Trademark Class 15 in India: Musical Instruments & Accessories — Complete Filing Guide (2026)
If your business deals in musical instruments & accessories, you need Trademark Class 15 registration in India to protect your brand legally. This guide covers the exact goods covered, which Indian industries must file under Class 15, how to search for existing marks, how to file the application, the fees, and key mistakes to avoid.
What Does Trademark Class 15 Cover? Official IP India Definition
India uses the Nice Classification (NCL) 11th Edition — an international system classifying all goods and services into 45 classes. IP India assigns every trademark to one or more of these classes during examination.
Trademark Class 15 officially covers:
This is a Goods class (Classes 1–34 cover physical goods; Classes 35–45 cover services).
Which Indian Businesses Need Class 15 Trademark Registration?
The following industries and business types must file under Trademark Class 15 in India to protect their brand names:
- Musical instrument manufacturers
- Meerut brass instrument makers
- Miraj sitar/veena makers
- harmonium brands
- tabla makers
- music equipment retailers
India has a rich musical instrument manufacturing tradition — Meerut produces brass band instruments, Miraj crafts sitars and veenas, Chennai has violin makers, and Mumbai houses electronic music equipment distributors. These manufacturers need Class 15 protection to prevent copying of their brand names by importers.
Types of Brand Names Registered Under Class 15
Here are the types of trademarks that are typically filed and registered under Class 15 in India:
- Sitar brand names
- harmonium product trademarks
- tabla brand names
- brass instrument marks
- music stand brands
When searching the IP India portal for Class 15, you will find both active (Registered, Objected) and inactive (Abandoned, Removed) marks. Only active marks can create conflicts with your proposed brand name.
Critical Classification Tip for Class 15
Electronic music equipment (synthesisers, amplifiers, speakers) falls under Class 9 (electronics), not Class 15. Class 15 covers physical acoustic instruments only.
How to Search Trademarks in Class 15 on IP India
- Go to ipindiaonline.gov.in → Trademark → Public Search
- For text brand names: select Wordmark Search
- For logos: select Vienna Code Search
- In the Class field, select Class 15
- Enter your proposed brand name and click Search
- Review all results including phonetically or visually similar marks
- Also search in related classes: Class 9 (electronic music equipment/amplifiers), Class 41 (music education/training), Class 28 (music-related toys)
- Export/screenshot the results with timestamp for your records
How to File a Class 15 Trademark Application in India
Verify that your specific goods/services match the official Class 15 definition. Misclassification leads to rejection or inadequate protection.
Search IP India database for Class 15 conflicts. Also search related classes listed above.
Compile: PAN, business registration, Udyam certificate (MSME), mark/logo file, Power of Attorney.
Submit on IP India portal. Pay ₹4,500 (MSME/individual) or ₹9,000 (company) for Class 15. ™ usable from filing date.
Track status on IP India using application number. Examination Report expected in 3–6 months.
If objection raised, file detailed reply within 30 days. Attorney assistance strongly recommended.
After Journal publication (4-month opposition window), registration certificate issued. ® symbol permitted.
Official Fees for Class 15 Trademark Registration (2026)
| Applicant Category | Online Fee (per class) | Offline Fee (per class) |
|---|---|---|
| Individual / Sole Proprietor | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| MSME (Udyam Registered) | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| DPIIT-Recognised Startup | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| Company / LLP / Partnership | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Renewal of Class 15 Mark | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Expedited Examination | ₹20,000 (MSME) / ₹40,000 (others) | N/A |
Related Trademark Classes to File Alongside Class 15
Many businesses in the Class 15 sector also need to register in related classes to get complete brand protection. Consider filing in:
Class 9 (electronic music equipment/amplifiers), Class 41 (music education/training), Class 28 (music-related toys)
Filing in all applicable classes simultaneously is more cost-effective than filing additional applications later. Discuss your full product/service scope with a trademark attorney before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Trademark Class 15 India
What is the difference between Class 15 and adjacent classes?
Class 15 specifically covers: musical instruments; music stands and stands for musical instruments; conductors' batons. Adjacent classes cover related but distinct categories — Class 9 (electronic music equipment/amplifiers), Class 41 (music education/training), Class 28 (music-related toys). If your business spans both, file in all applicable classes.
How long does it take to register a Class 15 trademark in India?
Approximately 18–24 months for a smooth application. Expedited examination (additional ₹20,000–40,000 fee) can fast-track the examination stage to 30 working days. You can use the ™ symbol from the date of filing regardless of registration status.
Can I file a Class 15 trademark online in India?
Yes. 100% of the trademark application process is done online via ipindiaonline.gov.in. Online filing is mandatory for most applicants and also gives you the lower fee rate (₹4,500 vs ₹5,000 for MSME/individuals).
Do I need to file Class 15 and other classes separately?
Yes. Each trademark class requires a separate government fee. However, you can include multiple classes in a single Form TM-A application (multi-class application). You pay the fee for each class individually within that single application form.
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