The Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, issued Public Notice No. CG/F/CGPDTM/DL-09/1232 dated September 30, 2025, cautioning the public against misleading and unauthorized trademark registration services offered by OnlineLegalIndia.com. The notice stated that the company had been promoting online trademark registration and assurance services through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in violation of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Trade Marks Act, 1999. As per the law, only registered trademark agents or advocates are authorized to represent clients before the Registrar of Trade Marks. The CGPDTM clarified that OnlineLegalIndia.com does not fall into either category and is therefore not authorized to practice before the Registrar. The office took serious note of such online solicitation, emphasizing the need to maintain ethical and professional standards in the intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. The matter was also referred to the Ad-Hoc Code of Conduct Committee (constituted under Delhi High Court directions in W.P. (C)-IPD 9/2023) for inquiry, and the concerned entity was invited to submit a response within 10 working days.
Further Update on 19.10.2025: However, the maintainability and validity of below public notice have been challenged before the Hon’ble Calcutta High Court in WPA/23994/2025, which has granted a stay on the notice. Consequently, the applicability and effect of the CGPDTM’s order remain suspended pending further judicial review.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Office of The Controller General
Patents, Designs & Trade Marks
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Public Notice No: CG/F/CGPDTM/DL-09/1232 September 30, 2025
Subject: Misleading and Illegal advertising, offering assurance for Trademarks protection through online registration services by OnlineLegalIndia.com
This office has taken serious note of certain firms engaging in advertising and solicitation of legal services through various digital and online platforms. Such activities are in direct contravention of the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961 and the rules made thereunder, which strictly prohibit advocates and legal agents from soliciting or advertising legal services.
It has further come to the notice of this office through various sources that OnlineLegalIndia.com is advertising itself and reaching out to the stakeholders to help them register their trade mark (brand name, logo, slogan, icon, etc.) from anywhere in India through their online registration services. They have been frequently promoting over the platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatApp etc operated by Meta.
It is hereby clarified that as per provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, the “Registered Trade Mark Agents” and/ or an “Advocate” within the meaning of the Advocates Act, 1961 are only authorized to practice before the Registrar of Trade Marks and as such OnlineLegalIndia.com falling under none of the two categories are not authorized to practice before the Registrar of Trade Marks.
The stakeholders cautioned accordingly.
This is issued in the larger public interest of upholding integrity and ethical standards within the IP ecosystem. The above said website related activities is going inquire by the Ad-Hoc Code of Conduct Committee (constituted under the direction of Hon’ble Delhi High Court in W.P. (C)-IPD 9/2023) and they have been invited to make their submission to CGPDTM Office, New Delhi or via email to cgoffice.in@gov.in within 10 working days from the date of issue of the notice to them.
Sd/-
Office of CGPDTM
To,
OnlineLegalIndia.com
