Trademark Objection also technically known as Examination Report is raised by the Trademark examiner at the Trademark office. The examination report contains the grounds on which your trademark application is objected.

The common reasons for trademark objection can be referred from here.

An Objection is raised by the examiner at the Trademark department whereas Opposition is filed by a third party.

When a Trademark is accepted by the Trademark department then the said mark is advertised by the department in a Trademark Journal for a period of 4 months, this period is called the Trademark advertisement period. During this period any member of the public can oppose the registration by filing the grounds of opposition in opposition notice with the department and a copy to you. Then, there are approx. 2 rounds of counter replies and responses from both parties after which the officer at the department starts hearing the case and decides in favour of one of the parties.

You can find if your trademark is objected by checking the status of the trademark application which can be done by following the below steps: -

• Visit https://tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/eregister/
  
• Click on the "Trademark Application / Registered Mark" button on the top left.
• Click on the "National/IRDI Number" radio button.
  
• Enter your application number and the captcha code.
  
• Click on your Trademark application number.
• On the Top left you can see the status if your application.
• It it says "objected" or "examination report issued" that means the examination report has been issued by the examiner in the department.
• If it also shows an alert " awaiting reply to examination report" that means the reply to the objection has not been filed.
  

 You can find download the examination or objection report by following the below steps:

• Visit 
• Click on the "Trademark Application/ Registered Mark" button on the top left.
• Click on the "National/ IRDI Number" radio button.
• Enter your application number and the Captcha code.
• Click on the view button.
• Click on your Trademark application number.
• On the top right you will see a link "View examination report" , Click there and you will have the objection report.
  

Reply to the objection or examination report has to be filed within 30 days of the objection.

Yes, even if 30 days have passed from the issuance of the examination or objection report the reply can be filed. Practically it is seen that the system allows to file the reply even for a year but it is highly advised to act fast and get the reply filed if the period of 30 days has passed.

There is no government fees to file a Trademark reply. However, in certain cases, if the trademark department has found some discrepancies or clerical errors then, in that case, a government fee of Rs. 900/- is required to be paid to remove such discrepancies or clerical errors.

 Trademark reply has to be filed in form MIS-R and the request for the removal of discrepancy / clerical error in the application is filed in form TM-M.

No, you can still keep using the mark during the period till which objection is not cleared and also use the TM symbol above the mark.

If you do not reply to the Trademark objection or examination report issued by the examiner of the trademark department then the department has the power to treat it as if you are not interested in pursuing the application and mark it abandoned.

Once the officer at the Trademark department is satisfied with the reply filed, then he will accept the application and then advertise the mark in the Trademark journal for a period of 4 months. During this 4-month advertisement period, any member of the public can oppose your mark. If no opposition is received then the mark is registered and a registration certificate is issued.

This means that the reply to the objection or examination report filed has been checked by the officer at the Trademark department and marked the case for hearing, the date of which will be notified through show cause hearing notice.