Trademark Registration in Nepal 2026 — Step-by-Step

Seven years from registration under Sec. 18D of the PDT Act 2022, renewable indefinitely in 7-year cycles under Sec. 23B.

Yes, through a local agent under a notarised Power of Attorney. Nepal is not a Madrid Protocol member, so an international Madrid filing does not extend to Nepal.

Form 1 (the application) signed by the applicant, four specimens of the mark (broadly 8×8 cm), the mark in soft copy (JPEG / PNG), citizenship for an individual or certificate of incorporation for a company, the fee receipt for NPR 1,000 per class, and a notarised Power of Attorney if filed through an agent. A Priority Document is needed if priority is claimed under the Paris Convention based on an earlier foreign filing.

Broadly 8-14 months from filing to issue of the registration certificate, assuming no opposition. Examination is typically 2-6 months, with publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin (issued quarterly) and the opposition window running thereafter. An opposed mark can take 18-36 months or longer because the matter proceeds through the DOI dispute process and on appeal. A pre-filing clearance search reduces opposition risk and overall timeline.

Once a mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin, third parties can file opposition. The original text of Sec. 21A of the PDT Act 2022 sets a 35-day window, but DOI's published practice in the Bulletin commonly allows 90 days. The exact window for a given filing is set by the Bulletin notice — confirm the current notice before relying on either figure for a deadline-sensitive matter.

Yes. Nepal uses the Nice classification of 45 classes — classes 1-34 for goods and classes 35-45 for services — at the DOI. A trademark application states the class(es) and the specification of goods or services within each class. Cross-class filings are not automatic, so the same brand used for both goods and services typically needs registration in the relevant goods class and class 35 for retail / advertising services.

Yes. A single application can cover multiple Nice classes, but the DOI fee stacks per class — a three-class filing costs broadly three times the single-class fee. Most businesses register only in the classes they actually trade in to manage cost and reduce non-use cancellation risk for unused classes after five years. The class strategy is decided at filing — adding a new class later requires a fresh application in that class.

Under Sec. 23B of the PDT Act 2022, the renewal application must be filed within 35 days of the trademark's expiry. A 6-month grace window is available at an NPR 1,000 late-fee penalty per class. Beyond the grace window the mark lapses and is open to third-party filing. The renewal fee is per class. Keep a diarised reminder 12 months ahead of expiry to avoid losing a mark to a competitor during the grace period.

No. Nepal is not currently a member of the Madrid Protocol administered by WIPO. A trademark registered internationally through the Madrid system does not automatically extend to Nepal — foreign brands must file a national application at the DOI through a local agent. Nepal is a party to the Paris Convention (in force 2001), which permits a priority claim based on a qualifying foreign filing within six months.

An opposed mark proceeds through the DOI dispute process — both parties file written statements and evidence, and the DOI conducts a hearing before deciding. Grounds for opposition include similarity with an earlier mark, lack of distinctiveness, deceptive use and bad-faith filing. The decision can be appealed to the High Court within the statutory window. A skilled response and clear evidence of prior use, distinctiveness, or coexistence often resolve oppositions without an appeal.

TM (trademark) is an informal indication and can be used on a mark whether or not the mark is registered, signalling that the owner claims rights in the sign. The ® (registered) symbol should only be used on a mark that is actually registered at the DOI — use of ® on an unregistered mark can mislead consumers and expose the user to liability. Once the DOI registration certificate is issued, the brand owner can switch from TM to ® on packaging and marketing.

A clearance search is a pre-filing check at the DOI Industrial Property Section for identical or similar marks in the same Nice class. It is not statutorily required, but it materially reduces the risk of office-action objection or third-party opposition after filing. A search costs less than a refiled application and dispute, so it is standard practice on serious brand launches. The search covers registered and pending marks in the relevant classes.

No. Company registration at the Office of the Company Registrar gives the company name only — it does not give the brand exclusivity that comes with a registered trademark. Two separate businesses can hold the same or similar names if neither has a registered trademark, and one company can also use a brand quite different from its registered name. Trademark filing at the DOI is the only way to claim exclusive rights in a brand name or logo for goods or services.

Trademark infringement under the PDT Act 2022 attracts a fine (up to NPR 100,000 in the principal provision), confiscation of the infringing goods, and damages to the rights holder. The matter is heard at the District Court with appeal to the High Court. Customs intervention can be sought to stop counterfeit goods entering the country. The exact fine and confiscation order depends on the volume of infringing goods and the duration of the infringement.

Yes, a slogan or tagline can be registered as a trademark if it is distinctive — meaning it is not descriptive of the goods or services and is not laudatory generic praise. "Just Do It" is registrable; "Cheap and Best" is not. The mark is filed in the relevant Nice class with the slogan as the wordmark. Slogans that have acquired distinctiveness through long use can also be registered, with evidence of secondary meaning.

Yes. A logo can be protected by both — as a trademark (a sign distinguishing goods or services, registered at the DOI under the PDT Act) and as a copyright (an artistic work, with protection arising automatically under the Copyright Act 2059). The two protections run in parallel: the trademark gives 7-year renewable exclusivity in the class(es) of trade; the copyright gives author's life + 50 years protection against unauthorised copying as an artistic work.

A trademark can be assigned by a written assignment deed signed by the assignor and the assignee, witnessed and notarised. The deed identifies the registration number, the mark, the classes, and the territory. The assignment is then recorded with the DOI by filing a copy of the deed and the prescribed fee. Recording is needed to make the assignment effective against third parties and to put the assignee's name on the register for future renewals and disputes.

Yes. A trademark not used for an extended period (broadly five years in Nepal practice, in line with international standards) can be cancelled on a third-party application to the DOI on non-use grounds. The rights holder rebuts by showing genuine use in trade in the relevant class during the period. Token sample use is not enough; genuine commercial use in the class is required. Cancellation for non-use is one reason to register only in classes the business actually trades in.

At the point a brand is finalised — to run a clearance search, decide the class strategy, draft and file the application; when an opposition is filed against your mark in the IP Bulletin; when a renewal falls due (with a 12-month diarised reminder); when an infringer is using a confusingly similar mark and a cease-and-desist or District Court action is needed; and when a foreign filing requires Nepal national registration through a local agent. A lawyer or IP agent handles each stage end-to-end.