Register a trade mark
What you can register as a trade mark
Your trade mark can include:
- words
- sounds
- logos
- colours
- a combination of any of these
What you cannot register
Your trade mark cannot:
- describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example using the word ‘Apple’ for a company which sells apples - but it could be used for a computer company
- be too common and non-distinctive, for example a statement like ‘we lead the way’
- be offensive, for example contain swear words or pornographic images
- be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic
- be just a generic shape associated with your business, for example using a generic outline of a wine bottle for a business that sells wine
- make use of national flags you do not have permission to use
- make use of official emblems or hallmarks, for example coats of arms
You may not be able to register your trade mark if it’s the same as, or similar to, a trade mark of another business that sells the same goods or services.