Summary
In John Vadassery v. Registrar of Trade Marks (30 September 2026), the Kerala High Court rejected a petition and held that an authorisation appointing a trademark agent under Section 145 of the Trade Marks Act and Rule 19 of the Trade Marks Rules is in the nature of a power of attorney, and must therefore be stamped under the applicable Stamp Act. Applicants who authorise an agent to file and prosecute their trademarks should make sure the authorisation is properly stamped.
| Who is affected | Trademark applicants and owners who appoint an agent or attorney to file applications, replies or oppositions on their behalf. |
|---|---|
| What to do | When you sign the authorisation for your trademark agent, make sure it is executed on stamp paper or e-stamped as required in your state. Ask your agent to confirm that existing authorisations on file meet the requirement. |
| Source | Kerala High Court order (reported in SpicyIP Weekly Review) |
This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal or tax advice. The court order or official document is the authoritative text. Ask an expert how it applies to you.