Trademark Registration in Nepal: Protecting Your Brand

A trademark protects the name, logo, or mark that identifies your business to customers. In Nepal, trademarks are registered with the Department of Industry, and registration is what gives you the exclusive right to use the mark and to stop others from copying it.

Search before you file

The first step is a search of the trademark register to confirm your mark is not already taken or confusingly similar to an existing one. Skipping this is the most common and most expensive mistake; a mark that survives years of brand-building only to be refused or challenged is a costly lesson.

Filing and examination

The application is filed with the mark, the class of goods or services it covers, and the applicant’s details. The Department examines it, and if accepted, the mark is published to allow objections. Absent a successful objection, the trademark is registered and granted for a renewable term.

Renewal and enforcement

A registered trademark must be renewed periodically, and use matters: a mark left unused can become vulnerable. Registration also gives you standing to act against infringement, which is far stronger ground than relying on reputation alone.