Choosing a brand name is exciting. Filing that name without checking it first is a costly gamble. A trademark search is the process of checking whether a name, logo, slogan, or device mark is already registered, pending, or too similar to an existing mark before you submit an application to the Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO Pakistan). It is the single most important step a business owner can take before spending a rupee on filing fees, packaging, signage, or marketing — because a clearance search done properly is what stands between a smooth registration and a rejected, opposed, or wrongly registered mark.
At Khatri IP Attorneys, we conduct a full, attorney-led trademark search for PKR 1,000, with an official written report delivered within 7 to 14 working days. That report gives you a clear, class-specific risk picture — identical marks, similar marks, phonetic and visual conflicts — before you ever file a TM-1 application, so you’re making a branding decision with facts in hand, not guesswork.
This guide walks through why a trademark search matters, the different types of searches, how the process works through IPO Pakistan, the mistakes founders commonly make, what our service includes, and how a legal professional adds value that a basic online search simply cannot.
Pakistan’s trademark register already holds a large number of word marks, device marks, and combination marks across 45 classes of goods and services, and that number grows every day. Without checking this register first, a business owner has no real way of knowing whether the name they’ve chosen is available, already taken, or so close to an existing mark that IPO Pakistan will refuse it — or a competitor will oppose it once it’s published in the Trademarks Journal.
This isn’t a theoretical risk. Rejected applications, oppositions, and forced rebrands are among the most common — and most preventable — problems we see business owners run into in a competitive market. Almost all of it traces back to one missing step: a proper search before filing.
A proper search matters for several reasons:
In short, a trademark search is where good branding decisions and legal risk management meet.
Not all searches are the same, and the type you need depends on what you’re trying to protect.
Word search (basic search): Checks the IPO registry for identical or closely spelled marks under a specific class. This is the starting point for most businesses and is useful for catching obvious conflicts and spelling variations.
Device or logo search: Since logos, symbols, and stylised letters aren’t searchable by typing a name, a device search relies on visual classification — similar to the Vienna Code system used internationally — to find figurative marks with comparable shapes, imagery, numerals, plants, celestial bodies, living creatures, or other design elements.
Phonetic and visual similarity search: Goes beyond exact matches to identify marks that sound alike or look alike, even if the spelling differs. This is where many conflicts hide — two brand names can be spelled differently yet still confuse consumers.
Class-specific search: Trademarks are registered under specific classes of goods or services (for example, Class 25 for clothing, Class 3 for cosmetics, Class 35 for advertising and business services, Class 5 for pharmaceuticals). A search limited to your relevant class is faster, but a mark registered in an unrelated class may still matter if your business plans to expand.
Comprehensive/full clearance search: Covers related classes, phonetic and visual variants, device marks, and sometimes company-name or domain availability, producing a full risk report rather than a quick check. This is the level of search most legal professionals recommend before filing.
IPO Pakistan maintains an official public search facility that anyone can use as a preliminary check. Here’s the general process:
This preliminary check through IPO Pakistan is filed on Form TM-55 along with the applicable government fee — it isn’t a free public lookup, and it’s a basic search tool, not a substitute for a full legal review, particularly for phonetic similarity, device marks, or cross-class conflicts.
Founders searching on their own tend to run into the same problems repeatedly:
This is usually where a deeper, legal-professional-led review pays for itself.
A free online tool tells you what’s already on the register. It does not tell you what any of it means for your application. That interpretation is where Khatri IP Attorneys’ trademark search service earns its place — and it’s why we built it to be fast, affordable, and thorough at the same time.
Cost: PKR 1,000 per search. Turnaround: Official written report delivered in 7 to 14 working days
For that fee, our review covers:
At PKR 1,000, this is a small, one-time cost against the alternative: a rejected application, a wasted filing fee, or a rebrand after your packaging and marketing are already in market. The goal is simple — give you a clear, honest, attorney-verified risk picture before you file, not just a stack of raw search results.
For businesses with international ambitions, a Pakistan-only search isn’t always enough. Depending on your expansion plans, it may be worth screening your mark against:
These tools provide useful context for international screening, but results still require legal interpretation, since classification systems and similarity standards vary by country.
Pakistan follows the Nice Classification system, which organises goods and services into 45 classes. A trademark search should always be run against the class (or classes) relevant to your business — common examples include Class 3 (cosmetics), Class 5 (pharmaceuticals), Class 25 (clothing), and Class 35 (business and advertising services). Getting the class wrong is one of the most frequent — and most avoidable — reasons an otherwise good search misses a real conflict.
Running a thorough search before you file delivers benefits well beyond simply “avoiding rejection”:
A mark that has been properly searched is, in effect, a pre-screened business asset — one that’s easier to build a brand, a franchise, or an investment case around.
A self-run search is a reasonable first step, but it has real limits — and those limits are exactly where costly mistakes happen. An attorney-led search closes the gap:
This is the difference between a quick clarity check and an attorney-verified filing decision. For high-risk or moderate-risk positions especially, that difference can be the reason an application sails through review instead of drawing an objection.
Once a trademark search confirms your name or logo is genuinely clear, the next step is moving forward with the trademark registration process itself — filing the TM-1 application, navigating the IPO review and opposition period, and securing your Registration Certificate.
Is a trademark search mandatory in Pakistan?
No, a trademark search is not legally mandatory before filing. However, it’s strongly recommended, since skipping it significantly raises the risk of rejection or later legal issues.
What does a trademark search cost?
IPO Pakistan’s own preliminary search requires filing Form TM-55 with the applicable government fee — it isn’t a no-cost public lookup. Khatri IP Attorneys provides a full, attorney-led trademark search and written report for PKR 1,000, with the official report delivered within 7 to 14 working days — covering phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity that a basic filing-based search does not assess.
How long does a professional trademark search take?
At Khatri IP Attorneys, our official trademark search report is delivered within 7 to 14 working days of instruction, covering identical, phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity across the relevant classes.
Can I search by logo or device rather than by name?
Yes, though it isn’t as simple as a text-based, keyword search. IPO Pakistan’s system is largely built around name-based searching, so a proper device or logo search usually requires a manual review by legal experts familiar with visual classification.
What if my desired trademark is already registered?
You’ll generally need to choose a different name, adjust your mark, or file under a different class where it doesn’t conflict. A legal consultation at this stage helps you weigh the realistic options.
How long does trademark registration take in Pakistan?
Once filed, registration typically takes around six months to two years, factoring in IPO review timelines and the standard opposition period, assuming no objections are raised.
Khatri IP Attorneys helps businesses across Pakistan run thorough, attorney-led trademark searches before they file — for PKR 1,000, with an official report in 7 to 14 working days — so branding decisions are backed by a clear picture of risk, not guesswork. If you’re planning to register a name, logo, or slogan, get in touch before you file.