What is the difference between a word mark and a logo mark?
| Type | What it protects | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Word mark | The name itself, in any font, colour or style | Almost every brand, as the first filing |
| Device (logo) mark | The logo design as filed, plus any words inside it | Brands whose symbol or artwork is recognised on its own |
| Combined mark (name and logo in one) | The combination as a whole | Tight budgets, but it is the weakest way to protect the name alone |
A word mark is broader for the name. A combined filing protects the overall look, but if a competitor copies only your name in a different style, you are relying on the word element inside a logo, which is harder to enforce.
Which should you file first?
File the name first in almost every case. Logos change in the first year or two as brands grow; names usually do not. A word mark also covers the way customers search: they type the name, not the logo.
- File the logo too when it is final, distinctive and printed on packaging you will keep for years.
- Wait on the logo if it is still being redesigned, or if it is just your name in a standard font.
What does Amazon Brand Registry accept?
Amazon accepts an active registered trademark or a pending application, as a word mark or as a design mark that contains words, letters or numbers. A logo with no text does not work. The brand name on your listings should match the text of the mark exactly, so a word mark for the name is the simplest route. Our trademark service includes Brand Registry enrolment once your application is filed.
What does it cost to file the name and the logo?
Fees are charged per mark and per class. The government e-filing fee is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises, and ₹9,000 per class for others.
| What you file | Classes | Government fee (₹4,500 rate) | Government fee (₹9,000 rate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name only | 1 | ₹4,500 | ₹9,000 |
| Name and logo | 1 | ₹9,000 | ₹18,000 |
| Name and logo | 2 | ₹18,000 | ₹36,000 |
Professional fees are extra and vary by firm. Choosing the right class matters more than filing many marks; see how trademark classes work.
Should you file the logo in colour or in black and white?
Under Section 10(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, a mark registered without a colour limitation is treated as registered for all colours. Filing the logo in black and white usually gives wider cover. File in colour only if the colour scheme itself is an essential part of the brand.
What if you change your logo later?
A small change that does not alter the identity of the mark can sometimes be recorded on the existing registration. A real redesign is a new mark and needs a new application. This is another reason to protect the name first: the name stays covered whatever the logo becomes.
Do you own the logo your designer made?
Not automatically. Under the Copyright Act, 1957, the designer who creates a logo is usually its first copyright owner unless the work was made by an employee in the course of employment. Get a written assignment of copyright from a freelance designer or agency before you file the logo as a trademark. Copyright registration is optional, but the written assignment is not.
What we'd check in your case
- Whether the name is clear in your class and related classes. See how to check brand name availability.
- Whether the logo is final, distinctive and owned by you in writing.
- Which classes you need now and which can wait.
- Which entity should own the marks. See personal name vs company name.
- Whether you need Brand Registry before launch.
Often the right answer for a new seller is one word mark in one class now, and the logo once it is settled. Send us your name and logo on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is worth filing, with a fixed written quote.
Not sure how this applies to you? Tell us what you sell and where. We'll tell you what you need, and what you don't, in a free 15-minute fit check.
Ask on WhatsAppRelated questions
Does a word mark protect my logo?
No. A word mark protects the name in any style. The logo design is protected as a trademark only if you file it as a device mark, though copyright protects the artwork separately.
Can I file my name and logo in one application?
You can file a combined mark, but it protects the combination as a whole. It is weaker for stopping someone who copies only the name, so most brands file the name as a separate word mark.
Does Amazon Brand Registry accept a logo trademark?
Yes, if the logo mark contains words, letters or numbers that match the brand name. A purely graphic logo with no text does not qualify.
Should I trademark my logo in colour?
Usually no. A mark registered without a colour limitation is treated as registered for all colours under Section 10(2) of the Trade Marks Act, so black and white generally gives wider protection.
How much does it cost to trademark both name and logo?
The government fee is per mark per class: ₹4,500 each for individuals, startups and small enterprises, or ₹9,000 each for others. A name and logo in one class costs ₹9,000 or ₹18,000 in government fees.
See our service: Trademark registration →
Sources
- IP India: Forms and Fees (Trade Marks Rules 2017)
- Trade Marks Act, 1999 (India Code)
- Amazon: Brand Registry requirements
- Copyright Office, Government of India
General information based on rules as of November 2026, not legal or tax advice for your specific case. Rules change; we confirm what applies to you before any filing.