New Delhi, Mar 7 (KNN) A step towards improving ease of doing business environment in the country, the number of trademark application forms to has been reduced to eight from 74, while the fee for trademark applications has been hiked to Rs 10,000 from Rs 4,000.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) notified the Trade Mark Rules 2017 on Monday to replace the rules of 2002.

To promote e-filing of trademark applications, the fee for online filing has been kept at 10% lower at Rs 9,000. For individuals, start-ups and small enterprises, the fee has been reduced to Rs 4,500 from Rs 8,000 proposed in the draft rules.

“Overall fees have been rationalized by reducing the number of entries in Schedule I from 88 to just 23,” a DIPP statement said.

DIPP has also extended the provisions relating to speeding up processing of an application for registration of a trademark up to registration stage, which was so far only available up to examination stage.

Now e-mail has been made essential for services to be provided by the applicant or any party to the proceedings so that the office communication from the applicant to the registry and vice versa may be sent through email.

The number of adjournments in opposition proceedings has been restricted to a maximum of two by each party to dispose of matters in time; hearing through video conferencing has also been introduced.

DIPP has also for the first time laid out modalities for determination of well-known trademarks for brands that enjoy good reputation in the market. A brand can apply for the same after e-filing for a fee of Rs 1 lakh. (KNN Bureau)