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Trademark Strategy For Startups: What Early-Stage Companies Overlook In Their Rush To Market

Krutha Janani M (Khurana and Khurana) · Mondaq Free Beginner India

This answers the real question of when to actually file, and its answer is early, even before you launch, because Indian law lets you file on an intent to use the mark. It is candid that legal spend feels like a luxury for a cash-strapped startup, then makes the case that a forced rebrand later costs far more. A useful counterweight if your instinct is to wait until the product ships.

  • File on intent to use, before launch, rather than waiting until the brand is public.
  • The priority date is set on your filing date, so every week of delay is a week the name is unclaimed.
  • DPIIT-recognised startups get lower fees and faster processing under the SIPP scheme, which lowers the cost barrier to filing early.
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The question it answers

  1. Should I register a company, buy the domain, or lock the trademark first?

Read with it

  1. The free, official first step before you commit to any brand name, logo, or domain. Ten minutes here can save you a rebrand, it... Government of India (tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in) Tool · tool IP India Public Trademark Search Trade Marks Registry, CGPDTM
  2. This lays out the sequencing question head on for Indian founders: incorporating your company or owning the .com does not give... Intepat IP Article Trademark Registration for Startups in India: A Practical Guide Intepat IP
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