Running a small or medium business means your brand name, logo or tagline is often your biggest asset and right now, anyone could file for it before you do. Trademark registration for MSME gives you legal ownership of that identity under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and because your business is Udyam-registered, you file at half the government fee that companies and LLPs pay.
LegalDev handles the trademark search, class selection, Form TM-A filing and any objection replies, so you don't have to learn the process to get it right.
A trademark is the name, logo, symbol, phrase, sound or even colour combination that sets your goods or services apart from everyone else's. Once the Registrar of Trade Marks approves it, you get exclusive legal rights to use that mark anywhere in India for the goods and services you registered it under.
The MSME angle matters because of one specific benefit: under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, businesses holding a valid Udyam Registration Certificate pay a government fee of ₹4,500 per class for e-filing, instead of the ₹9,000 per class that companies, LLPs and other larger applicants pay. Individuals and DPIIT-recognised startups get the same concessional rate. This isn't a discount you apply for separately you simply need your Udyam certificate in hand at the moment you submit Form TM-A.
If you're applying based on prior use of the mark, you may also need a user affidavit stating the date you started using it, this can strengthen the application and help avoid objections later.
The fee is charged per class, per mark — so a business registering one logo under two classes (say, Class 25 for clothing and Class 35 for retail services) pays the per-class fee twice. There's no fee refund or later adjustment if your Udyam certificate wasn't active at the time of filing, so it's worth confirming your Udyam status is current before you submit.
On top of the government fee, professional filing assistance (search, correct classification, documentation and drafting) typically adds a modest service charge — LegalDev keeps this transparent upfront with no hidden costs.
Typical timeline: 12 to 18 months from filing to certificate, depending on whether objections or oppositions arise. It's a good reason to apply early rather than waiting until the brand is already well known.
A registered trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of registration. It can be renewed indefinitely in further 10-year blocks by filing Form TM-R before expiry, there's no cap on how many times you can renew. Missing the renewal deadline puts your protection at risk, so it's worth diarising the date well in advance.
Trademark rights in India are territorial: registration here protects your mark only within India. If you plan to expand internationally, you'll need to file separately in each country, or use the Madrid Protocol route for multi-country filing.
Getting the trademark class right is one of the biggest factors in whether an application sails through or gets stuck in objections. With 45 possible classes to choose from, it's easy for a business to under-file (leaving parts of their actual business unprotected) or over-file (paying for classes they'll never use). Our team works through your actual goods and services with you before filing, so the application matches your business rather than a generic template.
Beyond classification, we handle the trademark search, document preparation, Form TM-A filing, and any objection or opposition replies that come up along the way. You get a single point of contact for status updates, so you're not left guessing where your application stands.
Already have your MSME/Udyam Registration? You're already halfway to the concessional trademark fee. Building an invention alongside your brand? Explore our Permanent Patent Registration and Provisional Patent Application services as well.
It typically takes 12 to 18 months from filing to receiving the registration certificate, depending on whether the Registrar raises an objection or a third party files an opposition. Applying early, as soon as you settle on your brand name gives you more runway before any conflicts arise.
The ₹4,500 per-class e-filing fee applies to individuals, DPIIT-recognised startups, and businesses holding a valid Udyam Registration Certificate at the time of filing. Companies, LLPs and other entities without that status pay ₹9,000 per class.
No. Registration is specific to the class (or classes) you apply under. A mark registered in Class 25 for clothing doesn't automatically protect you in Class 35 for retail services each class needs its own application and fee.
No. Trademark rights are territorial, so an Indian registration only protects your mark within India. For protection abroad, you'd need to file in each target country separately, or file a single international application through the Madrid Protocol.
A registered trademark is valid for 10 years from the registration date. You can renew it indefinitely in further 10-year terms by filing Form TM-R before it lapses, there's no limit to the number of renewals.
The concessional fee only applies if the Udyam certificate is already issued and in your possession at the moment Form TM-A is submitted a pending application doesn't qualify. Since Udyam registration is free and usually quick to obtain, it's worth completing that first if you want the lower fee.
Your brand name is worth protecting before someone else claims it. Get in touch with LegalDev for a free consultation on your MSME trademark application. we'll confirm your class, check for conflicts, and handle the filing end to end.