Trademark filings are rarely refused because a document was missing, but they are frequently delayed by documents that are inconsistent - a company name that does not match the incorporation certificate, a logo supplied at unusable resolution, or an applicant address that differs across forms. This checklist is organised to catch those before filing.
The core checklist
| Item | Detail | Common error |
|---|---|---|
| Representation of the mark | Exact wording; artwork for a logo | Low-resolution or inconsistent artwork |
| Applicant name | Exact legal name of the owner | Trading name used instead of legal name |
| Applicant address | Full address for service | Different addresses across documents |
| Class(es) | Nice classes covering your goods or services | Filing a goods class for a service business |
| Specification | List of goods or services claimed | Too vague, or too broad, inviting objection |
| Date of first use | If the mark is already in use | Guessing a date that evidence cannot support |
| Power of attorney | If filing through a lawyer or agent | Signed by someone without authority |
If the applicant is an individual
- CNIC of the applicant, with the name exactly as it appears on it.
- Address matching the CNIC or a clearly documented business address.
- Contact details that will remain valid for years - registry correspondence with deadlines will be sent here.
- Evidence of use if claiming an earlier first-use date - invoices, packaging, advertisements.
Think about ownership before filing rather than afterwards. If you intend to operate through a company, filing in your personal name creates a split between the owner of the brand and the business using it. That is fixable by assignment or licence, but both cost more later than getting it right now.
If the applicant is a company
- Certificate of incorporation, with the company name matching the application exactly, including "(Private) Limited" where applicable.
- NTN of the company.
- Registered office address as recorded with SECP.
- Authority of the signatory - a board resolution or clear authorisation for the person signing.
- CNIC of the authorised signatory.
Where the company has recently changed its name or registered office, make sure the SECP record is updated before filing. An application in a name that does not match the current SECP record generates avoidable queries. See how to check a company's SECP record.
Getting the mark representation right
The representation you file defines the scope of your protection, so it deserves more care than it usually gets.
- Word mark: file the word in plain form. This protects the name in any font or styling and is generally the more valuable filing.
- Device or logo mark: supply clean, high-resolution artwork exactly as it will be used.
- Colour: filing in colour can limit protection to that colour combination; filing in black and white is often broader. Take advice where colour is central to the brand.
- Consistency: the artwork must be identical across every document in the application.
- No surrounding text that is not part of the mark - taglines and descriptive wording included by accident narrow what you own.
Foreign applicants and overseas Pakistanis
A foreign individual or company can apply in Pakistan. Additional practical requirements:
- An address for service in Pakistan, normally the appointed agent's address.
- Power of attorney in favour of the Pakistani agent, properly executed and attested. Where executed abroad, attestation requirements apply - see our guide to powers of attorney in Pakistan.
- Constitutional documents of the foreign entity, translated where not in English.
- Priority documents if claiming priority from an earlier foreign application.
Overseas Pakistanis filing in a personal capacity follow the individual route, with the power of attorney becoming the practical necessity since deadlines are short and correspondence is sent to the address for service.
Final checks before you file
- Clearance search completed across every class you are filing in, with dated evidence retained - see the search guide.
- Classes confirmed against what you actually sell, including retail services if relevant.
- Owner decided - individual or company - and consistent across all documents.
- Names and addresses identical on every form and supporting document.
- Artwork final. Changing the logo after filing generally means a fresh application.
- Fees calculated per class from the current IPO schedule.
- A reliable address for service, since missing a deadline is the most common way applications are lost.
The power of attorney, and who can sign it
If anyone other than the applicant files, a power of attorney in favour of the lawyer or registered agent is required. It is a short document that causes a disproportionate number of queries, almost always for one of these reasons.
| Problem | Why it matters | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Signed by someone without authority | An employee signing for a company without a resolution | Board resolution or documented authorisation |
| Applicant name differs from the application | Trading name used instead of legal name | Use the exact legal name throughout |
| Executed abroad without proper attestation | Foreign execution has attestation requirements | Attest through the correct channel before sending |
| Undated or incompletely filled | Cannot be relied on | Complete every field before signing |
| Scope too narrow | Agent cannot respond to an objection | Cover the full prosecution, not just filing |
Where the applicant is abroad, allow time for attestation - it is frequently the longest single step in getting a foreign application on file. Our guide to powers of attorney in Pakistan covers execution and attestation in detail.
Evidence of use, and when you need it
Evidence of use is not required to file, but it becomes important in three situations, and it is far easier to assemble as you go than to reconstruct later.
- Claiming an earlier date of first use. If you assert use from a particular date, be able to support it.
- Answering a descriptiveness objection. Where a mark is borderline, evidence that consumers have come to associate it with you can carry the application.
- Defending against a non-use challenge years after registration.
What counts as useful evidence:
| Type | Examples | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Dated invoices, purchase orders, sales figures | Shows real trade, not token use |
| Consumer facing | Packaging, labels, signage photographs | Shows the mark as consumers meet it |
| Promotional | Advertisements, catalogues, dated social posts | Shows exposure and spend |
| Third party | Press coverage, distributor agreements | Independent corroboration |
Start a dated folder from the day you launch: first invoice, first packaging, first advertisement. It costs nothing and it is the file that wins a non-use challenge or a distinctiveness argument a decade later.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required to register a trademark in Pakistan?
A clear representation of the mark, full applicant details, the classes and specification, date of first use if applicable, applicant identification such as CNIC or incorporation certificate and NTN, and a power of attorney if filing through an agent.
Do I need a lawyer to file a trademark in Pakistan?
Not strictly, but a lawyer or registered agent is usual, particularly for responding to examination objections and oppositions where deadlines are short and the drafting matters.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in Pakistan?
Yes, with an address for service in Pakistan, a properly executed and attested power of attorney in favour of a local agent, and its constitutional documents translated where necessary.
Should the trademark be in my name or my company's?
Normally the entity that will trade under it. Filing personally while operating through a company splits brand ownership from the operating business, which causes problems in due diligence and enforcement unless documented.
Should I file the logo in colour or black and white?
Filing in colour can limit protection to that colour combination, while black and white is often broader. Take advice where a specific colour is central to the brand identity.
What happens if my company name changes after filing?
Record the change with the registry. Keep the SECP record and the trademark record aligned, since mismatches generate queries and complicate enforcement later.
Sources & official references
- Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) - the registry: forms, fee schedule, journal and online search
- Trade Marks Ordinance 2001 - the governing statute on the official Pakistan Code
- SECP - company name reservation, which is separate from trademark rights