Rules 15 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rule 15 says how fully an applicant must be described: name, address, nationality and anything else needed to identify the person, with extra items for firms, bodies corporate and foreign applicants. Rule 16 requires the application to state the principal place of business in India, and makes that address the one to which written communications are deemed properly sent. Getting these details right is part of every trademark registration filing.
Names and addresses of applicants and other persons must be given in full, with nationality and any other particulars needed for identification (rule 15(1)). A partnership must list every partner's full name and nationality. A body corporate or firm gives its country of incorporation or nature of registration. The application must state the principal place of business in India, which becomes the applicant's address (rule 16(1)).
Rule 15: particulars of applicants and other persons
| Sub-rule | Who | What must be given |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Applicants and other persons | Names and addresses in full, together with nationality and such other particulars as are necessary for identification |
| (2) | A partnership firm | The full name and nationality of every partner |
| (3) | A convention-country application, and persons with no principal place of business in India | Addresses in their home country, in addition to the address for service in India |
| (4) | A body corporate or firm | The country of incorporation or the nature of registration, if any |
"Other persons". Rule 15(1) is not limited to applicants. It applies to "applicants and other persons", so an opponent, a registered proprietor and others dealing with the Registry are also covered. The text does not define "other particulars as may be necessary for identification". The Form itself, such as Form TM-A, lists the fields.
Partnerships. Rule 15(2) is specific: every partner's full name and nationality. A trade name alone will not do. Example: M/s Kaveri Coffee Works, a partnership of three partners, lists the name and nationality of each of the three partners, not only the firm's name.
Foreign applicants. Rule 15(3) applies to "an application from a convention country and persons having no principal place of business in India". Such persons give their home-country address and an address for service in India. A convention country is one declared under section 154 (see rule 2(1)(f)). The rule does not tell us what counts as an address in the home country beyond "their addresses in their home country".
Companies and firms. Rule 15(4) asks for the country of incorporation or "the nature of registration, if any", as the case may be. The words "if any" show that the nature of registration is required only where there is one; a sole proprietor has none to give.
Rule 16: statement of principal place of business in India
Rule 16(1) reads: "Every application for registration of a trademark shall state the principal place of business in India, if any, of the applicant or in the case of joint applicants, of such of the joint applicants, a principal place of business in India and the same shall be the address of the applicant."
Unpacking this:
- The application must state the principal place of business in India if there is one. A foreign applicant with no place of business in India is not required to invent one.
- For joint applicants, it is the principal place of "such of the joint applicants" as have one. The rule does not say which joint applicant's place is taken where several have places in India; rule 4 part B(i) points to the applicant named first for deciding the appropriate office.
- That place "shall be the address of the applicant". So the applicant's address for the purposes of the application is the stated principal place of business.
The meaning of "principal place of business in India" comes from rule 3, which looks first at the place of business in the goods or services, then at any other business, then at residence.
Rule 16(2): deemed proper addressing
"Subject to the provisions of rules 17, 18 and 20, any written communication addressed to an applicant or in the case of joint applicants to a joint applicant, in connection with the registration of a trademark, at the address of his principal place of business in India given by him in the application shall be deemed to be properly addressed."
In plain terms: a letter sent to the principal place of business stated in the application counts as properly addressed. The rule is made subject to rules 17, 18 and 20. Rules 17 and 18 deal with address for service and service by the Registrar. The reference to rule 20 is odd, because rule 20 deals with classification of goods and services and the text does not explain the link, so we flag it as a possible drafting slip and do not read more into it.
| Point | Result |
|---|---|
| Letter sent to the stated principal place | Deemed properly addressed |
| Joint applicants | Addressing the letter to one joint applicant is enough |
| Where an address for service in India exists | Rule 17 applies alongside |
Example: Ananya Brewing Co. gives its Pune factory as its principal place of business in the application. The Registry's examination letter is posted to Pune. Even if Ananya later fails to see it, the letter is deemed properly addressed, subject to rules 17, 18 and 20. If Ananya has moved, the practical lesson is to update the address with the Registry, because rule 5 only protects jurisdiction, not service.
Practical checklist
- Write names in full as in the legal documents of the applicant.
- Give nationality for every individual and every partner.
- For a company or LLP, state the country of incorporation or the nature of registration.
- For a foreign applicant, give both the home-country address and an address for service in India.
- State the principal place of business in India exactly as you want notices sent.
The statutory basis for the application is section 18 of the Act.
Version note
This is the position under the Rules as notified on 6 March 2017. Later amendments should be checked.
Need help with applicant details?
Errors in names, partners or addresses create deficiency notices later. A trademark registration professional can verify these particulars before the application is filed.
Key takeaways
- Give names, addresses and nationality in full, for applicants and other persons.
- List every partner of a partnership firm, with name and nationality.
- Foreign applicants give home-country addresses plus an address for service in India.
- State the principal place of business in India, if any; it becomes the applicant's address.
- A letter sent to that address is deemed properly addressed, subject to rules 17, 18 and 20.
Read next
- Rules 3–4: principal place of business and the appropriate office
- Rules 17–18: address for service and service of documents by the Registrar
- Rule 23: form and signing of the application
- Documents required for trademark registration
Disclaimer: Based on the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 as notified on 6 March 2017, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.