Trade marks we can accept
A trade mark is a sign which can distinguish your goods and services from those of your competitors. It can, for example, be words, logos or a combination of both. Invented words, logos and pictures are normally considered to be distinctive unless they have become customary in respect of the goods or services you are applying for.
Here are some examples of distinctive, non descriptive trade marks you might be familiar with:
The above logos have been reproduced with kind permission of the McDonald's Corporation, Watson Enterprises (Bahamas) Limited and The Boots Company PLC.
If you think your trade mark is acceptable you can apply online now.
We will not accept marks which:
- describe your goods or services or any characteristics of them e.g. "Cornish Clotted Cream" for cream;
- have become customary in your line of trade e.g. "China Garden" for Chinese restaurant services;
- are not distinctive e.g. "The Cheese Company" for cheese;
- are three dimensional shapes, if the shape is typical of the goods you are interested in (or part of them), has a function or adds value to the goods e.g. the shape of an egg for eggs;
- are specially protected emblems e.g. "The Red Cross";
- are offensive e.g. marks containing taboo words or pornographic images;
- are against the law, for example, promoting illegal drugs e.g. "White Dove"; or;
- are deceptive. There should be nothing in the mark which would lead the public to think that your goods and services have a quality which they do not e.g. use of the word "Organic" on goods which are not organic.