As many as 30,221 applications are pending for issuance of trademark registration certificates due to shortage of manpower, Parliament was informed Monday.

“Pendency in issuance of registration certificates for applications found fit for registration as on 30th April is 30,221. The main cause of the backlog in issuance of registration certificates is insufficient manpower due to vacant posts,” Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, D Purandeswari said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

She said that at present, 56 of the sanctioned 130 posts relating to Trade Mark Registry are lying vacant.

The minister informed that the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks has 11 offices in five cities.

Of these, four are Patent Offices located at Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi while the Trade Marks Registry (TMS) has offices at Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

She said that as on April 30, TMR Delhi has issued maximum number of certificates (15,301) during the last fiscal followed by Mumbai (12,572), Chennai (8,435), Ahmedabad (4,774) and Kolkata (3,259).

A trade mark (popularly known as brand name) is a visual symbol which may be a word signature, name, device, label, numerals or combination of colours used by one undertaking on goods or services or other articles of commerce to distinguish it from other similar goods or services originating from a different undertaking.

source:  PTI