceedings.
3. Trade Marks Registry, public search and application status (tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in).
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To discuss this, write to info@ireniclegal.com or call +91 96547 47331. Written by Adv. Kanika Marwaha Bindal; last updated 26 October 2026.