Got a trademark objection? What the examination report means
An objection is common and usually fixable. Here’s how to read it.
Written and reviewed by CS Prashant Kumar · Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026
After filing, the Registry examines your application and may issue an examination report. This is routine, not a rejection.
Two kinds of objection
Absolute grounds (section 9): the mark is descriptive, generic, or lacks distinctiveness. Relative grounds (section 11): the mark conflicts with an earlier similar mark.
How to respond
- Reply on time. A reply is generally due within one month of the report.
- For section 9, show distinctiveness or evidence of use.
- For section 11, show the marks, goods or markets differ, or rely on honest prior use.
Silence is the only sure way to lose. An unanswered report leads to the application being treated as abandoned.
If the reply isn’t accepted, a show-cause hearing is fixed, where a trademark attorney argues the case before the examiner.