What You Need To Know About Trademark Renewal?
A trademark is a distinctive mark that a brand employs to separate its product or service from that of a competitor in the market. It can be a name, a logo, a phrase, or even a design and all of these make a business unique. However, gaining a trademark through Trademark Registration is not the end of the story. As a result, trademark renewal is essential to keep your rights and protection intact and your unique trademark free from interference.
A Trademark Renewal is the continuing protection of a trademark as per the Trademark Act of a country, in this blog, we will try to cover the following areas. We will also learn about the distinctions between Trademark Registration and renewal as to why both should be viewed as strategic aspects of brand management.
What do you understand by Trademark Renewal?
The protection of marks requires firms to periodically reregister them, thus the term trademark renewal. Trademark Renewal helps to continue protecting your invention or brand from competitors violating your rights to it. If not renewed you are vulnerable legally, and your trademark may be vulnerable to being used by someone else in a way that harms your business. Usually, a trademark if registered is protected for 10 years.
Key Aspects of Trademark Renewal:
Feature |
Details |
Initial Validity |
Ten years from the date of registration. |
Renewal Period |
Starts 6 months before expiry |
Grace Period |
This is for 6 months after the expiration of the subscription or with extra charges. |
Penalty for Lapse |
Trademark may be removed from the registry |
Trademark, like other business assets, does not automatically renew, the business entity has to take all measures to renew it.
Also Read This - Get TM With Online Trademark Registration
Why Trademark Renewal is an essential tool?
It is not simply a legal process, but an important part of maintaining and developing a trademark's position. Let me explain why it's relevant:
1. Continued Legal Protection
Trademark Renewal ensures your trademark is protected against anyone who would be interested in using it for their products. Without a renewal of your registration certificate, the name you've created for your product or service, your logo, may be used by any other person and this is just devastating.
2. Brand Consistency
A trademark is the mirror image of your branding values and mirrors the quality of your product. When consumers can see the frequently changing products’ stamp of consistent renewal, it is a clear pointer to them that the manufacturer cannot relinquish the higher standards than it is maintaining.
3. Economic Value
Trademarks are valuable business assets that can be sold; licensed; or franchised. This is a value that needs to be renewed and therefore is useful in achieving this objective hence it is a worthy investment.
4. Prevention of Legal Disputes
Rebranding your trademark reduces future problems associated with ownership issues since it enables continuous operations of your business.
Difference between Trademark Registration & Renewal?
While Trademark Registration is the starting point of the trademark process, renewal makes it a lifelong process. Let’s understand the differences:
Aspect |
Trademark Registration |
Trademark Renewal |
Purpose |
To register for the rights of a trademark |
To extend ownership rights |
Validity Period |
10 years |
Extra 10 years for each renewal |
Process Duration |
6-12 months |
Completed in a few weeks |
Status |
Establishes initial rights |
Prevents rights from lapsing |
As seen above, both processes are relevant in developing a solid Brand Registration strategy assuring your business full legal cover.
Difficulties Accompanied by Trademark Renewal Process:
Despite being a straightforward process, businesses may face obstacles during renewal:
1. Missed Deadlines
Many people may fail to remember the renewal date which causes their trademark to be annulled and they lose protective rights.
2. Inadequate Documentation
Slight mistakes or incomplete documentation in Form TM-R may result in rejection or further processing time.
3. Conflicting Claims
As part of renewal, they could be related to other trademarks or even own them, which makes the process difficult.
4. Lack of Expert Guidance
If not for professional help, there are plenty of things that make businesses find it impossible to renew their licence. Businesses might also struggle to renew their licenses due to the lack of appropriate knowledge and complete paperwork.
Why Professional Trademark Renewal Services may be Required?
Overseeing Trademark Registration and renewal is time-consuming and demanding, most so for organizations that possess numerous trademarks. Professional consultants like LegalRaasta provide end-to-end support, ensuring:
Timely Reminders: The alert on the remaining days before the deadline
Conflict Resolution: Resistance to objections or ability to handle some disputes
Cost Efficiency: No one would want to be fined, charged extra or find out that they indeed have extra charges to make for complaints that compel one to spend a lot of cash.
The trademark protection should be maintained regularly, and using the services of experts minimizes time and investments.
Also Read This - Should You File A Provisional Trademark?
Brand Registration & Trademark Renewal Process go hand in hand:
This Brand Registration strategy cannot be complete without frequent trademark re-registrations. Here’s why:
1. Brand Longevity
Trademark Registration provides legal recognition to a brand and renewal adds to its further longevity. Moreover, they make a long-lasting impression on the market situation.
2. Market Trust
Consumers are more accepting of brands that have a more mature presence online. Authorization cements your commitment to pursuing at the highest level and quality and reliability.
3. Legal Protection
Trademark Renewal avoids the problem of expiration of your trademark period. If that fails, it will be counterfeited or infringed.
4. Strategic Growth
A registered and renewed trademark is an asset for partnerships, mergers, or franchising opportunities to boost business expansion.
Logo registration is recognized widely everywhere in the world, following its acknowledged value in enhancing the image of the business, advertising the product or service effectively, and in addition, and avoiding confusion.
Thus, a brand name is important in brand identification, as is a logo that is invariably used in addition to the brand name. It is important to acquire Logo Registration in order to safeguard this graphic emblem of the business.
The Common Benefits of Logo Registration:
1. Brand Recognition: Logos are very particular and therefore serve as primary tools when designing a marketing campaign.
2. Legal Protection: Accreditation of logos gives one person a level of protection that prohibits others from using the registered logos.
3. Market Advantage: This proves the idea that a registered logo sets your brand apart in the market dense with competitors.
Why Trademark Renewal Should Be A Priority?
Ignoring trademark renewal can have serious consequences, including:
1. Loss of Ownership
If a trademark is not renewed, one’s rights may be expunged from the Trademark Registry and this is a likelihood that no businessman wants.
2. Vulnerability to Infringement
In the absence of a reissued trademark, your competitors, or else a fake imitator, could take advantage of your brand logo.
3. Reputation Damage
When the identity of the brand is being threatened consumers may not develop long-term loyalty to the brand.
4. Costly Re-Registration
Whenever a trademark expires, companies might be forced to undertake the extensive Trademark Registration process all over again which is tiring as well as costly.
Conclusion
Trademark renewal is not something that one has to do legally only but as a process of brand identity maintenance. Recurrent renewal of your trademark entrenches you in the market, enhances consumer trust, and optimally utilises your assets in the form of I.P.
If you want Trademark Registration, renewal, or any other services related to the trademark then contact LegalRaasta. Our team of esteemed professionals makes certain that filling, renewals, and overall services are carried out effectively.
Get in touch with LegalRaasta today and safeguard your brand for the future!