Real-World Scenarios & Access

Trademark vs patent vs copyright, which one do I actually need?

A starting point

For most founders, a trademark is the one that matters: it protects your brand name and logo so nobody else can trade under it, and it's cheap and fast to file. Copyright automatically protects your code, content, and designs the moment you create them (registration just makes them easier to enforce). Patents are expensive, slow, and only relevant if you've invented something genuinely novel and technical, most startups never need one.

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India Free Intermediate

Startup India, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Benefits & SIPP Scheme

From Government of India (startupindia.gov.in) by DPIIT / Startup India ~10 min read

Why we picked it

The official explainer of the concrete money DPIIT-recognised startups get on IP, an 80% patent-fee rebate, 50% trademark-fee rebate, and government-paid facilitators. This is the single best reason to get DPIIT recognition early if you'll file anything, and it comes straight from the source, not a paid-service blog.

  • DPIIT-recognised startups get an 80% rebate on patent filing fees and 50% on trademark filing fees.
  • Under SIPP, the government bears the facilitator's professional fees, you pay only statutory charges.
  • Fast-track patent examination lets startups realise the value of their IP far sooner.
  • Recognition is the gate to all of it, register on the Startup India portal before filing.
Open startupindia.gov.in →

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India Free Intermediate

IP India, Official Portal (Patents, Trademarks, Designs, Copyright)

From Government of India (ipindia.gov.in) by Office of the CGPDTM portal

Why we picked it

The single primary source for all Indian IP filing and search, patents, trademarks, designs, and links to copyright. Skip the blogspam middlemen: this is where you actually search existing marks, e-file, and track applications, straight from the Controller General's office.

  • Trademark, patent, and design e-filing and status tracking all live here on one government portal.
  • Links to the free public search tools so you can check availability before you file or spend.
  • Includes an AI/ML-based trademark search alongside the classic public search.
  • The authoritative source for acts, rules, fee schedules, and official forms, no intermediary needed.
Open ipindia.gov.in →
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India Free Intermediate

IP India Public Trademark Search

From Government of India (tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in) by Trade Marks Registry, CGPDTM tool

Why we picked it

The free, official first step before you commit to any brand name, logo, or domain. Ten minutes here can save you a rebrand, it tells you whether your name is already registered or applied-for in your class, which is exactly the check most founders skip.

  • Search existing and pending trademarks by word mark, class, and Vienna code before you launch a brand.
  • Trademark protection is class-specific, check the classes that match what you actually sell.
  • A registered or similar prior mark in your class is a reason to change the name now, not after launch.
  • Includes a newer AI-based search option for finding phonetically and visually similar marks.
Open tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in →

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