Trademark Watch & Renewal: Protect Your Brand's Identity and Value

We here at AK Legal Mantra understand that your trademark is the foundation of your brand identity. It is not only a symbol of your product or service, but of the recognition and trust that you’ve established with your consumers as well. Registering your trademark is an important first step, but protection on an ongoing basis is equally important. Our Trademark Watch and Trademark Renewal services are designed to help ensure your trademark remains exclusive and secure from potential threats or lapses, keeping your brand safe for the long term.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark is a special name for your business, be it a word, phrase, logo, or even a mix of any of these components. A trademark is used to differentiate your goods or services from others and assure customers they know and can trust your brand.

Under the law of trademarks in India (Trade Marks Act, 1999), trademarks are registered with the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks. The trademark owner then has legal rights to use the mark exclusively, not allowing others to use a confusably similar mark that might damage the reputation of the brand.

What is Trademark Watch?

Trademark Watch is an active service that continuously checks newly filed trademark applications to detect marks that can possibly conflict with yours. Because the process of trademark registration is open to the public, it is not difficult for conflicting marks to be filed without your knowledge. Through Trademark Watch, you are notified when a possibly conflicting application is filed, allowing you to act quickly, e.g., oppose the application before it is registered.

Why is Trademark Watch Important?

  • Catch Potential Infringements Early
    Early detection is essential in avoiding the registration of a comparable mark. A trademark watch enables you to respond to any likely infringements before they develop into expensive legal battles.
  • Protect Consumer Recognition
    A rival mark that resembles yours too much risks misleading consumers into making erroneous purchases. Trademark Watch guarantees your brand maintains its uniqueness in the market.
  • Preserve Brand Equity
    Your trademark is not only a legal entitlement; it’s an asset. If an infringing mark weakens your brand, it might bear long-term consequences on the value of your brand. Trademark Watch enables you to respond promptly and avoid such consequences.
  • Cost-Effective & Efficient
    Monitoring the trademark database on an ongoing basis would be time-consuming and expensive if performed manually. Trademark Watch offers a cost-saving and efficient way to keep your mark safe.
  • Peace of Mind
    By having professionals monitor your trademark, you have the ability to concentrate on operating your business without the concern of whether or not there could be infringements.

What is Trademark Renewal?

Trademark renewal is the act of continuing the protection term of your trademark after the initial 10-year registration period has expired. Renewal is an important process in maintaining your sole rights to the mark, since protection will be lost if you fail to renew.

Why Do I Need Trademark Renewal?

  • Ensure Continued Protection
    If not renewed on time, your trademark rights will expire. Renewing your trademark ensures you continue to maintain control over its use and prevent unauthorized exploitation.
  • Sustain Brand Integrity
    Your trademark is an essential component of your business. Renewing it ensures that the brand image you’ve so painstakingly developed continues to be protected, both legally and in the marketplace.
  • Avoid Loss of Rights
    Failing to renew can leave space for a competitor to secure a similar mark, which can confuse consumers and harm your brand. Keeping track of your renewal dates prevents this.
  • Legal Action Against Infringement
    If an infringer interferes with your trademark, having a current and renewed registration grants you legal basis to act. Without renewal, fighting for your mark is more difficult.
  • Affordable and Easy
    Renewal of trademark is easy, and timely renewal is not just economical but also saves you from paying more legal charges for re-registering the mark if it lapses.

 

How AK Legal Mantra Can Help with Trademark Watch & Renewal

At AK Legal Mantra, we offer professional Trademark Watch and Trademark Renewal services so that your intellectual property is constantly protected. Our professionals assist you in making the intricacies of trademark watching and renewal easy while you can focus on what is most important—expanding your business.

  • Trademark Watch Services:
    Continuous Watching: We watch over the trademark registries to identify any fresh applications that have the possible potential to conflict with your registered mark.
  • Instant Alerts: We immediately notify you of any identical trademarks being sought, giving you time to oppose or contest if needed.
  • Opposition Support: Should we find an infringing application, we assist you with the opposition procedure to defend your rights.
  • Trademark Renewal Services:
    Reminder Notifications: We monitor your trademark’s renewal deadlines and send you reminders in a timely manner, so you never again risk missing a key deadline.
  • Seamless Renewal: We manage the whole process of renewal, from application submission to preparation and submission of all documents.
  • International Trademark Renewal: If your trademark is registered internationally, we also assist in international renewal of your protection in foreign countries.

 

FAQs

  1. What if I miss my trademark renewal deadline?
    Missing the renewal deadline can cause your trademark to lapse. In that case, you will lose exclusive rights over your mark, and a new applicant may apply for a similar mark. It is an expensive procedure to reapply, and you might lose your brand’s distinct identity.
  2. Can I renew my trademark prior to its expiration date?
    Yes, you can renew your trademark six months ahead of the expiry date, so there is no lapse in your trademark protection.
  3. Is Trademark Watch offered for all trademarks?
    Trademark Watch services can be offered for registered trademarks, so you can watch out for conflicting applications that may encroach upon your rights.
  4. Can AK Legal Mantra assist with international trademark watch?
    Yes, we provide international trademark watch services so that your trademark rights can be secured across the world.