Understanding The Process Of Sound Mark Registration In India

What is a Sound mark?

A sound mark is a non-conventional trademark where sound identifies the source of goods or services from a particular entity. The Trade Marks Act of 1999 in India does not explicitly define sound marks, but they are recognized as distinct from traditional trademarks like logos and phrases.

The first Sound Mark Registration in India was the "Yahoo yodel" in 2008, followed by ICICI Bank's corporate jingle "Dhin Chik Dhin Chik" in 2011. Initially, there were no clear guidelines for sound mark registration in India, particularly regarding graphical representation. However, the amendment of the Trade Marks Rules in 2017 established explicit criteria for their registration.