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

Section 36E

Section 36E: International registrations designating India

Designation of India in an international registration is subject to the Indian recording, examination, opposition and protection 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) The Registrar shall, after receipt of an advice from the International Bureau about any international registration where India has been designated, keep a record of the particulars of that international registration in the prescribed manner.

(2) Where, after recording the particulars of any international registration referred to in sub-section (1), the Registrar is satisfied that in the circumstances of the case the protection of trade mark in India should not be granted or such protection should be granted subject to conditions or limitations or to conditions additional to or different from the conditions or limitations subject to which the international registration has been accepted, he may, after hearing the applicant if he so desires, refuse grant of protection and inform the International Bureau in the prescribed manner within eighteen months from the date on which the advice referred to in sub-section (1) was received.

(3) Where the Registrar finds nothing in the particulars of an international registration to refuse grant of protection under sub-section (2), he shall within the prescribed period cause such international registration to be advertised in the prescribed manner.

(4) The provisions of sections 9 to 21 (both inclusive), 63 and 74 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an international registration as if such international registration was an application for registration of a trade mark under section 18.

(5) When the protection of an international registration has not been opposed and the time for notice of opposition has expired, the Registrar shall within a period of eighteen months of the receipt of advice under sub-section (1) notify the International Bureau its acceptance of extension of protection of the trade mark under such international registration and, in case the Registrar fails to notify the International Bureau, it shall be deemed that the protection has been extended to the trade mark.

(6) Where a registered proprietor of a trade mark makes an international registration of that trade mark and designates India, the international registration from the date of the registration shall be deemed to replace the registration held in India without prejudice to any right acquired under such previously held registration and the Registrar shall, upon request by the applicant, make necessary entry in the register referred to in sub-section (1) of section 6.

(7) A holder of international registration of a trade mark who designates India and who has not been extended protection in India shall have the same remedy which is available to any person making an application for the registration of a trade mark under section 18 and which has not resulted in registration under section 23.

(8) 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 related basic application or, as the case may be, the basic registration in a Contracting Party other than India 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 in India shall cease to have effect.

Rule and business relevance

The Registrar records the advice, considers refusal or conditions, and uses the stated eighteen-month communication periods. The listed domestic provisions apply with necessary adaptations. The chapter also addresses replacement of an existing Indian registration, remedies where protection is not extended and loss of the foreign basic filing within five years.

Limits and related provisions

Do not turn the eighteen-month rule into an unconditional promise of protection. Subsection (5) is tied to absence of opposition and expiry of its period; examination grounds, conditions and basic-filing dependency must be checked.

Hypothetical business example

Hypothetical example: An overseas registration designates India. The holder tracks receipt of the International Bureau’s advice, any Indian objections, advertisement and opposition rather than treating international registration alone as final clearance.

Practical decision flow

Record the advice date and Indian examination status.

Track the applicable opposition and communication stages and any conditions.

Check replacement, remedies and the five-year basic-filing consequence where relevant.

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

  • Record the advice date and Indian examination status.
  • Track the applicable opposition and communication stages and any conditions.
  • Check replacement, remedies and the five-year basic-filing consequence where relevant.

Avoid

  • Do not turn the eighteen-month rule into an unconditional promise of protection. Subsection (5) is tied to absence of opposition and expiry of its period; examination grounds, conditions and basic-filing dependency must be checked.

Glossary

Designation of India
Seeking protection in India through the international registration.
Extension of protection
The protection in India addressed through the section’s process.

Frequently asked questions

Is eighteen months a universal automatic approval promise?

No. Apply the precise conditions in subsections (2) and (5), including the opposition position.

Do Indian refusal provisions still apply?

Yes. Subsection (4) applies the specified domestic provisions with necessary adaptations.

Can loss of a foreign basic filing affect India?

Yes. Subsection (8) states the consequence for the described events within five years.

Need help applying this provision to your situation?

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Last updated 10 October 2026