Taj Hotels Registers Signature Sound as Trademark, Expanding Brand Protection Beyond Visual Identity

Taj Hotels Registers Signature Sound as Trademark, Expanding Brand Protection Beyond Visual Identity

Introduction

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), the owner and operator of the iconic Taj Hotels brand, has secured trademark registration for a sound mark used in connection with its hospitality and related digital services. The registration marks a growing recognition of non-traditional trademarks in India and reflects the increasing importance of sonic branding in experience-driven industries.

Factual Background

The registered sound mark consists of a distinctive musical sequence notes D E E G A E in D Major, with a 4/4 time signature and a tempo of 130 beats per minute. This audio identifier functions as a sonic signature for the Taj brand, reinforcing brand recall across physical and digital touchpoints. The application for registration was filed under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 as a sound mark, a category that, while still relatively uncommon in India, has been gaining traction as brands seek to protect multi-sensory elements of their identity.

Procedural Background

The trademark registration was granted on January 7, 2026, with effect from April 17, 2025, the date of application. Registry records indicate that IHCL sought expedited examination by filing Form TM-M, citing business requirements for early protection, along with payment of the prescribed fee. The application successfully progressed through examination, culminating in registration.

Issues

1. While not arising from a dispute, the registration reflects consideration of the following legal questions under trademark law:

2. Whether a sound can function as a distinctive trademark capable of identifying source.

3. Whether the applied-for sound met the statutory requirements of distinctiveness and graphical representation.

Contentions of the Applicant

IHCL asserted that the sound mark serves as a unique audio identifier consistently associated with the Taj brand and its services. It emphasised the role of sound in reinforcing brand recognition across hotel properties, digital platforms, mobile applications and customer engagement interfaces.

The applicant sought protection across Classes 9, 35 and 43, covering software and mobile applications for hotel booking and accommodation management, advertising and promotion of hotel services, administration of customer loyalty programmes, and services relating to temporary accommodation, food and beverages.

Reasoning and Analysis

The Trade Marks Registry recognised that sound can operate as a source identifier, particularly in sectors such as hospitality where consumer experience extends beyond visual branding. The registration affirms that non-conventional marks, when clearly defined and capable of distinguishing services, are entitled to statutory protection under Indian law.

The breadth of classes covered underscores the evolving nature of brand engagement, where digital interfaces, applications and loyalty ecosystems form an integral part of hospitality services. Protection of a sonic identity across these classes reflects an acknowledgment that sound plays a critical role in creating consistent brand association.

Decision

The sound mark was successfully registered in favour of The Indian Hotels Company Limited for a period of ten years from the application date, with the option of renewal for successive ten-year terms. The registration grants IHCL exclusive rights over its sonic identifier in relation to hospitality, advertising and digital services.

Commenting on the development, Rajendra Misra, Executive Vice President & General Counsel of IHCL, noted that the registration reinforces the company’s leadership in brand protection and reflects a forward-looking approach aligned with evolving consumer engagement.

In this case the applicant was represented by team Fidus Law Chambers comprising Managing Partner Shwetasree Majumder, Partner Astha Negi and Senior Associate Umang Gola, Advocates.