Managing IP has recognised Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner of S.S. Rana & Co., as a Trademark Star for India in IP STARS 2024, its annual guide to the world’s leading IP firms and practitioners. The recognition reflects a trademark practice that covers prosecution, opposition, enforcement and litigation.
About IP STARS
Managing IP, part of Legal Benchmarking Limited in London, published its first legal directory in 1994 and rebranded it as IP STARS in 2013. Its research covers several IP practice areas, including trademark prosecution and trademark disputes, across more than 70 jurisdictions.
Who qualifies: Managing IP describes an IP Star as a very experienced senior IP practitioner in private practice who has been recommended by peers or clients, or who is integral to the success of their firm. IP Stars are tagged by their key practice areas.
How individuals are chosen: Each edition follows a six-month research project in which Managing IP’s analysts gather information from firms, practitioners and clients through interviews, emails and surveys, and carry out their own research into court and IP office data.
The format: IP STARS is selective: not all practitioners are ranked, there is no fee to participate, and no firm or individual can pay to be ranked.
What the recognition reflects
The full range of trademark work: Vikrant’s practice spans trademark filing and prosecution, oppositions before the Trade Marks Registry, and enforcement and litigation before courts across India.
Clients of every size: He advises Fortune 500 and multinational companies as well as grassroots innovators on contentious and non-contentious trademark matters.
Support for start-ups: As an IP facilitator under the Government of India’s Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme, launched in 2016, he has helped more than 200 start-ups and grassroots innovators protect and enforce their IP in India and around the world.
Raising IP awareness: He is a regular speaker and guest faculty member at academic institutions and industry and trade forums, and has presented at conferences, seminars and webinars organised by government and non-government bodies to sensitise students and innovators to the importance of IP.
Trademark objections in India: Sections 9 and 11
Most trademark applications in India receive an examination report. Knowing which kind of objection has been raised decides how to answer it.
Absolute grounds (Section 9): The examiner may object that a mark lacks distinctive character, describes the goods or services, has become customary in the trade, or is likely to deceive. These objections are about the mark itself. Applicants can often overcome them with evidence that the mark has acquired distinctiveness through use, or with arguments about how consumers actually see it.
Relative grounds (Section 11): The examiner may cite earlier identical or similar marks for similar goods or services. These objections are about conflict with other marks. Replies typically argue differences in the marks, the goods or the trade channels, rely on honest concurrent use, or seek consent from the earlier owner.
The deadline: Under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, the reply must be filed within one month of receiving the examination report, or the application may be treated as abandoned. If the reply does not resolve the objection, the matter goes to a hearing.
Clearance searches before filing are the best way to avoid Section 11 objections, while a carefully chosen mark avoids most Section 9 problems. The firm’s trademark FAQs cover the process in more detail.
About Vikrant Rana
Vikrant Rana is the Managing Partner of S.S. Rana & Co., a full-service IP and corporate law firm founded in 1989 and headquartered in New Delhi. A graduate of the University of Delhi, he joined the firm in 1996.
Academia: He has been appointed Professor of Practice by Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University, to bridge the gap between industry and academia.
Writing: He has written book chapters, journal articles and research papers.
Domain name disputes: He has served as an arbitrator with the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) on domain name disputes.
Professional bodies: He is a member of INTA, ECTA, AIPPI, MARQUES, FICPI, APAA, the IBA, IPBA, IPO and AIPLA, as well as FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM.
Beyond the law: He speaks English, Hindi and Punjabi, has run more than 12 half-marathons and is a certified yoga teacher.
Recognition in 2024
| Publication | Recognition | Edition |
| IP STARS (Managing IP) | Trademark Star | 2024 |
| Asia IP Experts | IP Expert, India | 2024 |
| Leaders League | S.S. Rana & Co.: Recommended, India: Brands (Prosecution & Litigation), with Vikrant Rana named | 2024 |
| The Patent Lawyer | S.S. Rana & Co.: Top 10 IP and patent law firms in India | 2024 |
| IBLJ A-List | A-List Icon | 2024-25 |
See Vikrant’s IP STARS profile, the firm’s IP STARS firm page and Managing IP’s methodology. Read about his Asia IP Expert 2024 and IBLJ A-List 2024-25 recognitions, and the firm’s Patent Lawyer 2024 ranking. Each recognition is recorded on our Awards page.
We congratulate Vikrant on this recognition and thank our clients, colleagues and peers in India and abroad for their continued trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
managing-ip-2024-vr
Yes. Managing IP’s IP STARS 2024 recognises Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner of S.S. Rana & Co., as a Trademark Star for India.
IP STARS is Managing IP’s annual guide to leading IP firms and practitioners, covering several IP practice areas in more than 70 jurisdictions. Managing IP published its first directory in 1994 and rebranded it as IP STARS in 2013.
Managing IP describes an IP Star as a very experienced senior IP practitioner in private practice who has been recommended by peers or clients, or who is integral to the success of their firm. IP Stars are tagged by their key practice areas, such as Trademark Star.
Under Section 9 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, a mark can be refused if it lacks distinctive character, describes the kind, quality or purpose of the goods or services, has become customary in the trade, or is likely to deceive or cause confusion. Shapes that result from the nature of the goods or give them substantial value can also be refused.
Under Section 11, a mark can be refused if it is identical or similar to an earlier mark for identical or similar goods or services and is likely to cause confusion, or if it would take unfair advantage of or harm a well-known mark.
Under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, an applicant must reply within one month of receiving the examination report, or the application may be treated as abandoned.
Write to info@ssrana.com with a short description of your matter, and the firm will connect you with him.
For more information on Trademark Searches, Trademark clearance, Trademark watch, Trademark selection, Trademark filing, Trademark registration, Trademark Examination, Trademark Objection Reply, Trademark Hearing, Trademark Opposition, Trademark Publication, Trademark Renewal, Trademark Cancellation, Trademark Rectification, Trademark Infringement, Trademark Passing Off, Trademark Litigation, Trademark Licensing, Trademark Assignment etc. in India write to us at info@ssrana.com