How do I check if a brand name is already trademarked in India?

Use the IP India Public Search at search.ipindia.gov.in — but it's clunky, requires CAPTCHAs, and only checks one Nice class at a time. BrandAuditor automates that: we run wordmark + phonetic search across all 45 Nice classes against the IP India trademark register (5-year journal index + live search), plus a parallel MCA company-name check, in one pass.

Is BrandAuditor's trademark search free?

Yes — the free trial gives you 20 name checks over 7 days (email verification only, no card needed). Each check runs a complete trademark search against IP India, plus domain, social, SEO, and AI brandability scoring. Paid packs from ₹999 (35 names) for higher volume and full features.

How do I check if a company name is available in India (MCA)?

MCA's own portal requires DSC and is friction-heavy. BrandAuditor checks aggregated company-registry data (Zauba Corp, Tofler, The Company Check) to flag whether your proposed name is already registered as a private limited / LLP / OPC anywhere in India — same name check, no separate lookup needed.

Can BrandAuditor generate brand name ideas with AI?

Yes. Enter your category and target market, and our AI suggests names scored on distinctiveness, descriptiveness risk, and confusion risk against existing trademarks. Every suggestion is automatically cross-checked against IP India before being shown — so you're not pitched a name that's already taken.

How long does it take to register a trademark in India?

End-to-end registration takes 18–24 months on average, but you get protective rights from the day of filing. Filing itself takes a day; examination (3–6 months), publication in the Trademark Journal (4 months), opposition window (4 months), and final registration follow. BrandAuditor's job is to make sure your filing has the highest possible chance of clearing — by catching conflicts before you file.

How much does it cost to register a trademark in India?

Government fee is ₹4,500 per class for individuals/startups/MSMEs (₹9,000 per class for others), via Form TM-A. Most brands need 1–3 classes (₹4,500–₹13,500 in government fees). Attorney fees add ₹5,000–₹25,000 depending on the firm. BrandAuditor isn't a filing service — we're the pre-filing name check that helps you avoid wasted ₹4,500 fees on names that won't clear.

Why does my brand name need to clear MCA records too?

Trademark and company registration are separate but interlinked. A name can be trademark-clear but blocked at MCA (or vice versa). If you're forming a Pvt Ltd / LLP / OPC, you need both — that's why BrandAuditor surfaces both signals in one check instead of forcing you to look them up separately.

What's the difference between BrandAuditor and a free domain checker like GoDaddy or Namecheap?

Domain checkers tell you if sundara.com is available. They don't tell you Sundara Foods Pvt Ltd already exists in MCA, that 'SUNDARA' is filed as a trademark in Class 32 by another applicant, that the .in is taken by a squatter, or that the AI gives it a 47/100 confusion risk. BrandAuditor is built for founders/agencies/IP attorneys who need the full picture before naming a brand.

Does BrandAuditor work for international brand searches?

Currently India-first — IP India + MCA are the deepest integrations. We support UAE (GCC TMView) and global mode using WIPO Global Brand Database. International coverage is expanding through 2026.

Can I download a PDF report I can share with my IP attorney?

Yes — paid plans include a clean PDF report covering trademark conflicts, suggested Nice classes, MCA matches, domain status, social handles, and alternates. Share it with your attorney before they file or with a client when pitching brand options.

Nice classification (NCL 12) for India: all 45 classes with examples

Complete guide to the Nice Classification used by IP India. All 45 trademark classes with what each covers, real Indian brand examples, and how to pick the right class for your filing.

Every trademark application in India must be filed in one or more of 45 Nice classes (NCL 12, the latest Nice Classification edition adopted by IP India). Goods are in classes 1–34, services in 35–45. Pick the wrong class and you either get refused or — worse — get a registered mark that doesn't actually protect your business.

Most brands need 1–3 classes. A D2C skincare brand is typically Class 3 + Class 5 + Class 35. A SaaS startup is Class 9 + Class 42 + Class 35. Below: every class with what it covers and real Indian brand examples.

Goods (Classes 1–34)

Class 1

Chemicals & industrial use

Industrial chemicals, fertilizers, unprocessed plastics, fire-extinguishing compositions.

Indian examples: Tata Chemicals, Sudarshan Chemical.

Class 2

Paints, varnishes, dyes

Paints, lacquers, pigments, anti-rust compositions, mordants.

Indian examples: Asian Paints, Berger.

Class 3

Cosmetics & cleaning

Cosmetics, perfumes, soaps, detergents, hair care, oral care, essential oils.

Indian examples: Forest Essentials, Mamaearth, Plum, Sugar, Lakmé.

Class 4

Fuels & lubricants

Industrial oils, greases, fuels, candles, wicks.

Indian examples: Castrol, Servo.

Class 5

Pharmaceuticals & medicated

Medicines, dietary supplements, baby food, hygienic products, pesticides for medical use.

Indian examples: Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dabur (medicated).

Class 6

Common metals

Steel, iron, aluminium products, hardware, locks, safes, ores.

Indian examples: Tata Steel, JSW.

Class 7

Machines & motors

Industrial machines, motors (non-vehicle), agricultural machinery, robotics.

Indian examples: Mahindra Tractors, Bharat Forge.

Class 8

Hand tools

Hand tools (manually operated), cutlery, razors.

Indian examples: Stanley, Taparia.

Class 9

Electronics, software, apps

Software, mobile apps, downloadable content, electronics, scientific instruments, eyewear.

Indian examples: Razorpay (software), Paytm (app), Boat (audio), Nykaa (app).

Class 10

Medical devices

Surgical instruments, prosthetics, hospital furniture, medical apparatus.

Indian examples: Trivitron, Forus Health.

Class 11

Lighting, heating, cooking appliances

Lamps, heaters, ACs, refrigerators, stoves, water filters.

Indian examples: Voltas, Crompton, Havells.

Class 12

Vehicles

Cars, two-wheelers, EVs, parts, tyres, accessories.

Indian examples: Tata Motors, Mahindra, Ola Electric, Ather.

Class 13

Firearms & explosives

Firearms, ammunition, fireworks.

Indian examples: Sivakasi Fireworks (broadly).

Class 14

Jewellery & watches

Precious metals, jewellery, watches, clocks.

Indian examples: Tanishq, BlueStone, CaratLane, Titan.

Class 15

Musical instruments

Musical instruments and accessories.

Indian examples: Furtados, Bajaao.

Class 16

Paper, stationery, books

Paper, books, magazines, stationery, packaging materials, art supplies.

Indian examples: Classmate (ITC), DOMS, Amar Chitra Katha.

Class 17

Rubber & plastics (industrial)

Rubber, plastics in extruded form for industrial use, insulating materials.

Indian examples: Apollo Tyres (raw).

Class 18

Leather goods

Leather, bags, wallets, luggage, umbrellas, walking sticks.

Indian examples: Hidesign, Da Milano.

Class 19

Building materials (non-metallic)

Cement, tiles, sandstone, asphalt, glass for building.

Indian examples: Ultratech, ACC, Kajaria.

Class 20

Furniture

Furniture, mirrors, picture frames, non-metallic containers.

Indian examples: Pepperfry, Urban Ladder, Godrej Interio.

Class 21

Household utensils

Kitchen utensils, glassware, ceramics, brushes, combs.

Indian examples: Borosil, Hawkins, Prestige.

Class 22

Ropes, sacks, tents

Ropes, threads, nets, sacks, awnings, tents.

Indian examples: Garware Ropes.

Class 23

Yarns & threads

Yarns and threads for textile use.

Indian examples: Vardhman Yarn.

Class 24

Textiles

Fabrics, bed/table linen, towels, mosquito nets.

Indian examples: Welspun, Trident, Bombay Dyeing.

Class 25

Clothing, footwear, headgear

Apparel, shoes, hats, socks, underwear.

Indian examples: Manyavar, FabIndia, Bata, Liberty, Aurelia.

Class 26

Lace, ribbons, buttons

Lace, embroidery, ribbons, buttons, hair accessories.

Indian examples: Classic Polo (broadly).

Class 27

Carpets & wall hangings

Carpets, rugs, mats, wallpaper.

Indian examples: Obeetee, Jaipur Rugs.

Class 28

Toys, games, sports

Toys, games, sporting articles, gymnastic apparatus.

Indian examples: Funskool, Mattel India, Yonex India.

Class 29

Foods (meat, dairy, oils)

Meat, fish, eggs, dairy, edible oils, processed fruits/veg.

Indian examples: Amul, Mother Dairy, Britannia Cheese.

Class 30

Foods (cereals, bakery, sauces)

Coffee, tea, bread, biscuits, snacks, sauces, spices.

Indian examples: Nestlé India, Britannia, MTR, Haldiram.

Class 31

Agriculture & live animals

Live animals, fresh produce, seeds, pet food.

Indian examples: Dogspot, Drools, Farmley.

Class 32

Non-alcoholic drinks (incl. beer)

Beer, mineral water, soft drinks, fruit juices.

Indian examples: Bira 91, Paper Boat, Bisleri, Slice.

Class 33

Alcoholic beverages

Wine, spirits, liqueurs (excluding beer).

Indian examples: Sula, Royal Stag, Bira (spirits arm).

Class 34

Tobacco & smoking

Tobacco, matches, smokers' articles.

Indian examples: ITC tobacco brands, Godfrey Phillips.

Services (Classes 35–45)

Class 35

Advertising, retail, business services

Marketing, advertising, retail (online + offline), business consulting, e-commerce. The most filed service class.

Indian examples: Nykaa (retail), Flipkart, Myntra, Amazon India, NOW Media.

Class 36

Financial services

Banking, insurance, real estate, financial consulting, payment services.

Indian examples: HDFC, Razorpay, PolicyBazaar, ICICI Lombard.

Class 37

Construction & repair

Building construction, repair, installation services.

Indian examples: L&T Construction, Shapoorji Pallonji.

Class 38

Telecommunications

Telecom services, internet provision, broadcasting.

Indian examples: Airtel, Jio, Vi.

Class 39

Transport, logistics, travel

Transport, logistics, courier, travel arrangement, warehousing.

Indian examples: Delhivery, Ola, Uber India, IRCTC, MakeMyTrip.

Class 40

Material treatment & manufacturing services

Custom manufacturing, recycling, material processing.

Indian examples: Tata Steel Processing.

Class 41

Education & entertainment

Schools, training, online courses, sports, entertainment, publishing.

Indian examples: BYJU's, Unacademy, Vedantu, T-Series, Saregama.

Class 42

Software (SaaS) & scientific services

Software-as-a-service, IT consulting, R&D, engineering services, design.

Indian examples: Razorpay (SaaS), Freshworks, Zoho, TCS, Infosys.

Class 43

Restaurants, cafes, hotels

Food services, accommodation, cafes, cloud kitchens, catering.

Indian examples: Taj, Oyo, Swiggy (services aspect), CCD, Faasos, Behrouz.

Class 44

Medical, beauty, agriculture services

Medical services, hospitals, beauty salons, veterinary, gardening.

Indian examples: Apollo Hospitals, VLCC, Practo.

Class 45

Legal & security services

Legal, security, dating services, online social networking.

Indian examples: Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, ShaadiCom (matrimonial).

How to pick your classes

List what you sell in plain English (e.g. “skincare creams, herbal supplements, online retail”).
Map to classes — creams = Class 3, supplements = Class 5, online retail = Class 35.
Add adjacent classes if your roadmap touches them. A SaaS brand should file Class 9 even if it's primarily Class 42, because the app/software itself is Class 9.
Class 35 is the wildcard — almost every consumer brand needs it for “retail/online sale of [their goods]”, but it's also one of the most contested classes.

Common multi-class combinations

D2C skincare: 3 + 5 + 35
D2C food/snacks: 29 or 30 + 35
SaaS / mobile app: 9 + 42 + 35
EdTech: 41 + 9 + 42
Cloud kitchen: 43 + 30 + 35
Fintech app: 9 + 36 + 42
Fashion brand: 25 + 35
Hospital/clinic: 44 + 35
Brewery: 32 (+ 33 if alcoholic) + 43
Hotel: 43 + 35
Creative agency: 35 + 42 + 41

The cost of getting class wrong

File Class 35 for a skincare product? Examiner refuses on Section 11 grounds. ₹4,500 wasted. File Class 25 (clothing) for a SaaS brand? You have a registered trademark that protects you for nothing — anyone can sell software using your name and you can't enforce. The class isn't a formality.

Run the search per class

IP India's public search forces you to pick a class for every search. So you have to repeat search → CAPTCHA → results for every class your goods/services touch. BrandAuditor infers your likely classes from a plain-English category and runs wordmark + phonetic search across all of them in one pass.