Resolve pending objections through a formal Trademark Show Cause Hearing before the Registrar of Trademarks via the official IP India Virtual Hearing portal. A hearing notice is issued when the written reply to an initial Examination Report fails to fully satisfy the examiner. This hearing serves as the final administrative opportunity under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 to present oral arguments and documentary evidence before a decision is made to accept or refuse your application.
Our specialized IP litigation team manages every stage of the Trademark Hearing process across all 5 jurisdictional registries in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad):
Hearing Notice & Board Tracking: Monitoring the TLA Hearing Board on the IP India portal to track scheduled hearing dates, virtual meeting links, and officer assignments.
Compilation of Legal Briefs & Paper Books: Preparing structured hearing briefs containing statutory defenses under Section 9 (Absolute Grounds) and Section 11 (Relative Grounds), along with High Court and IPAB case precedents.
Evidence of Commercial Usage: Organizing user affidavits, Chartered Accountant sales turnover certificates, advertising/marketing expense proof, and invoice trails to establish acquired distinctiveness or honest concurrent use.
Oral Representation: Authorizing an IP Attorney or Registered Trademark Agent via Form TM-48 (Power of Attorney) to appear on your behalf during the online video conference hearing.
Upon conclusion of oral arguments, the Hearing Officer may order your mark to be Accepted & Advertised in the Trademark Journal, request supplementary written submissions, or issue a formal order. We provide post-hearing follow-up to secure your official acceptance order and ensure smooth progression to journal publication.
Our expert professional consultant will call you to understand your requirements.
Payment link will be sent to your email along with all the details of required documents.
One of our experts will be assigned to collect all your documents and other details.
We will share the updates about your trademark as soon as the hearing is done.
Allows applicants to address and resolve issues raised by the registrar for approval.
Enables expert guidance through the process, improving the chances of a successful outcome.
Provides a platform to present arguments and evidence supporting the trademark's registration.
Leads to a conclusive judgment on the trademark’s eligibility for registration.
We do not have any hidden charges, all our prices includes everything mentioned.
We value the time and thus ensure timely delivery of all the assigned projects.
Get your work done through our wide team of experienced professionals.
A Trademark Show Cause Hearing is a formal administrative proceeding conducted by the Registrar of Trademarks under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. It is scheduled when your written reply to an initial Examination Report fails to satisfy the examiner, or when the objections under Section 9 (Absolute Grounds) or Section 11 (Relative Grounds) require oral arguments and physical/documentary proof
No. A hearing notice is not a rejection order. It is a statutory opportunity provided under Indian IP law to present your case, submit fresh documentary evidence, and clarify misunderstandings before a final decision is made by the Hearing Officer.
All Trademark Show Cause Hearings are conducted online via video conferencing (such as Cisco Webex or Microsoft Teams) before the jurisdictional Registry. The official video link is sent to your registered email and published on the IP India portal prior to the hearing date.
If no one appears on your behalf when your application is called, the Hearing Officer can immediately mark your application as “Abandoned” or issue an ex-parte refusal order. If missed due to genuine emergency, you must file a petition within 30 days to request restoration of the mark.
Yes. You can request an adjournment along with the prescribed official fee (₹900) at least 3 working days before the scheduled date, stating a valid reason (e.g., medical emergency, non-availability of counsel, or pending settlement). The Registrar permits a maximum of 2 adjournments per case.
You can authorize an IP Attorney or Registered Trademark Agent to represent you by executing Power of Attorney. Most applicants prefer using specialized IP counsel to handle oral arguments, legal precedents, and case law citations effectively during the 10-to-15-minute hearing window.
Proof of Brand Usage: Certified turnover statements, tax invoices, domain name invoices, social media and marketing campaign proofs.
Legal Submissions: Written Hearing Brief highlighting phonetic, visual, and conceptual differences (for Section 11) or establishing “acquired distinctiveness” (for Section 9).
Case Law Precedents: High Court and IPAB/Judicial decisions supporting your brand’s eligibility.
User Affidavit: Sworn affidavit on stamp paper confirming continuous commercial use since the claimed user date.
