The Trade Marks Journal is the official weekly publication in which India's Trade Marks Registry advertises trademark applications it has accepted, or has chosen to advertise before acceptance. Issues are usually dated a Monday and are listed for free download on IP India's website. Publication matters because it starts a four-month window in which anyone can oppose the mark.
What is the Trade Marks Journal?
The Trade Marks Rules, 2017 define the Journal as the trademarks journal made available on the official website of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (Rule 2). Once the Registrar accepts an application, Section 20 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 requires it to be advertised, and Rule 39 says that advertisement appears in the Journal.
Think of it as the public notice board for new brands. It is not a list of registered trademarks. It is a list of applications that are on their way to registration unless someone objects in time.
How often is the trademark journal published?
Every week. IP India's journal page lists one issue a week, usually dated a Monday and numbered in sequence. For example, Journal No. 2283 is dated 19 October 2026. The list shows two dates for every issue:
- Date of Publication: the date printed on the issue
- Date of Availability: when the issue was actually put online
Usually the two match. Occasionally they don't: Journal No. 2278 is dated 14 September 2026 but became available on 15 September 2026. Rule 42 counts the opposition period from the date of publication, and no court has settled the point under the 2017 Rules, so if the dates differ, plan around the earlier one.
The deadline itself is simple: add four calendar months to the publication date. For an issue published on 2 November 2026, the estimated last day to oppose is 2 March 2027. Treat it as an estimate: confirm the publication date in the official Journal, and remember that online filings get no holiday extension, so file before it.
How to check the trademark journal online
- Open IP India's Trade Marks Journal page.
- Find the issue by number or date. The latest issues are at the top.
- Each issue is split into separate PDF parts by class range (for example, classes 1–9 and classes 10–25). Download the parts that cover your classes. Not sure which classes apply to you? Use the trademark class finder.
- Search each PDF (Ctrl+F) for your brand name, likely misspellings and its main word. Logos won't show up in a text search, so scroll through your classes if logos matter to you.
- Note the application number and journal date of anything that worries you, then check the estimated last date to oppose with the opposition deadline calculator.
What does a trademark journal entry show?
Each advertised application usually shows:
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Application number and filing date | You need the number to oppose; the date shows who filed first |
| Class | Which of the 45 classes the goods or services fall in |
| The mark | Word, logo or both, as filed |
| Applicant's name and address | Who is claiming the brand |
| Address for service or agent | Where legal papers will be sent |
| Use claim | "Proposed to be used" or a "used since" date |
| Goods or services | The exact list; this decides how far the protection reaches |
| Notes or conditions | For example, a disclaimer, or a note that the mark was advertised before acceptance |
The application number is the key. You can look it up on IP India's application status page to see documents and the current status.
What do "accepted and advertised" and "advertised before acceptance" mean?
- Accepted and advertised: the examiner has accepted the application (any objections were cleared) and it has been published for opposition under Section 20(1).
- Advertised before acceptance: the proviso to Section 20(1) lets the Registrar advertise an application before accepting it in certain cases, such as when distinctiveness or an earlier mark is in question, or in exceptional circumstances. It is open to opposition in exactly the same way, but formal acceptance is still pending.
If your own application was objected to first, our guide on objection vs opposition explains how the two stages fit together.
Corrections and re-advertisement
If an application is corrected or amended after it was advertised, the Registrar may advertise it again or instead publish a notification of the change in a later journal (Section 20(2), Rule 40). If the advertisement itself got the mark or the goods and services wrong, the Registrar may advertise it again and cancel the earlier advertisement. If an application is re-advertised, Section 21(1) counts the four months from the re-advertisement, so a fresh opposition window opens. Always check the latest journal entry for a mark, not just the first one you found.
My trademark is published in the journal. What happens next?
Good news, but don't celebrate just yet. For the next four months, anyone can oppose your mark.
- If nobody opposes: once the window closes, the Registry proceeds to register the mark (Section 23). The registration is dated from your application date, which is also when your ten-year term starts.
- If someone opposes: your status changes to "Opposed" and you will be served a copy of the notice. You then have two months to file a counter-statement. Read what to do if your trademark is opposed.
Someone else's mark in the journal looks like yours. What now?
- Compare the names honestly. The similarity checker gives a quick sound-alike and look-alike score. It is a guide, not a legal opinion.
- Check the goods or services. Overlapping or closely related goods are the danger zone.
- Work out the estimated last date with the deadline calculator.
- Read the opposition steps in how to oppose a trademark in India, and talk to a registered trademark agent or advocate early if it's a real threat.
Why reading the journal yourself is hard
The journal is public, but reading it is a chore. A new issue arrives every week, split into several large PDFs. A copycat may use a different spelling, a Hindi or English equivalent, or a related class you don't usually check. Skip a few weeks and the four-month window can close without you noticing.
A quick routine helps if you do it yourself:
- Same day every week, soon after the new issue appears
- Same classes every time, plus the related ones
- Same search list: your name, misspellings, main word, translation
- One log of anything close, with its estimated last date to oppose
This is also why many businesses use a trademark watch instead.
Let BrandKavach read the journal for you
BrandKavach checks each new Journal issue we receive and emails you when a mark that looks or sounds like yours appears, with an estimated last date to oppose. We are an independent service and are not affiliated with IP India. Try the free brand check or start watching your brand.
General information only, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the Trade Marks Journal published in India?
Weekly. Issues on IP India's journal page are usually dated a Monday and carry a running journal number.
Is publication in the trademark journal the same as registration?
No. Publication opens a four-month window in which anyone can oppose the mark. Registration follows only if nobody opposes in time, or if an opposition is decided in the applicant's favour.
Where can I download the Trade Marks Journal?
From the Trade Marks Journal page on IP India's website at search.ipindia.gov.in. Each issue is split into PDF parts by class range, so download the parts that cover your classes.
What happens if nobody opposes my trademark after publication?
Once the four-month window closes without an opposition, the Registry proceeds to register the mark under Section 23 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The registration is dated from your application date.
What is the difference between the publication date and the availability date?
The publication date is the date on the issue, and the availability date is when IP India put it online. They usually match. Rule 42 counts the four months from publication, so plan your deadline from the earlier date.
Related guides
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check dates in the official Trade Marks Journal and speak to a trademark agent or advocate about your own case.