What’s in this article
A Delhi business builds a brand over a decade, then loses it to a date in a calendar nobody kept. Renewal is the least glamorous part of trademark ownership and the easiest place to lose everything you paid to build. A registered mark is forever — but only if you renew it.
Under Section 25 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, a registration lasts 10 years from filing and is renewable in 10-year blocks, indefinitely. Miss the window and there is a grace period; miss that and the mark is removed and the brand is back in the pool for anyone to grab. This guide covers the cycle, the fees, restoration, and how to never miss it. The wider Delhi filing picture is in the complete 2026 Delhi guide.
A registered trademark is forever — until the renewal you forgot. The register does not send a second reminder.
Why renewals matter more than you think
The longer you own a mark, the more valuable it is — and the more painful its loss. An established Delhi brand that lapses can be re-registered by a competitor, who then holds the name you spent years building. Renewal is the cheapest money you will ever spend to keep an appreciating asset. Keep renewal on the same footing as your original registration.
The 10-year cycle and the renewal window
The clock runs from the filing date. Renewal is filed on Form TM-R and can be submitted within the year before expiry. The Registry may issue a notice before expiry, but the duty to renew sits with the proprietor — relying on a government reminder is how marks lapse.
Renewal fees
Renewal is filed on Form TM-R with the prescribed government fee per class, plus a surcharge if filed during the grace period after expiry. Price your portfolio’s renewals on the cost calculator so the cost is budgeted, not a surprise. For a multi-mark, multi-class portfolio — common for FMCG brands — the renewals stack up and need a schedule.
Restoration after abandonment
Miss the renewal and the 6-month grace, and the mark is removed from the register. Section 25(4) allows restoration and renewal within a limited window after removal, with a surcharge. After that window closes, the mark is gone and anyone can apply for it. Restoration is possible but uncertain and costly — it is a rescue, not a routine.
Restoration is a rescue, not a plan. The brand you let lapse may already be on someone else’s application.
Renewal vs re-filing
If a mark lapses, re-filing is not the same as renewing. Renewal continues the original registration and its priority date. Re-filing is a brand-new application that loses the original date and can run into conflicts — including marks filed in the gap — and fresh examination and opposition risk. Always renew on time rather than rely on re-filing later.
Building a renewal tracking system
Renewals fail for one reason: nobody owns the calendar. Maintain a docket of every mark, its class, its filing date and its renewal due date, with reminders at 18, 12 and 6 months before expiry. An IP audit builds this register, and it should be updated whenever you assign a mark or add an international registration via Madrid, whose renewals run on their own WIPO schedule.
Have marks coming up for renewal in Delhi? WhatsApp +91-70421-05852 — first review free, no commitment.
Get free consult →Common Delhi renewal mistakes
- Relying on the Registry notice. The duty to renew is yours.
- Losing the calendar in a transition. Acquisitions and staff changes drop renewals.
- Letting the grace period lapse. Removal follows, then a hard restoration.
- Re-filing instead of renewing. The original priority date is lost.
- Ignoring Madrid renewals. International registrations run on a separate WIPO clock.
For sectors where the brand is the whole business — restaurants, pharma — a lapse is existential, and a disputed lapse can escalate to litigation. MSME owners should also read the Delhi MSME filing playbook, and Gurgaon owners can manage renewals alongside Gurgaon registration or Delhi registration. The registration mechanics are in how to register a trademark in India.
People also ask
How often do I renew a trademark in India?
Every 10 years from the filing date, on Form TM-R, indefinitely. A trademark can last forever as long as it is renewed each cycle.
What if I miss the renewal date?
There is a 6-month grace period with a surcharge. After that the mark is removed, and you must apply for restoration within a limited window or lose the brand.
Does the Registry remind me to renew?
It may issue a notice before expiry, but the legal duty to renew is on the proprietor. Relying on a government reminder is the most common way marks lapse.
Can I renew early?
Yes, renewal can be filed within the year before expiry. Filing early avoids the grace-period surcharge and the risk of the date slipping past.
Frequently asked questions
How often must a trademark be renewed in India?
Every 10 years from filing, under Section 25, on Form TM-R. Renewal can be repeated indefinitely, so a mark can last forever if kept renewed.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
A 6-month grace period with a surcharge applies. Miss that and the mark is removed; it can then be restored within a limited window or is lost.
When should I file the renewal?
Within the year before expiry. The duty is on you, not the Registry, so file early and keep a docket rather than relying on a notice.
Can a removed trademark be restored?
Yes, within a limited window after removal, via restoration and renewal with a surcharge under Section 25(4). After that the brand is open for anyone to apply.
Is renewal the same as re-filing?
No. Renewal keeps the original registration and priority date; re-filing starts a new application that loses the date and faces fresh examination and conflicts. Renew on time.
Own the calendar, not just the certificate. The cheapest way to keep a brand is to renew it on time.