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 and phonetic search across all 45 Nice classes against the IP India trademark register (5-year journal index plus live search), plus a parallel MCA company-name check, in one pass.

Is BrandAuditor's trademark search free?

Yes, the free trial gives you 10 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 ₹490 (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 or 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 to 24 months on average, but you get protective rights from the day of filing. Filing itself takes a day; examination (3 to 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 to 3 classes (₹4,500 to ₹13,500 in government fees). Attorney fees add ₹5,000 to ₹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 or 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 and 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.

Trademark vs MCA name vs domain in India: what's the difference?

A trademark, an MCA company name, and a domain are three different things in India - each gives different protection. Here is what each one covers, what it does not, and why a brand name needs all three checked.

In India, a trademark, an MCA company name, and a domain are three completely different things, and each protects something different. A trademark protects the brand name itself in the marketplace. An MCA company name lets you incorporate and operate a legal entity. A domain gives you a web address. Owning one does not give you the others - which is why a brand name needs all three checked before you commit. This guide explains what each one actually covers.

The one-line difference

Trademark = the legal right to own and defend the brand name. Granted by IP India under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. This is the only one that lets you stop a competitor from using a confusingly similar name.
MCA company name = the right to incorporate a company under that name. Granted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It reserves the exact company name but does not protect the brand in the market.
Domain = the right to use a web address. Granted by a domain registrar, first-come-first-served. It is a marketing asset with no statutory brand protection.

Comparison table

	Trademark (IP India)	Company name (MCA)	Domain
Governed by	Trade Marks Act, 1999	Companies Act, 2013 + Incorporation Rules	Registrar policy (ICANN / .IN registry)
What it protects	The brand name / logo in the market	The legal entity name on the register	The web address only
Stops others from using a similar name?	Yes, on similar goods/services in your class	Only stops an identical company incorporation	No
Scope	Per Nice class (goods/services)	Nationwide company register	Global, per exact domain string
Who can hold it	Any person or entity	Only an incorporated company / LLP	Anyone
Duration	10 years, renewable indefinitely	While the company exists / name is active	1+ years, renewable
Gives brand ownership?	Yes	No	No

What a trademark actually gives you

A registered trademark is the only one of the three that grants exclusive rights to the brand name itself. Under the Trade Marks Act, 1999, it lets you prevent others from using a mark that is identical or deceptively similar to yours on similar goods or services, and it is your basis for sending a cease-and-desist or suing for infringement.

The catch is that protection is per Nice class. A trademark in Class 25 (clothing) does not protect the same name in Class 9 (software). So the search - and the filing - has to cover the classes your business operates in. See our trademark search guide and Nice Classification guide for how to pick classes.

What an MCA company name gives you (and doesn't)

When the MCA approves your company name, it reserves that exact company name in the register so another entity generally cannot incorporate under an identical name. That is useful, but it is narrower than most founders assume.

An MCA company name does not stop a sole proprietor, a partnership firm, or a company in a different-looking name from selling products under a similar brand. It does not give you rights in the marketplace - only on the company register. This is the single most common misconception: people believe that because they registered “Acme Foods Private Limited”, the brand “Acme” is theirs. It is not, unless they also hold the trademark. For how MCA approval works, see our MCA company name check guide.

What a domain gives you

A domain is simply the address people type to reach your website. It is allocated first-come-first-served by a registrar and carries no statutory brand rights at all. Owning yourbrand.com does not stop anyone from registering “YourBrand” as a trademark - and if they do, they may be able to challenge your use of the name. Domains matter enormously for marketing and credibility, but they are the weakest of the three when it comes to protecting the name.

Why you need all three checked

Because the three systems are independent, a name can pass one and fail another. Some real-world combinations:

Domain free, trademark taken. You buy the .com, launch, and get a cease-and-desist from a prior trademark holder.
MCA name approved, trademark conflict. You incorporate happily, then cannot register the brand because a similar mark already exists in your class.
Trademark clear, MCA blocked. The name is free to trademark but a struck-off company used it, so the Registrar rejects your incorporation.
Everything clear except social handles. A fixable problem, but worth knowing before you print business cards.

The only way to be confident a name is genuinely available is to check all of them - trademark, MCA, domain, and social - together. Our practical walkthrough covers the exact steps: how to check brand name availability in India.

The order that makes sense

Trademark search first. It is the hardest to change later and carries the most legal risk. Run wordmark and phonetic search in your Nice classes.
MCA company name next (if you are incorporating). Confirm the name is not blocked by an existing or struck-off entity.
Domain and social handles. Secure these once the legal checks pass.
File the trademark. This can run in parallel with, or shortly after, incorporation. See how to register a trademark in India.

None of this is legal advice - it is guidance to help you understand the landscape. For borderline conflicts or before you spend on filing, a registered trademark attorney should review your search.

Check all three at once

Rather than run three separate searches across three government and registrar systems, BrandAuditor checks a name against the IP India trademark register (wordmark and phonetic), the MCA company-name register, domain availability, and social handles in a single query - with an AI trademarkability score - in under 60 seconds. The free trial covers 10 name audits, no card needed.

→ Check a brand name free

FAQs

Is a company name the same as a trademark in India?

No. An MCA company name lets you incorporate and operate an entity, but it does not give you exclusive rights to the brand name in the marketplace. Only a registered trademark does that. Many businesses have a company name and no trademark, leaving the brand unprotected.

Does registering a company protect my brand name in India?

Only partially. It reserves the exact company name in the MCA register so another company cannot incorporate under an identical name. It does not stop a proprietorship, partnership, or differently named company from using a similar brand. For that you need a trademark.

Do I need a trademark if I already own the domain?

Yes. A domain only controls a web address. It gives no statutory right over the brand name and does not stop someone from trademarking the same name and challenging your use. A domain is a marketing asset; a trademark is the legal right.

Which comes first: trademark, company name, or domain?

Check all three before committing. Run the trademark search first (hardest to change, most legal risk), then the MCA name if incorporating, then the domain and handles. The trademark filing can run alongside or after incorporation.

Can a name be a registered trademark but not available as a company name?

Yes, and the reverse. The two registers are separate systems with different rules. A name can be a live trademark yet blocked at MCA by a struck-off company, or clear at MCA yet conflict with a trademark. That is why both must be checked independently.