The ™symbol is used for representing goods or services that are not registered. In the event of registration the symbol TM will be replaced by ®.

The term of a trademark is 10 years, which may be renewed in every alternative 10 years subjected to payment of renewal fee as applicable.

This Act may be called the Design Act, of 2000. It extends to the whole of India. The object of the Designs Act is to protect new or original designs applied to a particular article to be manufactured by industrial process or means.

The registration of designs in India is governed by the Designs Act, 2000, which was made effective from May 11. As per the Act, a design registration protects the features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation, or composition of lines or colors applied to articles. The validity of registration is 10 years from the date of application which can be extended for another 5 years only subject to the payment of the renewal fee as applicable.

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.

The Copyright Office categorizes copyrights for those who seek to register their works such as,

Sound Recordings

Audiovisual

Visual Arts

Dramatic Works and Performance

The complete process of patent registration involves a series of steps which are to be mandatorily followed to get a patent in India. Patent is an invention which means a new product or process involving an inventive step and capable of industrial application which has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the country or elsewhere in the world before the date of filing of patent application. A registered Patent is valid for 20 years subject to renewal from the 3rd year. After expiry of 20 years the exclusive right of the registered owner ceases and the same becomes available in public domain.