How to Trademark Your Logo: Everything You Should Know

A logo seems simple at first glance. A quick shape. A neat line. A pleasant colour. Yet it becomes the face of your business. In a market where customers scroll past a dozen brands every minute, a strong logo helps them pause and remember you.

Look at Google or Apple. Their updates are occasional, but each refresh keeps them relevant. Minimalism rules the design world today, but style alone cannot defend your brand. You need to protect your logo as an asset. The most reliable way to do that is to trademark your logo.

Registering a logo is not only a smart move. It is a shield. It tells the world that your brand identity belongs to you. Delay it, and someone else may step in before you.

This guide walks you through the full process, start to finish.

Benefits of Trademark Logo Registration in India

Legal Protection

A registered logo becomes recognised intellectual property. You gain exclusive rights to use it. That means you can stop others from copying or misusing it. You also get stronger remedies in legal disputes.

For your taglines or slogans, go through our guide and learn to protect them by trademarking with our detailed guide: Trademark Registration for Slogans/Taglines

Clear Product Differentiation

A registered logo helps your audience find you quickly. It signals identity and consistency. In a crowded marketplace, that small mark becomes your anchor.

Goodwill and Customer Trust

People recall a logo faster than a brand name. A familiar emblem builds confidence. Over time, that trust turns into goodwill, which holds serious commercial value.

Ownership and Long-term Control

A trademark registration stays valid for ten years. But trademark renewal keeps it alive forever. Your logo becomes a long-term business asset that grows with your brand.

Documents Required for Trademark Logo Registration

The paperwork depends on the type of applicant. Here is a simple breakdown.

1. Sole Proprietor or Individual

• Trademark application (TM-A)
• A clear representation of the logo
• Signed Form-48
• Identity and address proof (PAN, Aadhaar, Voter ID, utility bill)

2. Partnership, LLP, Start-up or MSME

• Signed Form-48
• Incorporation certificate or partnership deed
• Udyam Registration Certificate (if applicable for MSME benefits)
• ID and address proof of the authorised signatory
• A high-quality JPEG logo is required for device and combination marks

3. Companies not registered as MSME

• Signed Form-48
• Certificate of incorporation
• ID and address proof of the signatory
• Optional logo file in JPEG/PNG format

4. If the applicant wants to claim prior use

Some applicants already use their logo in day-to-day business long before they file for registration. When that is the case, the law allows them to record this earlier use, and the law asks for these things:

• Continuous use showing the logo has been used in business over time
• Evidence such as sales records, ads, packaging, invoices, or dated website pages
• User affidavit filed through Form TM-16 to record this history and attach the proof

Eligibility Criteria for Logo Registration

Your logo must meet a few basic conditions before you can trademark your logo.

• The logo must be unique and clearly different from existing registered marks
• Avoid religious names, official emblems, national symbols, or anything restricted under the Emblems and Names Act
• Marks that confuse the public or contain offensive material are usually rejected
• Logos made of basic shapes or common symbols (stars, circles, leaves) are treated as weak marks
• A strong logo should have inherent distinctiveness, meaning it must stand out on its own and identify your brand clearly
• The logo should be your own creation. Copies or close imitations rarely pass examination or opposition

How to Register a Logo in India: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Conduct a Trademark Search

Start by checking whether your logo, or anything close to it, already exists. Following a quick trademark search process can save you from disputes later.

Use online tools such as the IP India Trademark Registry to look for similar marks. You can also run an internet image search to spot logos that resemble yours. This step helps you confirm that your design is distinctive and ready for registration.

Step 2: Create a unique logo

Once the trademark check is done and clear, start creating a logo that matches your brand’s character. Make sure it stands out. Prior to finalizing, do an initial trademark search. Someone experienced can guide you through current trademarks, which reduces risk of clashes.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

Once you finalise your logo, prepare the application. When preparing for your ™ application, it is essential to understand the trademark registration fees and the associated costs.

You will need:

• a clear image of your logo
• a description of the goods or services it will represent (your trademark class)
• your basic details
• the government filing fee

In India, this is filed through Form TM-A.

Step 4: File Your Trademark Application Early

You do not need to wait for your business to launch. Filing early protects your logo, and you can start using ™ as soon as you submit the application, even while it is pending or under objection. The trademark office marks your submission as “new,” verifies the details, and then places it in the queue for assessment.

However, you can use ® only after the mark is officially registered. Using ® before registration can lead to penalties.

Step 5: Examination of the application

A trademark examiner reviews your mark for compliance. If everything looks fine, it moves to the next step. If the examiner finds issues, they raise objections under absolute or relative grounds. You must file a trademark objection reply within 30 days from the date of receiving the Examination report.

Also, learn how to file an objection reply for your trademark if the examiner has an objection regarding it. This will help you to stay prepared and avoid panic when you receive the objection notice.

Step 6: Opposition Period

Your logo is then published in the Trademark Journal. For 4 months, anyone who believes your mark affects their rights can oppose it. If no one objects, or if you successfully defend the application, it moves to the final stage.

Want to learn how trademark opposition works? Here’s our detailed guide that explains everything in the easiest way possible: Understanding Trademark Opposition

Step 7: Hearing Process (if applicable)

If your response does not satisfy the examiner, a hearing is scheduled. You or your attorney can present arguments with a well-drafted counter-statement within 2 months. If accepted, the logo will move forward.

The hearing process is not something every trademark application goes through. Still, there’s always a possibility of it, so it’s better to have a link to what the trademark hearing process is and how it proceeds.

Step 8: Receive Your Registration Certificate

Your logo is now officially registered. The trademark office issues the registration certificate, and the logo enters the Central Register of Trademarks. As soon as your mark is registered, it is essential to download your trademark certificate and use the ® symbol proudly.

A simple application usually takes more than 18-36 months (including objections/oppositions window). Others may take more than that; there is no definitive timeline. 

Renewal Process:

Your trademark stays valid for ten years. Renewal every ten years keeps it perpetual. If you miss the deadline, you can restore it within the allowed period by filing a restoration request. You can read more about the renewal and restoration process here: Trademark Renewal in India: Process, Fees & Period

Trademark Your Logo with LegalWiz.in

Trademark registration of your logo should feel simple from the start. While you focus on your business, our team manages the work behind the scenes.

You can count on us for:

• Search and verification of your logo
• Complete paperwork and filing
• Timely follow-ups with the Registry
• Clear guidance at every step
• Regular updates until registration is complete

If you want quick processing, transparent fees, and reliable support, LegalWiz.in is a trust-worthy partner to help you register your logo without unnecessary hassle.

Start your registration today and give your brand the protection it deserves.