Application success rate at India’s CGPDTM: 5-year overview
The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) manages trademark registrations in India.
Between 2019 and 2023, India’s average trademark registration success rate stood at 60.41%. With an evident downward trend in the recent years, India's trademark system signals stricter examination criteria and an increasingly competitive environment for applicants.
Comparison to regional and global averages
India’s success rate of 60.41% places it below the global average but remains higher than some other major markets such as Vietnam (56.05%) and the United States (56.91%). Compared to neighboring countries, India outperforms Pakistan (44.28%) but trails behind more mature IP offices like Singapore (88.94%) and South Korea (63.20%).
Find out more about how this trademark office compares globally in our full report on trademark success rates worldwide.
Country | Office code | Success rate |
|---|---|---|
India | CGPDTM | 60.41% |
Vietnam | IP-VIETNAM | 56.05% |
Singapore | IPOS | 88.94% |
Japan | JPO | 78.78% |
The United States | USPTO | 56.91% |
Explaining India’s trademark performance
Stricter examination standards
India’s trademark office has increased its scrutiny on issues like distinctiveness, descriptiveness, and similarity to existing marks. This shift has resulted in more refusals and longer prosecution timelines.
Rapidly growing application volumes
India processes an enormous number of trademark applications each year, leading to heavy workloads for examiners and sometimes causing delays and inconsistencies.
How to maximize your chances of registration success in India
Given the relatively low average success rate of 60.41%, registering a trademark in India requires some preparation and understanding of the procedures. To improve your likelihood of approval, it’s recommended to begin with a comprehensive trademark search to identify any potential conflicts. Ensure that your mark is distinctive and not merely descriptive, and clearly define the goods and services associated with your application.
Partnering with a trademark attorney familiar with the legal landscape can significantly improve your chances. They can help anticipate objections, prepare your application thoroughly, and represent you throughout the process if issues arise.
If you are currently preparing to submit your first trademark application, we’ve put together a detailed guide on how to strengthen your chances of success, with multiple pieces of advice directly from our trademark lawyers with years of experience. You can also take advantage of Trama’s free lawyer’s check to receive expert feedback on your trademark and guidance on the best steps forward.
