Examination report
What Examination report means, where you will meet it and what it means for your business.
DefinitionAn examination report is the Trademark Registry's written objection to a trademark application, citing grounds such as similarity to an existing mark, and requiring a reply within 30 days.
After a trademark application is filed, an examiner checks it against the Trade Marks Act and the register. If they find a problem, they issue an examination report, usually within a month to a few months of filing, listing objections under Section 9 (the mark is descriptive or not distinctive) or Section 11 (it conflicts with an earlier mark), and sometimes formal defects. You meet it on the IP India portal, where the application status changes to "Objected". What it means for you: you have 30 days to file a reasoned reply with evidence, such as proof of use, a comparison with the cited marks or a limitation of goods. A good reply usually clears the objection; if not, a hearing follows. Ignoring the report abandons the application and the government fee.