IP India Issues Public Advisory Against Unauthorised Use of Government Logos and Insignia by Private Portals

Published Date: 21 September 2026

Last Updated Date: 28 September 2026

Reviewed by: Akash P R, Business Consultant & Corporate Legal Ethics Lead, D BIZ CONSULTANCY PVT. LTD.

News Summary & Quick Answer

On 7 September 2026, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) released a crucial public advisory highlighting the unauthorised and deceptive use of Intellectual Property India's official logo, name, and government insignia by third-party private websites. The advisory warns entrepreneurs not to confuse private intermediaries with official government departments and urges applicants to verify official statutory fee schedules.

Key Update at a Glance

The CGPDTM observed an influx of private commercial agencies designing websites that look identical to government portals, incorporating the Ashoka Lion Capital, the National Emblem of India, or the official IP India monogram.

These websites frequently mislead applicants into believing they are paying mandatory government charges, while obscuring excessive markups or delivering zero legitimate filings.

Under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, using government seals and insignia for commercial business is strictly prohibited. Despite legal prohibitions, deceptive advertising on search engines led hundreds of unwary business owners into bogus payment gateways.

IP India's notice establishes clear public guidance:

1. Official Domain Verification: The only authorized online filing portals for Indian patents, trademarks, designs, and GI are hosted under the government top-level domain: \'ipindia.gov.in\' and \'ipindiaonline.gov.in\'.
2. Clear Identity Disclosure: Legitimate private corporate consultancies and legal firms must clearly identify themselves as private service providers and must never represent themselves as a government authority or court.

• Early-stage founders registering their first brand or startup logo.
• SME owners in Kerala and across India seeking corporate registration.

Published for public enforcement on 7 September 2026.

How to Protect Your Business:

1. Distinguish Statutory Government Fees from Professional Fees:

• The official government filing fee for an individual/startup/MSME trademark application in Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class.
• For other entities (large companies), the government fee is ₹9,000 per class.
• Professional drafting and search fees charged by legal consultancies are distinct and must be itemized transparently.

1. Demand Official Government Challans: Always request the official IP India payment receipt (CBR - Centralized Billing Receipt) bearing the government transaction number.
2. Verify Application Status Independently: Enter your application number on the public portal at 'ipindiaonline.gov.in' to ensure your brand was truly filed.

The D BIZ Transparency Guarantee:

At D BIZ CONSULTANCY PVT. LTD., we believe in complete ethical corporate advisory:

• We clearly state our identity as a private multi-disciplinary advisory firm.
• Our invoices itemize official statutory government fees and professional advisory fees separately.
• Clients receive immediate government receipts and filing acknowledgments upon submission.

Case Scenario:

A textile merchant in Thrissur received an official-looking email demanding ₹15,000 for "mandatory brand certification", displaying a government crest.

Before paying, the merchant visited D BIZ CONSULTANCY's Ernakulam office. Our legal team inspected the application number, revealed that the trademark had already been published with no pending official fees, and identified the email as a private phishing solicitation—saving the client ₹15,000 and securing their legal records.

Falling prey to deceptive websites leads to:

• Financial loss through unauthorized and non-refundable fees.
• Critical brand loss where applications are never formally registered with the Trade Marks Registry.
• Exposure of sensitive promoter KYC details to fraudulent databases.

D BIZ CONSULTANCY PVT. LTD. provides accredited, transparent, and multi-disciplinary intellectual property representation across Kerala and India.

Physical Offices:

• Thiruvananthapuram Head Office:

TC No 44/913(2), Second Floor, Springs Tower, Edappazhanji / Paruthippara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695010

*(Google Verified Location: Plus Code: GX39+M6 Thiruvananthapuram )*

• Ernakulam / Kochi Corporate Hub:

4th Floor, Koprambil Heights, B3, Seaport - Airport Rd, near Chaithram Clothing, Irumpanam, Thrippunithura, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kerala - 682309

Transparent Advisory Services:

• Accredited Trademark Registration Across 45 Classes
• Patent Filing & Prior Art Searches
• Company Registration in Trivandrum
• About D BIZ Corporate Multi-Disciplinary Bureau

Speak With Ethical Corporate Advisors:

Call our client helpline at **+91 8075273408 or chat on WhatsApp **.

1. What is the official website for trademark and patent registration in India?

The only official portals operated by the Government of India are ipindia.gov.in and ipindiaonline.gov.in. Any website with a different domain is a private entity.

2. What is the official government fee for registering a trademark in India?

For individuals, startups, and registered MSMEs (Udyam), the official government fee for filing Form TM-A online is ₹4,500 per class. For non-MSME companies, the government fee is ₹9,000 per class.

3. How does D BIZ CONSULTANCY invoice trademark and corporate services?

D BIZ provides itemized invoices separating official statutory government fees from professional drafting and representation charges, ensuring full transparency.