{"id":5521,"date":"2021-05-26T05:52:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T05:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=5521"},"modified":"2021-05-26T06:00:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T06:00:44","slug":"trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of Trademark Clearance Certification for Copyrights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">In\nIndia, when we discuss about the Copyright Protection Laws, they are quite\nunspecified. There are many vacuums in the <strong><em>Copyright Protection Act, 1950<\/em><\/strong>.\nInitially, they say that Copyright Registration is not compulsory, but again,\nthey say that if you require any legal protection in case of Infringement, then\nRegistration Certificate will be solid proof. There is also another provision\nin the Copyright Act, which is unusual and is the only provision that creates a\nbond between the Copyright and Trademark. Section 45 of the Copyright\nProtection Act defines that in case of any artistic works, to obtain a\nCopyright registration Certificate, the actual owner of the work has to submit\na Trademark Clearance Certificate along with other documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, before we get into the process of procuring a Trademark Clearance Certificate, let\u2019s understand our basic rights on \u201cArtistic Work\u201d. Artistic works are designed under the Section 2 (C) of the Copyright Act, which gives a list of copyrightable works such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"638\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-31.png\" alt=\"copyrightable works\" class=\"wp-image-5522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-31.png 638w, https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/image-31-300x176.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 638px) 100vw, 638px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Sculpture.<\/li><li>Drawings- diagram, maps, chart\nor plan.<\/li><li>Engraved art.<\/li><li>Photography.<\/li><li>Artistic Craftsmanship.<\/li><li>Architecture work.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The Artistic Works consists of both 2-D and 3-D work. However, if a specific work is to for any commercial purpose concerning the goods or services, then in these cases, the Act mandates to procure Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate from the <a class=\"text-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/trademark-registration\"><strong>Trademark Registration<\/strong><\/a> Office, and this is under <strong><em>Section 45 of the Copyright Act<\/em><\/strong><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/copyright.gov.in\/Copyright_Act_1957\/chapter_x.html\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3af6f768dea\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3af6f768dea\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#What_is_a_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate_or_Search_Certificate\" title=\"What is\na Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate?\">What is\na Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#Why_is_there_such_a_necessity_for_artistic_work_and_not_for_other_copyrightable_works\" title=\"Why is there such a necessity for artistic\nwork and not for other copyrightable works?\">Why is there such a necessity for artistic\nwork and not for other copyrightable works?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#What_is_the_Process_of_Getting_a_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate\" title=\"What is\nthe Process of Getting a Trademark Clearance Certificate?\">What is\nthe Process of Getting a Trademark Clearance Certificate?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#Mode_of_Filing_the_Application\" title=\"Mode of Filing the Application\">Mode of Filing the Application<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#Fee_Structure\" title=\"Fee\nStructure\">Fee\nStructure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#Cancellation_of_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate_or_Search_Certificate\" title=\"Cancellation\nof Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate\">Cancellation\nof Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/trademark-clearance-certificate-for-copyrights\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate_or_Search_Certificate\"><\/span>What is\na Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Trademark\nClearance Certificate is the search certificate which is issued by the\nTrademark Registrar telling that the concerned artistic work is not identical\nor confusingly similar to the registered Trademarks under the Act; it also\nchecks that no such applications are for the specific artistic works by anyone\nelse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_there_such_a_necessity_for_artistic_work_and_not_for_other_copyrightable_works\"><\/span>Why is there such a necessity for artistic\nwork and not for other copyrightable works?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nanswer to this question is very simple; Entrepreneurs&#8217; regularly struggle to\nencourage their brands and integrate their brand logos in all of their works.\nThe logo is considered a classic instance of artistic work. So in these cases,\na specific logo can get protection under to Intellectual Property Right regimes\n\u2013 Trademark and Copyright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nmain goal of a Trademark is to ensure that there is no confusion arises in the\ncustomer&#8217;s mind of the two goods and will safeguard the logo only in cases or freeway\ncommerce based on the categories of goods and services; however, Copyrights\nwill safeguard the artistic design logo from being duplicated or used without\napproval nevertheless of whether it\u2019s being used to brand goods and services.\nHence, Copyrights will offer extensive protections to the artistic work that\ndelivers such works that are unique and not obtainable in the public domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, coming back to the above question-why only artistic work? \u2013 Since the rest of the Copyrightable works don\u2019t have any association with Trademarks. Dramatic or literary, or cinematography work don&#8217;t have a factor of Trademark necessities. Usually, designs and logos are for brand recognitions for representing businesses that safeguard as Trademarks. As they are indigenous artworks that have a factor of creativity, they are also safeguarded as Copyrights. Only some types of creative works are capable of Copyright Protection, artistic works (consisting of brand designs or logos) being one such kind. If a brand logo has a factor of creativity and is original, it will attract Copyright Protection in adding up to Trademark Protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Process_of_Getting_a_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate\"><\/span>What is\nthe Process of Getting a Trademark Clearance Certificate?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To\nget a Trademark Clearance Certificate, an application for TM-C or Search\nCertificate has filed with the following documents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfollowing particulars should be filled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Address and name of the applicant;<\/li><li>Email address &amp; phone number of the applicant;<\/li><li>Applicant\u2019s nature- individual, the company LLP, partnership, or HUF;<\/li><li>If the application files by the agent:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Name and address of the agent;<\/li><li>Phone number and email id of the agent;<\/li><li>Power of Attorney or Authorization;<\/li><li>Agent\u2019s nature: whether he is a Trademark advocate, constituted attorney, or agent.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Details of the artistic work- a copy of logo or image in 3 copies (33cm*20cm);<\/li><li>Person details submitting the document.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mode_of_Filing_the_Application\"><\/span>Mode of Filing the Application<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>E-filing\nand manual filings are the two ways of filing the Trademark Clearance\nCertificate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>In case you choose &#8216;manual\nfiling&#8217;, you have to personally hand over your application to the Trademark\nRegistrar Office located in the big cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai,\nChennai, and Ahmedabad. Then you have to wait for 15 to 20 days at least to\nreceive the acknowledgement receipt.<\/li><li>However, in the case of an\ne-filing system, you will get your acknowledgement receipt quickly on the\nofficial government website. After getting the acknowledgement receipt, you are\nentitled to use your TM symbol beside your brand logo or name.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fee_Structure\"><\/span>Fee\nStructure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the first schedule of the Trademark Rules, 2017:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<table class=\"wp-block-table\"><tbody><tr><td>\n  Form- TM C to be filed with\n  the given fees\n  <\/td><td>\n  Manual Filing\n  <\/td><td>\n  E-Filing\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Request for Search and issuance\n  of a Certificate under Rule 22(1)\n  <\/td><td>\n  Rs. 10,000\/-\n  <\/td><td>\n  Rs. 9,000\/-\n  <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n  Request for a search and\n  issue of Certificate under Rule 22 (3)\n  <\/td><td>\n  Not allowed \n  <\/td><td>\n  Rs. 30,000\/-\n  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p>After\nfiling the Form along with the relevant documents and fees is paid, the\nTrademark Registrar will conduct the search and within thirty days give the\noutcomes of the search and issuance of the certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose there is no deceptive similar or identical. In that case, the Trademark Registrar will issue the Trademark Clearance Certificate, Delivered, the Trademark Registrar may call for a statement for necessities from the applicant, and if the necessities are not obeyed within two months from calling statement date, the request on Form TM-C shall be treated as abandoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cancellation_of_Trademark_Clearance_Certificate_or_Search_Certificate\"><\/span>Cancellation\nof Trademark Clearance Certificate or Search Certificate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nTrademark Registrar may cancel the Search Certificate that is under the <strong><em>Sub-Rule\n(1) <\/em><\/strong>after giving notice. Moreover, telling the grounds on which the\nTrademark Registrar suggested to cancel the Trademark Clearance Certificate or\nSearch Certificate and after delivering reasonable opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hence, as we said earlier while applying for the <a class=\"text-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/copyright-registration\"><strong>Copyright Registration<\/strong><\/a>, it is compulsory to get Trademark Clearance Certificate as per <strong><em>Section 15 of the Act, <\/em><\/strong>and once that is procured, the process of getting Copyright for artistic work can be commenced. But, the Search Certificate or TM-C shall not require, when such works are non-commercial, for simply educational purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-trademark-violation-in-india\/\">How to File a Complaint Against Trademark Violation in India?\n<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In India, when we discuss about the Copyright Protection Laws, they are quite unspecified. There are many vacuums in the Copyright Protection Act, 1950. Initially, they say that Copyright Registration is not compulsory, but again, they say that if you require any legal protection in case of Infringement, then Registration Certificate will be solid proof. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[72],"tags":[662],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5521"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5521"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5544,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5521\/revisions\/5544"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}