Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

Is BrandAuditor's trademark search free?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Can BrandAuditor generate brand name ideas with AI?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Does BrandAuditor work for international brand searches?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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.

The Indian brand-namingresource library.

Trademark - official India sources

IP India Public Search

IP India e-filing

Trademark Journal

GI Registry - Geographic Indications

Trade Marks Act, 1999 - full text

Nice Classification (NCL 12) - WIPO

Company registration - MCA + DPIIT

MCA Portal

MCA Name Search

Startup India

MSME / Udyam Registration

DPIIT Recognition Guide

International trademark search

WIPO Global Brand Database

USPTO TESS (US)

EUIPO eSearch (EU)

GCC TMView (UAE/Gulf)

Madrid Protocol (international filing)

Brand naming tools

BrandAuditor (us)

Namelix

Shopify Business Name Generator

Instant Domain Search

Namechk

Best naming tools - comparison

Best AI brand name generators

Guides & playbooks

Trademark search in India: complete 2026 guide

How to register a trademark in India

How to start a company in India

MCA company name check

How to come up with a brand name (12 frameworks)

11 brand naming mistakes to avoid

Nice classification - all 45 classes explained

DPIIT startup recognition

Industry name idea hubs

Skincare brand names

SaaS startup names

Cloud kitchen brand names

D2C fashion brand names

Fintech app names

EdTech startup names

All 12 categories →

Legal forms & templates

Form TM-A (trademark application)

Form TM-O (response to examination)

SPICe+ Form (incorporation)

INC-9 (declaration by directors/subscribers)

DIR-3 KYC (annual director KYC)

Shortcut: run an audit instead of doing it manually.

Brand name & trademarkquestions, answered.

The Indian brand-naming
resource library.

Brand name & trademark
questions, answered.