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Chapter IVA - Special Provisions Relating to Protection of Trade Marks Through International Registration under the Madrid Protocol

Section 36D

Section 36D: International applications originating in India

An Indian basic application or registration can support an international application, with certification and a five-year dependency framework.

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This article is for general information. Refer to the Trade Marks Act, 1999 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.

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Statutory text

Bare law

(1) Where an application for the registration of a trade mark has been made under section 18 or a trade mark has been registered under section 23, the applicant or the registered proprietor may make an international application on the form prescribed by the Common Regulations for international registration of that trade mark.

(2) A person holding an international registration may make an international application on the form prescribed by the Common Regulations for extension of the protection resulting from such registration to any other Contracting Party.

(3) An international application under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall designate the Contracting Parties where the protection resulting from the international registration is required.

(4) The Registrar shall certify in the prescribed manner that the particulars appearing in the international application correspond to the particulars appearing, at the time of the certification, in the application under section 18 or the registration under section 23, and shall indicate the date and number of that application or the date and number of that registration as well as the date and number of the application from which that registration resulted, as the case may be, and shall within the prescribed period, forward the international application to the International Bureau for registration, also indicating the date of the international application.

(5) Where at any time before the expiry of a period of five years of an international registration, whether such registration has been transferred to another person or not, the application under section 18 or the registration under section 23, as the case may be, has been withdrawn or cancelled or has expired or has been finally refused in respect of all or some of the goods or services listed in the international registration, the protection resulting from such international registration shall cease to have effect:

Provided that where an appeal is made against the decision of registration and an action requesting for withdrawal of application or an opposition to the application has been initiated before the expiry of the period of five years of an international registration, any final decision resulting into withdrawal, cancellation, expiration or refusal shall be deemed to have taken place before the expiry of five years of the international registration.

(6) The Registrar shall, during the period of five years beginning with the date of international registration, transmit to the International Bureau every information referred to in sub-section (5).

(7) The Registrar shall notify the International Bureau the cancellation to be effected to an international registration keeping in view the current status of the basic application or the basic registration, as the case may be.

Rule and business relevance

The applicant designates the Contracting Parties sought. The Registrar certifies correspondence with the Indian basic filing and forwards the application as prescribed. During the stated five-year period, loss of the basic application or registration can end the resulting protection; the proviso also addresses proceedings initiated before that period expires.

Limits and related provisions

An international filing does not remove the need to maintain the basic filing during dependency. Do not assume transfer of the international registration avoids the stated consequence or that every later decision falls outside the proviso.

Hypothetical business example

Hypothetical example: A brand owner files through its Indian application and selects two territories. It tracks objections to the Indian basic application as well as the overseas designations during the dependency period.

Practical decision flow

Verify the eligible Indian basic application or registration and matching particulars.

Select the desired Contracting Parties and use the prescribed form and certification process.

Monitor the basic filing, five-year period and any timely initiated proceedings that may affect it.

Applying the Act and current procedure

Read the statutory rule together with the applicable Trade Marks Rules, current Registry directions and the facts of the particular mark. Forms, fees and procedural requirements should be checked against their current official source before filing.

Practical checklist

Do

  • Verify the eligible Indian basic application or registration and matching particulars.
  • Select the desired Contracting Parties and use the prescribed form and certification process.
  • Monitor the basic filing, five-year period and any timely initiated proceedings that may affect it.

Avoid

  • An international filing does not remove the need to maintain the basic filing during dependency. Do not assume transfer of the international registration avoids the stated consequence or that every later decision falls outside the proviso.

Glossary

Five-year dependency
The period and linked-proceeding rules tying protection to the basic filing as stated.
Certification
The Registrar’s confirmation that international particulars correspond to the basic filing.

Frequently asked questions

Must the desired territories be designated?

Yes. Subsection (3) requires designation of the Contracting Parties where protection is required.

Does a transfer necessarily avoid dependency?

No. Subsection (5) expressly applies whether transferred or not.

Can proceedings begun within five years matter after that period?

The proviso addresses the specified proceedings and their resulting final decisions.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

Contact Bizeneed

Last updated 10 October 2026