Rule 22

22. Request to Registrar for Search.-

(1) Any person may request the Registrar, in Form TM-C to cause a search to be made and for the issue of a certificate under sub-section ( 1) of section 45 of Copyright Act, 1957 ( 14 of 1957) to the effect that no trademark identical with or deceptively similar to such artistic work, as sought to be registered as copyright under the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957) has been registered as a trademark under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (47 of 1999) in the name of, or that no application has been made under that Act for such re-registration by any person other than the applicant. The certificate shall ordinarily be issued within thirty working days of the date of request:

Provided, the Registrar may call for a statement of requirements from the applicant and if the requirements are not complied with within two months from the date of such calling of the statement, the request on Form TM-C shall be treated as abandoned.

(2) The Registrar may cancel the certificate issued under sub-rule (1) after giving notice and stating the grounds on which the Registrar proposes to cancel the certificate and after providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(3) Subject to the proviso of sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2), the Registrar shall ordinarily within seven working days issue an expedited search certificate under sub-section ( 1) of section 45 of the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957) on a request received in Form TM-C on payment of the fee specified in First Schedule.

(4) Before abandoning the request in Form TM-C, as the case may be, for non-compliance of the statement of requirements when called for, the Registrar shall provide an opportunity of being heard in the matter.