When can a mark be registered?
The legal requirements to register a trademark under the Act are: The selected mark should be capable of being represented graphically (that is in the paper form). It should be capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others.
- An express or implicit indication that the registration of a mark is sought;
- The identity of the applicant;
- Contact details of the applicant or its agent/representative;
- A reproduction of the mark; and.
- The list of the goods or service.
The two primary types of marks are trademarks and service marks. The two other marks—certification marks and collective marks—occur much less frequently and must meet different requirements for registration.
A mark cannot be registered if it: a. Consists of immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter, or matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons (living or dead), institutions, beliefs or national symbols, or bring them into contempt or disrepute.
A trade mark can be any sign which is capable of graphic representation and capable of distinguishing the goods and/or services of one trader from those of another. Although some of the most common trade marks are word marks, they might also be logos, or more unusual marks such as sound marks, 3D marks or motion marks.
Professional names such as attorneyship, engineering, and teaching will not be registered as trademarks. Such names must have a combination which has a distinctive character in order to be registered as trademarks.
Trademarks which confuse the public as it is identical with an earlier similar trademark of goods or services. Trademarks which confuse the public as it is similar with an earlier identical trademark of goods or services.
The 4 steps to trademark registration are: [1] business name search, [2] preparing the registration application, [3] submitting the registration application, and [4] responding to the USPTO examiner. Trademarks and Service Marks are used to protect business names, logos, and slogans.
- Initial conditions. These are the conditions providers must meet to become registered. ...
- General ongoing conditions. These are the conditions providers must meet to stay registered. ...
- Specific ongoing conditions.
If you have not used your mark in commerce yet, but have a good faith intention to do so in the future, you can file an application to register your trademark or service mark with an intent-to-use (ITU) filing basis.
Can you use a trademark before it is registered?
Anyone can use a TM symbol regardless of whether they've successfully registered the trademark, or whether they've applied for a trademark at all. Even if the trademark application is rejected, the owner can continue to use the TM symbol.
What is Trademark vs. Registered? The trademark symbol (TM) is a mark that companies often use on a logo, name, phrase, word, or design that represents the business. The registered symbol (R) represents a mark that is a registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Normally, designs of artistic nature like painting, sculptures and the like which are not produced in bulk by any industrial process are excluded from registration under the Act.