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Answers · Trademarks

What is the difference between ™ and ®?

The short answer

™ signals you claim the mark — anyone can use it, registered or not. ® may only be used once the mark is actually registered; using ® without registration is an offence in India.

The symbols carry legal weight. ™ (and ℠ for services) says "we treat this as our trademark" — useful from the day you file, and even for unregistered marks you are building rights in through use. ® says "this is on the register" — and Indian law penalises falsely representing a mark as registered.

Practical rules

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Related answers
Can I trademark my brand name in India? What are trademark classes, and which ones do I need? Should I register a design or a trademark for my product's look?

General information about Indian IP practice, not legal advice for your situation — that requires the facts of your case.