Rules 154 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.
Rules 154 to 156 finish Part IV. Rule 154 lets a registered agent change the entries about himself. Rule 155 requires the Registrar to publish the list of agents. Rule 156 provides for an appeal, but it names the Intellectual Property Appellate Board, which has since been abolished.
A registered trademarks agent may apply in Form TM-G to alter his name, residential address, principal place of business address or qualifications in the register; on receipt of the application and the prescribed fee the Registrar shall make the alteration, and every alteration is notified in the Journal (rule 154). The Registrar shall ordinarily publish the list of agents from time to time and at least once in two years, with addresses (rule 155). Rule 156 as notified gave an appeal to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board; the Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and its work went to the High Court.
The Act behind the rules
Section 145 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is the Act's provision on agents; see Sections 145–146. The rules before these are in Rules 150–153. If you are an agent whose details have changed, or a person affected by an order on registration or removal, our legal consultation team can advise.
Rule 154: alteration in the register
Sub-rule (1). "A registered trademarks agent may apply in Form TM-G for alteration of his name, address of the place of residence, address of the principal place of business or qualifications entered in the register of trademarks agents. On receipt of such application and the fee prescribed in that behalf, the Registrar shall cause the necessary alteration to be made in the register of trademarks agents."
Sub-rule (2). "Every alteration made in the register of trademarks agents shall be notified in the Journal."
| Element | Text |
|---|---|
| Who | A registered trademarks agent |
| Form | Form TM-G |
| What can be altered | Name; address of place of residence; address of principal place of business; qualifications |
| Condition | Receipt of the application and the prescribed fee |
| Registrar's duty | "shall cause the necessary alteration to be made" |
| Publicity | Every alteration notified in the Journal |
Points to note:
- The four items correspond to the entries in rule 142, except that nationality and date of registration are not on the list of items an agent may alter. The rule does not say how a change in those would be handled.
- The word is "shall", so on a complete application with the fee, the alteration is not discretionary on the text. The rule does not mention any inquiry into whether the new qualification is real; check the Registry's practice.
- Entry 22 of the First Schedule lists "On application for an alteration of any entry in the Register of trademarks Agent under rule 154" at Rs 1,000 for physical filing or Rs 900 for e-filing (as notified in 2017; check the current Schedule).
- Rule 146 applies: the application is made in duplicate and sent to the Registry office within whose limits the agent's principal place of business is situated.
An invented example: Kavya Rao moves her office to a new address and has passed an additional professional qualification. She files Form TM-G in duplicate with the fee, asking to alter her principal place of business address and add the qualification. The Registrar makes the alteration and it is notified in the Journal.
Rule 155: publication of the register
"The Registrar shall ordinarily publish the list of agents in the register of trademarks agents from time to time, and at least once in two years together with their addresses as entered in the register."
- Duty: "shall ordinarily publish". The word "ordinarily" softens the duty.
- Frequency: "from time to time, and at least once in two years".
- Content: the list of agents "together with their addresses as entered in the register".
- The rule does not say where the list is published (the Journal is not named here), nor in what form.
Because agents' addresses are published, an agent should keep the register entry current under rule 154, since the published list is based on "their addresses as entered in the register".
Rule 156: appeal (as notified)
"An appeal shall lie to Intellectual Property Appellate Board from any order or decision of the Registrar in regard to the registration or removal of trademarks agents under Part IV of these rules, and the decision of the Appellate Board shall be final and binding."
Caution. The Intellectual Property Appellate Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and its work went to the High Court. This rule must therefore not be read as describing a live Board. The rest of this section describes only what the rule says as notified in 2017.
| Element | Text of rule 156 |
|---|---|
| Who may appeal | The text does not name the appellant; it speaks of an appeal against "any order or decision of the Registrar" |
| Subject | Orders or decisions "in regard to the registration or removal of trademarks agents under Part IV" |
| Forum (as notified) | The Intellectual Property Appellate Board |
| Effect | "the decision of the Appellate Board shall be final and binding" |
| Time and form | Not stated in this rule |
Points to note:
- The rule states no time limit. Rule 125 gives three months for an appeal to the Board from a decision of the Registrar "under the Act or the rules", which would cover agents' matters on its face, but rule 156 does not repeat the period. The text does not settle whether rule 125 applies; and rule 125 itself is now overtaken by the abolition of the Board.
- The rule's "final and binding" language belonged to the Board. This article does not say what the position is today before the High Court; for the present route in trade mark matters see our articles on the abolition of the Appellate Board and what replaced it and on appeals to the High Court.
- Whether the Registrar's orders under Part IV are now challenged in the High Court, and by which procedure, is not a matter that the Rules as notified can answer.
Rules 154 to 156 at a glance
| Rule | Subject | Form | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | Alteration of agent's entry | TM-G | Name, residence, business address, qualifications; notified in the Journal |
| 155 | Publication of list | None | Ordinarily from time to time and at least once in two years, with addresses |
| 156 | Appeal (as notified) | None named | To the Board; abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021; work went to the High Court |
Need help with an agent-register matter?
Keeping your entry current protects your standing, and an adverse order needs a quick look at the forum and the time limit. TaxClue's legal consultation team can prepare the Form TM-G application or advise on challenging an order on registration or removal.
Key takeaways
- An agent alters his name, residence address, business address or qualifications by Form TM-G, with the prescribed fee; the Registrar shall make the alteration and notify it in the Journal (rule 154).
- The Registrar ordinarily publishes the list of agents with addresses at least once in two years (rule 155).
- Rule 156 as notified gave an appeal to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board; the Board was abolished by the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and its work went to the High Court.
- As notified in 2017 the alteration fee in the First Schedule (entry 22) was Rs 1,000 (physical) or Rs 900 (e-filing); check the current Schedule.
- This text is the Rules as notified on 6 March 2017; check later amendments.
Read next
- Rules 150–153: Continuance, removal, refusal to deal and restoration of agents
- Rules 157–158: Language of the Registry and repeal of the 2002 Rules
- Section 91: Appeals to the High Court
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.