Before you invest in a brand name, logo, or business identity, it’s worth a few minutes to confirm nobody else has already claimed it. Here’s exactly how to check a trademark online in Pakistan, using the official channels provided by the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan).
Who Handles Trademarks in Pakistan?
The Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan), operating under the Ministry of Commerce, is the official national body responsible for registering and managing trademarks, patents, and other intellectual property in the country. Any trademark check you do should ultimately trace back to IPO-Pakistan’s own records, whether you search yourself or request a formal report.
Method 1: Free Online Search (Quick First Check)
Official website: https://ipo.gov.pk
- Visit the official IPO-Pakistan website linked above.
- Navigate to the “Trademark” section and select “Search Trademark.”
- Enter your proposed trademark name or relevant search terms.
- Review the search results for any identical or similar existing marks.
This free search is a useful first screening step, but it’s keyword-based and covers word marks rather than performing a comprehensive similarity or logo-based (device mark) comparison. Treat it as a starting point, not your only check before committing to a name or filing an application.
Method 2: Formal Search via Form TM-55 (Official, Recommended)
For a genuinely thorough check — the kind you’d want before investing in branding, packaging, or a trademark application — file Form TM-55 with IPO-Pakistan’s Trade Marks Registry. This form is available online or directly from IPO-Pakistan’s offices in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
- Obtain Form TM-55 from the IPO-Pakistan website or in person at a regional office.
- Complete the form with your proposed trademark details, including the relevant class(es) of goods or services.
- Submit the form along with the applicable fee (approximately Rs. 1,000).
- The Trade Marks Registry conducts a formal search and issues an official search report listing any identical or similar registered marks.
Unlike the free online search, this formal search is thorough, and the results carry genuine weight if a dispute or registration question arises later.
Method 3: International Check via WIPO’s Global Brand Database
If your business has, or might have, an international footprint, it’s also worth checking the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Brand Database, which includes Pakistani trademark records alongside international filings made through the Madrid System — the international framework Pakistan joined to allow trademark protection across multiple countries through a single application. This is especially useful if you’re checking whether a name might conflict with a mark registered abroad but still enforceable or relevant to cross-border business.
What to Do If Your Trademark Appears Available
A clear search result doesn’t mean your work is done — it means you’re clear to move forward with filing a formal trademark application if you want legal protection for your brand. Registering a trademark gives you exclusive legal rights to use that mark for your specified goods or services category, and protects you from others using a confusingly similar name later. Simply using a name without registering it offers much weaker legal protection in Pakistan.
Why Searching Before Registering Matters
- Avoid rejection: Applying for a trademark that’s too similar to an existing one can result in your application being refused, wasting your filing fee and time.
- Avoid costly rebranding: Discovering a conflict after you’ve already printed packaging, built a website, or registered a company name under that brand is far more expensive to fix than catching it early.
- Avoid legal disputes: Using a name too close to an existing registered trademark can expose your business to an infringement claim, even if your use was unintentional.
A Note on Business Name vs. Trademark
It’s worth understanding that registering a company name with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is a separate process from trademark registration with IPO-Pakistan, and clearing one doesn’t automatically clear the other. A company name can be approved by SECP while still potentially conflicting with an existing registered trademark, and vice versa — so if brand protection matters to your business, both checks are worth doing independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is checking a trademark online in Pakistan free?
The basic online search on ipo.gov.pk is free. A formal, official search report via Form TM-55 costs approximately Rs. 1,000.
Does the free online search check logos as well as names?
No, the free online search is primarily keyword-based and covers word marks. For a check that considers device marks (logos) and closer similarity matching, the formal TM-55 search process is more thorough.
What’s the difference between a trademark search and an SECP company name search?
A trademark search through IPO-Pakistan checks brand/trademark availability, while an SECP search checks whether a company name is available for registration. These are separate systems, and clearing one doesn’t guarantee the other is also clear.
Who is responsible for trademarks in Pakistan?
The Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan), under the Ministry of Commerce, with offices in Islamabad and Karachi.
Before you commit to a brand name, taking a few minutes for the free IPO-Pakistan search — and following up with a formal TM-55 search if you’re serious about registering — can save you significant time, money, and legal headaches down the road.
