IP, registered.
IP, protected.

01 · Scope

The full
IP lifecycle.

Your brand, your software, your creative work, and your proprietary processes are assets. They need to be registered, assigned correctly, and protected — before someone else does it first, or before a transaction exposes that they weren't. We handle the full IP lifecycle for Indian businesses.

Trademark search

Comprehensive clearance search before filing — identifying conflicts, assessing registrability across classes, and surfacing risks like prior similar marks, generic terms, or descriptive limitations.

Trademark application

Word marks, logo marks, and combined marks filed under the Trade Marks Act 1999 (Nice Classification) — across goods and services, with the right classes selected for current and anticipated use.

Objection responses

Drafting and filing replies to examination reports from the Trade Marks Registry. Substantive responses on absolute and relative grounds, supported by precedent, evidence of distinctiveness, and counter-arguments.

Renewal, watch, portfolio

Renewal of marks before expiry. Watch services for new conflicting marks filed by third parties. Portfolio management for businesses with multiple marks across classes and jurisdictions.

Copyright registration

Literary, artistic, software, and musical works under the Copyright Act 1957. Author identification, ownership chain, work-for-hire structuring, and registration with the Copyright Office.

Assignment & licensing

Transferring or monetising IP correctly, completely, and with the right carve-outs. Royalty mechanics, territory and term, sub-licensing rights, audit clauses, termination triggers — drafted for the commercial outcome.

Trade secret protection

Confidentiality frameworks, access controls, and protective agreements for proprietary processes, customer data, source code, and know-how. Designed to survive employee departures and counterparty exits.

IP due diligence

Ownership verification, encumbrance review, and transferability assessment in M&A, fundraises, and licensing deals. What you actually own, what you've licensed in, what's at risk.

02 · Process

From idea
to registered asset.

Step 01

Audit

An IP audit of what you have — brand, code, content, processes. Identify what's registered, what's protectable, what's at risk, and what's already someone else's.

Step 02

Strategy

A written IP strategy — filing priorities, jurisdictions, classes, watch obligations, and assignment structuring. Aligned with commercial roadmap.

Step 03

File & protect

Searches, filings, examinations, and registrations. Coordination with IP agents for technical prosecution. Updates at every milestone, not just at completion.

Step 04

Maintain

Renewal calendars, watch alerts, and annual portfolio reviews. The IP is registered; the job is to keep it registered and enforced.

03 · IP in transactions

When IP shows up
in a deal.

Almost every M&A transaction, fundraise, or licensing deal touches IP — and it's often where the deal stalls. We handle the IP workstream within transactions so the deal closes cleanly, with diligence, reps, warranties, and assignments aligned.

IP diligence

Ownership chain verification, encumbrance review, licence-in obligations, employee IP assignment audit, and open-source compliance review.

Reps & warranties

IP-specific representations and warranties drafted into transaction documents — ownership, non-infringement, registration status, third-party claims, and disclosure schedule.

IP assignment

Pre-closing IP transfers and post-closing assignments — especially common where IP sits in founders, contractors, or sister entities and needs to consolidate.

Trade secret transfer

Confidentiality frameworks transferred with the deal — protecting know-how, customer data, and proprietary processes through closing and post-closing transition.

Fee approach

Fixed-fee per filing or registration (trademark, copyright) including statutory fees stated separately. Fixed-fee per objection response with the scope quoted upfront. Engagement fee for IP audits, portfolios, and IP-in-transaction work — scoped per matter.

Typical trademark registration timeline: 12–24 months from filing to registration under current Trade Marks Registry pendency, assuming no objection or opposition. We watch and update at every stage.

04 · Indian IP frameworks

The statutes
we work within.

Trade Marks Act 1999

Mark registrability, examination, opposition, infringement, passing off, and remedies. Nice Classification (currently 11th edition) and the Manual of Trade Marks Practice and Procedure.

Copyright Act 1957

Literary, artistic, musical, and computer-software works. Author identification, ownership, work-for-hire, assignment, licensing, fair use, and infringement remedies.

Patents Act 1970

For technical inventions — patent prosecution is handled via empanelled patent agents in coordination with our team. We handle the commercial layer (licensing, assignment, enforcement) and refer prosecution.

Designs Act 2000 & GI Act 1999

Industrial designs and geographical indications — where applicable to product businesses, FMCG, and regional brands.

Information Technology Act 2000

For software IP and digital works — intermediary protections, takedown obligations, source code disputes, and the interplay with copyright and DPDP frameworks.

Practice scope

Dissent Legal is run by qualified advocates and legal practitioners, working within applicable Bar Council and professional rules. Court appearances and formal litigation are conducted by our empanelled litigation counsel network in coordination with our team.

This page is informational and is published under Bar Council of India (Indian Council Education) rules. It is not an advertisement, a solicitation of work, or legal advice. Engagement begins only after a written letter of engagement is signed.

06 · Brief a matter

Brief this IP matter.
One working day to a response.

Describe the mark, work, assignment, or diligence need. We'll come back within one working day with the right registration or protection path.

Every submission reviewed by a practitioner. Not an intake team.

Response within 1 working day.
Every enquiry reviewed by a practitioner.

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