Guwahati, June 12 -- In this blog, we explain everything about conducting a trademark search before trademark registration in India - why it is the most important step, the three types of searches that matter, how to read results correctly, and what mistakes cost businesses the most.Every trademark registration story that ends badly follows the same pattern. Someone picked a name they liked. Checked if anyone obvious was using it. Did not find anything immediately alarming. Filed the application. Paid the government fees. Waited.

Then the examination report arrived - citing a mark they never found, for a name that sounded similar to theirs even if it was not spelled the same. Or the opposition notice came from a business that had been si...