Are all trademarks registrable?
No. The basic requirement in most countries is that the mark must be “distinctive”, so that it can serve to distinguish the goods and services of one proprietor from another. A mark cannot be merely descriptive of the goods and services it endorses. A trader dealing in fresh fruits including apples cannot register a mark called “apple” for fresh fruits, as it merely describes the goods involved and is not distinctive enough. However, if your business is in, say, computer applications, then you may register “apple” as your mark for this business. What amounts to “distinctive” in one country may not be so in another. For example, in Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK the registrability requirements are quite stringent. For a free assessment on the inherent registrability of your mark in any country, please click here for a form to send us your details. If you have a word or a mark you are using our designers can embellish it to make it more distinctive and hence, increase the chances of sec
