How to Register a Trademark in Pakistan to Secure Your Business

🔐 Don’t Let Someone Steal Your Brand

Your logo, name, or slogan is more than just design — it’s your identity. Without a registered trademark, your brand is vulnerable to copycats and counterfeits.

Trademark registration isn’t optional — it’s your first legal shield in Pakistan’s competitive market. Want to learn how to protect more than just your name?

🔍 Why Search Before You Apply?

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🔍 Trademark Risk Checker

Answer a few quick questions to estimate the risk of your trademark being objected or rejected.

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📝 Your Trademark Registration Roadmap

1. Step 1: Trademark Search — Make sure your name/logo is unique
2. Step 2: File Form TM-1 — Include business + trademark details
3. Step 3: Registry Examination — Registrar checks for legal compliance
4. Step 4: Journal Publication — Your mark is publicly posted for opposition
5. Step 5: Opposition Period — Wait 3 months to see if objections are raised
6. Step 6: Acceptance & Certificate — Pay final fee and receive legal proof
7. Step 7: Renewal — Every 10 years, renew to keep your rights active

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📋 Required Documents Checklist

One of the most critical parts of the trademark registration process is making sure you have the right documents in place. To successfully register a trademark in Pakistan, you will typically need to prepare and submit the following trademark documents:

• Representation of the Trademark: Provide six clear copies of the logo or design you wish to trademark. If it’s a wordmark, clearly state the word in the application. The representation should be of good quality and adhere to any size or format specifications outlined by the Trademark Registry.
• Business Entity Documents: You will need to provide proof of your business’s legal standing. This includes your business registration certificate (if applicable), partnership deed (for partnerships), or incorporation certificate (for companies). Ensure these documents clearly state the name and address of the applicant. You may also need to provide your business’s tax registration details.
• Applicant’s Identity and Address Proof: Submit a copy of your Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) if you are an individual, or the CNICs of the partners or directors if you are a business entity. Ensure the address provided matches the official records.
• Power of Attorney (if applicable): If you are appointing a trademark attorney or agent to handle the registration process on your behalf, a duly executed power of attorney document is required. This document authorizes the attorney to act on your behalf.
• Statement of Use (if applicable): If your trademark is already in use in Pakistan, you may need to provide evidence of such use, such as invoices, advertising materials, labels, or any other documentation that demonstrates the mark being used in trade.
• Form TM-1: This is the main trademark registration form for applying to register a trademark. Ensure all sections of the form are completed accurately and legibly.

Providing correct and complete trademark registration documents is crucial to avoid delays or trademark objections during the trademark application process. Always double-check your documents before submission to ensure all requirements are met. For detailed instructions on Filing Form TM-1, check out our guide on [Trademark Application Forms]. You can also refer to the SECP Trademark Registration Guidelines for specific guidelines on acceptable documents.

Why Hiring a Trademark Attorney Can Simplify the Registration Process in Pakistan

Hiring a trademark attorney is one of the best ways to ensure your trademark registration is handled correctly and efficiently. While it’s possible to navigate the process yourself, consulting a trademark legal expert offers significant advantages, potentially saving you time, money, and frustration in the long run.  

A trademark attorney plays a crucial role in ensuring accuracy and compliance with the intricate legal requirements of register trademark with an attorney. They possess the expertise to conduct thorough trademark searches, advise on the registrability of your mark, prepare and file the trademark application attorney (including the necessary trademark application and trademark registration form), and represent you in any communication or proceedings with the Trademark Registry.  

Here are key advantages of hiring a lawyer for trademark registration:

• Avoiding Common Mistakes: Attorneys are well-versed in trademark law and can help you avoid errors in your application that could lead to delays or rejection.  
• Navigating Complex Legal Processes: The trademark procedure can be intricate, involving specific legal terminology and requirements. An attorney can guide you through each step, ensuring you understand and comply with all regulations.  
• Minimizing Risk of Objections or Oppositions: With their expertise, attorneys can assess the likelihood of trademark objections or oppositions from third parties and help you strategize accordingly. They can also represent you effectively if such issues arise.  
• Proper Legal Advice: A trademark legal expert can provide tailored advice on the registrability of your mark, the appropriate classes of goods and services, and the best strategies for protecting your brand.  

To appoint trademark attorney, you will typically need to execute a Power of Attorney. For representation before the Trademark Registry, Form TM-48 is often required. Both local and international clients will need to follow this procedure to authorize their attorney to act on their behalf.

When choosing a qualified trademark attorney, look for someone with experience in intellectual property law, a strong track record in trademark registration in Pakistan, and clear communication. Expect your attorney to keep you informed throughout the process and to act in your best interests. Learn more about the steps for trademark registration in our [Trademark Registration Guide]. You can find qualified trademark attorneys in Pakistan through legal directories such as Find Trademark Attorneys in Pakistan.

Trademark Scrutiny and Publication: What Happens After You Apply

After you submit your trademark application, the next step is a thorough examination to ensure your trademark is unique and compliant. This trademark scrutiny is conducted by the Registrar of Trademarks, who meticulously evaluates your application against existing registered and pending trademarks, as well as legal requirements. During this registrar examination, potential trademark objections might arise if your mark is found to be too similar to an existing one, is descriptive of the goods or services, or lacks distinctiveness.

If the registrar identifies any issues, an examination report, often accompanied by a Show Cause Notice, will be generated and sent to you. This notice will detail the trademark objections and provide a timeframe within which you must respond, either by clarifying your application, providing arguments against the objections, or amending your trademark. Prompt and well-reasoned responses are crucial at this stage.

If your application passes the scrutiny or you successfully address the objections raised, the next stage is the Trademark Journal publication. Your trademark will be advertised in this official gazette, inviting the public to raise any trademark opposition if they believe your mark infringes upon their existing rights. This is a critical step in establishing your trademark rights, as it provides an opportunity for any potential conflicts to be identified and resolved.

The trademark opposition process in Pakistan allows any interested party to file a formal opposition within a legally defined period, typically three months from the date of publication in the Trademark Journal publication. If an opposition is filed, a quasi-judicial process will commence, involving the submission of evidence and hearings before the Trademark Registry to determine the validity of the opposition. The outcome of this process will significantly impact whether your trademark proceeds to registration. Trademark professionals recommend responding to Show Cause Notices promptly to avoid delays in the registration process. If you’ve received a Show Cause Notice, read our guide on [how to respond to trademark objections]. You can view the official Trademark Journal on the website of the Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) at Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization.

How to Secure Your Trademark: Acceptance and Registration Process Explained

Once your trademark is published and no objections are raised, it moves into the final stages: trademark acceptance and trademark registration. This signifies that your brand name or logo has successfully navigated the scrutiny and public review processes and is on the verge of being legally protected.

The trademark acceptance process begins after the opposition period in the Trademark Journal concludes without any valid objections being filed. If no opposition is received, or if any opposition is decided in your favor, the Registrar of Trademarks will issue an acceptance notice. Receiving this trademark approval is a significant milestone, indicating that your application has met all the necessary requirements and is ready for the final step.

Upon receiving the acceptance notice, you will typically be required to pay the final registration fee within a specified timeframe. Prompt payment of this fee is essential to proceed with the registration process. Once the fee is paid, the final trademark registration is completed, and your trademark is officially entered into the Register of Trademarks.

Following the final registration, the Registrar will issue your registration certificate. This certificate serves as the official legal proof of your ownership of the trademark for the specified goods and services in Pakistan. It details your trademark, the registration date, the classes of goods and services it covers, and the validity period.

A registered trademark in Pakistan is initially valid for a period of ten years from the date of application. To maintain continuous protection, you will need to renew your trademark before the expiry of each ten-year period. The trademark validity and trademark renewal process involves paying the prescribed renewal fee and submitting the necessary application for renewal. To understand more about trademark validity and renewal, read our [Trademark Renewal Guide]. You can find further information about the final stages of trademark registration on the official website of the Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) at Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization.

How to Ensure Your Trademark’s Protection with Renewal in Pakistan

A trademark’s protection lasts for 10 years from the date of registration, but it’s important to renew it to continue protecting your brand. Once your trademark is officially registered in Pakistan, it enjoys legal protection for a decade from the initial application date. This means that for ten years, you have the exclusive rights to use your trademark for the goods and services it covers, safeguarding it against unauthorized use or infringement, unless the trademark is invalidated or revoked through legal proceedings.

To ensure your trademark protection continues beyond this initial 10-year period, you must undertake trademark renewal. The trademark renewal process typically involves filing an application for renewal with the Trademark Registry and paying the prescribed trademark renewal fees. This process should ideally be initiated within the last year of the current 10-year protection period to avoid any lapse in your exclusive rights.

Renewing your trademark is of paramount importance. Failing to do so by the trademark expiration date will result in the loss of your exclusive rights to the mark. Once expired, your trademark becomes vulnerable, and other businesses may be able to use or register a similar mark, potentially causing confusion in the market and diluting your brand identity.

The good news is that the renewal process is not a one-time event. You can renew your trademark for unlimited successive terms of 10 years each, allowing for long-term and continuous trademark rights protection. Trademark attorneys recommend setting reminders for your renewal date, as failing to renew on time could result in the loss of protection. Learn more about trademark infringement and how to protect your brand. You can find detailed instructions on how to renew a trademark in Pakistan on the official website of the Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) at Pakistan Intellectual Property Organization.