A single-class Android app trademark filing through MyIPO costs RM550 in official fees (RM250 filing, RM50 substantive examination, RM250 registration), but a real two-class registration covering Classes 9 and 42 via a Kuala Lumpur trademark agent lands between RM3,400 and RM5,400 once search, agent fees, and the 12–18 month examination cycle are counted.
Trademark registration for an Android app is priced per mark, per class, through MyIPO’s e-filing portal MyTrn Online (iponline.myipo.gov.my). The cost question only has a precise answer once you fix two variables: which Nice Class matches what the app actually does, and whether you file solo or through a registered trademark agent. The Trade Marks Act 2019 (Act 815), in force since 27 December 2019, governs the entire process.
1. MyIPO Official Fees: The RM550 Baseline
Malaysia’s Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) charges three separate official fees for a standard trademark application:
– Filing: RM250 per mark, per class.
– Substantive examination: RM50 once per application.
– Registration: RM250 per mark per class after the examiner allows it.
That makes RM550 for the minimum viable single-class registration. Add one class — for example Class 42 SaaS alongside Class 9 software — and the official bill becomes RM1,100 (RM500 filing + RM50 exam + RM500 registration). Claiming priority from an overseas filing under the Paris Convention adds RM200.
Payments are made through MyTrn Online, which supports FPX bank transfers and e-charges. The tariff schedule is revised periodically by the Minister, so always confirm the published figures on the MyIPO portal before budgeting.
2. Why Android Apps Need Classes 9 Plus 42
“Android app” itself is not a registrable trademark — “Android” is owned by Google, and your application cannot suggest Google endorsement. What gets registered is the brand name, logo, or both as they appear in the Play Store listing, classified under the Nice Classification. Most Malaysian Android apps need at least two classes:
– Class 9: downloadable mobile application software, application software, computer software for smartphones.
– Class 42: Software-as-a-Service, platform-as-a-service, hosting, and software development services.
Every class listed multiplies the MyIPO fee, so class selection is a cost decision, not just a legal one. A game studio adds Class 41 (entertainment and gaming services). A messaging application adds Class 38 (telecommunications). A fintech app — the standard Touch ‘n Go eWallet footprint — covers Classes 9, 36 and 42 for e-wallet and financial services.
Describe the goods precisely. A specification like “downloadable application software for delivery logistics and fleet tracking” gets through examination far more cleanly than a vague “software” claim. Each deficiency letter from the examiner triggers roughly RM150 in extension fees and adds weeks to the timeline.
3. Agent, Search, and Opposition Costs
Filing directly through MyIPO is legally possible, but the realistic route for an app studio is a registered trademark agent. Kuala Lumpur firms such as KASS International, Henry Goh, and Nor Azmi & Co quote between RM1,200 and RM2,500 per class for filing, examination follow-up, and registration formalities. A preliminary conflict search — which reads MyIPO’s public database and actual Play Store usage — runs RM150 to RM500 per mark. Skipping it risks filing a mark identical to an existing registration, and the filing fee is not refunded on refusal.
The expensive scenario is opposition. After the mark is published in the MyIPO Journal, any prior right holder has two months to lodge a Notice of Opposition. A contested proceeding — counter-statement, statutory declarations, and a hearing — carries a RM500 official opposition fee on top of RM8,000 to RM25,000 in professional fees. Klang Valley app developers rarely budget for this, but it is the real cost of collision with an incumbent brand.
4. Renewal, Non-Use, and the 10-Year Cycle
Registration is valid for 10 years from the application date, and renewal is charged per class: RM350 official fee plus RM300–RM500 agent fee per class. MyIPO does not send renewal reminders by default; agents maintain docketing calendars, often for RM200–RM400 per year.
The sharper trap is non-use. Section 46 of the Trade Marks Act 2019 allows revocation of a mark after three years of continuous non-use. For an Android app, this is a practical concern: if the app stagnates or is pulled from Google Play, the trademark dies with it, and any classes you bought for future pivots are wasted money. Malaysia operates a first-to-file system, so file before the Play Store listing goes live — an intent-to-use filing is legitimate pre-launch, and it blocks name squatters who monitor app announcements.
5. The Realistic Budget Breakdown
The table below sums up the real components that determine what you pay for an Android app trademark in Malaysia.
| Item Name | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| MyIPO Filing Fee (per class) | RM250 per mark per class via MyTrn Online | Indie developers filing a single Class 9 mark |
| Substantive Examination Fee | RM50 once per application; examiner checks conflicts | All applications |
| Registration Certificate Fee | RM250 per mark per class after allowance | Final step to a live registered right |
| Agent Filing Package | RM1,200–RM2,500 per class for search, filing and exam follow-up | Founders needing a Class 9 + Class 42 footprint |
| Preliminary Search Report | RM150–RM500; reads MyIPO registers plus Play Store usage | Apps nearing launch date |
| Opposition Defense | RM8,000–RM25,000 per contested case | Marks attacked inside the 2-month journal window |
| 10-Year Renewal | RM350 per class official fee + RM300–RM500 agent fee | Keeping Class 9 or 42 registrations alive |
Two working budgets. The solo route: RM550 in official fees for one class with no agent and no search, accepting full refusal risk. The standard professional route: two classes (Class 9 + Class 42), agent fees of RM2,000–RM4,000, and a RM300 search — a total of RM3,400 to RM5,400, spread over the 12–18 months from filing to certificate. A third class or a contested opposition pushes the figure higher. The correct budget line for a serious Klang Valley app studio is RM4,000 to RM6,000 for a defensible two-class registration, not the RM550 headline.
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