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How do I actually check if a name is free to use - in India and internationally - before I fall in love with it?

In India, run your shortlisted name through the government's own Trade Marks Public Search portal before you spend a rupee on a logo - it's free and tells you if the wordmark or something confusingly similar is already registered or pending in your product class. Filing itself costs ₹4,500 per class for startups filing online (₹9,000 for larger companies), and an uncontested application typically clears in 6-18 months, so start the filing early, not after launch. If you plan to sell internationally too, also run a quick check on the target country's registry and on domain/social handle availability - a name that's free in India but trademarked in the US will block your export or Amazon Global plans later.

Go deeper

3 resources, 2 India-specific, 2 link-checked.

📄 Article
✓ Link checked India Free Beginner

A current, India-specific breakdown of trademark costs and timelines - the ₹4,500-per-class government fee and 6-18 month uncontested timeline every Indian founder should know before naming feels final.

How to Register Trademark in India (2026): Fees, Process & Timeline

From Cashfree Blog by Cashfree

  • Government filing fee is ₹4,500/class online for startups and individuals (numbers change, always confirm on IP India)
  • Uncontested applications typically clear in 6-18 months; contested ones take longer
  • Explains the TM-A filing form and the overall registration sequence in India
Open cashfree.com →
🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked India Free Beginner

The official, free government trademark search portal - the non-negotiable first check before you commit to a name or spend money on a logo and packaging in India.

Trade Marks Public Search

From IP India (tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in) by Intellectual Property India, Government of India

  • Free wordmark, phonetic and combined search against the official Indian trademark database
  • Directly run by IP India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) - no third-party middleman needed
  • Should be the very first check before filing or falling in love with a shortlisted name
Open tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in →
📄 Article
Free Beginner

Explains the fanciful-vs-descriptive naming spectrum and why arbitrary/made-up names are the strongest and most defensible trademark category - the theory behind why 'Kodak' beats 'Delicious Pizza' as a brand name.

How to Check If Your Startup Name Is Available for Trademark Registration

From Trademarkia

  • Distinguishes fanciful, arbitrary, suggestive and descriptive name categories by trademark strength
  • Walks through the process of checking a name against a trademark database before filing
  • Explains why descriptive names are hardest to protect legally
Open trademarkia.com →

People also ask

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Also in GTM

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