Trademark Filing, Registration and Opposition in Nepal
We handle trademark registration in Nepal from the first filing through to renewal years later. Our team advises on every stage a mark passes through, including registration, use, renewal and ongoing maintenance, and helps clients plan a brand protection strategy before problems arise rather than after.
The Trademark Framework in Nepal
Trademarks are governed by the Patent, Design and Trade Mark Act, 1965 and administered by the Department of Industry. Nepal follows the Nice Classification for goods and services. Although Nepal is a signatory to the Paris Convention, it has not adopted the Madrid Protocol, so there is no international application that automatically extends here. Every mark, including well-known foreign brands, must be registered locally to be enforceable.
The Filing and Registration Process
The process begins with a filing, followed by examination at the Department of Industry for distinctiveness and conflicts with existing marks. If the application clears examination, the mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin, opening a 90-day window for opposition. If no opposition is filed, or one is resolved in the applicant’s favour, the mark proceeds to registration for seven years, renewable in further seven-year terms. Depending on the Department’s workload and any objections, the whole process can take from around a year to well over two.
Opposition Proceedings
Opposition is a real part of the Nepali system, not a formality. Once a notice of opposition is filed, the applicant has 21 days to file a counterstatement or the application is treated as abandoned. The Registrar then calls for evidence from both sides, and unresolved matters go to a hearing. Either side may appeal an adverse decision within 35 days. We act on both sides: defending applications against opposition and opposing marks that threaten a client’s existing brand.
What We Do
- Registration, renewal and maintenance: managing filing and prosecution from start to finish and keeping portfolios current so protection never lapses.
- Litigation and mediation: infringement and contract disputes involving trademarks before the Department of Industry, High Court and Supreme Court.
- Trademark due diligence: portfolio reviews ahead of transactions, licensing deals or market entry.
- Trademark contracts: licensing, franchise and assignment agreements, drafted or reviewed for either side of the deal.
- Trademark investigation: identifying counterfeit products in the Nepali market and building the evidence needed to act.
Who We Work With
We handle trademark matters for national and international clients across retail, manufacturing, financial services, entertainment and technology, so the brand protection challenges of a given industry are usually ones we have seen before.
