Check trademarks before registering a domain in Pakistan

Why a trademark check comes first

A domain is easy to register and hard to defend if it copies someone else's brand. Many freelancers and shop owners pick a name that sounds right, register it, print cards, and only then hear from a brand owner.

A domain registration does not give you trademark rights. It only gives you the name for the term you paid for. A company with an earlier trademark can still object.

For .pk names, PKNIC does not screen requested names. When you register, you confirm that, to your knowledge, the name does not infringe anyone's rights. If that proves wrong, the domain can be cancelled.

So the order matters. Choose a name, check it against trademarks, then register. If you have not picked a name yet, see /ideas/ and /domain-name-ideas-pakistan/ for starting points, and /domain-name-rules/ for what a name may contain.

Search through IPO-Pakistan

Trademarks in Pakistan are handled by the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan). Start at ipo.gov.pk and look for its trademark search option.

We could not open the site to confirm the current search tools or any fees, so rely on the official site rather than on blogs. Search the exact name, then spelling variations and the Urdu word written in English letters.

Also search the words inside your name. A mark that contains your main word can still be a problem. Note the class of goods or services too. A bakery mark and a software mark can sit side by side, but a similar mark in your own trade is a warning sign.

Search WIPO's Global Brand Database

Your buyers and visitors may be abroad, and foreign brands can complain about a name too. WIPO's Global Brand Database covers international marks under the Madrid System and marks from many participating national and regional offices.

You can search by keyword, name, number, goods and services, or by image. Try the plain name first, then likely variations.

Coverage differs from office to office, so an empty result is a good sign, not proof. Add an ordinary web search for the name, plus a look at social media handles and app stores. If a well-known brand appears anywhere, treat that as a stop sign and pick another name.

What counts as infringement

There is no exact test you can run yourself, but the same questions come up again and again. Is your name identical or close to an existing mark? Do you offer similar goods or services? Could a customer think you are connected to the brand owner?

Trouble is more likely when you copy a famous name, add a small word such as shop, store or pk, or use a slightly different spelling of someone's brand.

A plain dictionary word used for what it describes is usually less risky than an invented brand that someone else owns. Still, a common word can be a registered mark in a specific trade.

If you are unsure, take advice from a trademark lawyer. We check availability and register names, but we do not give legal advice.

UDRP and DNDRC risk

The UDRP is the ICANN dispute policy used for names such as .com. For .pk names, PKNIC has adopted the UDRP with its own amendments, and where the two conflict, PKNIC's amendments win. Cases go to the local DNDRC rather than to providers listed by ICANN.

In a UDRP case, the complainant generally has to show three things: the domain is identical or confusingly similar to their mark, you have no rights or legitimate interest in it, and the name was registered and used in bad faith.

Bad faith often means you knew about the brand and wanted to profit from it, for example by offering the name back at a high price.

PKNIC's policy says .pk registrants accept binding arbitration under DNDRC rules. The result can be transfer or cancellation. A Pakistani court order is a separate route.

In a .pk case, you have 14 days to respond to the DNDRC request, and notices go to the email addresses on the domain record. Keep those addresses current.

Buying or registering with us

If you want to buy an existing name, our marketplace at /#browse holds payment in escrow, but a trademark problem can still follow a name to its new owner. Do your own search before you pay. See /buy-domain/ for how buying works.

If you want a new name, we check availability live at /domains/ and register it in your own name through PKNIC or a registrar. For .pk and .com.pk, PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration, so the name on the record must be right from day one. The minimum term is two years. PKNIC's fee is Rs 2,100 per year for Pakistan-based registrants from 1 August 2026, and USD 15.99 per year for overseas ones.

We aim to file the same working day payment arrives. If a name is taken before we file, you get a full refund. See /pricing/ and /order/.

Common questions