Trade marks can come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can include names and numbers – but cannot, says the European Court of Justice (ECJ), include a number which is merely descriptive.
The decision followed an attempt to register as a Community Trade Mark (CTM) the number ‘1,000’ for a puzzle book. The ECJ ruled that the number was ‘too descriptive’ and would mean to the reader that the book contained 1,000 puzzles.
The ECJ stated that one of the objects of the regulation on CTMs is that of ‘ensuring that descriptive signs relating to one or more characteristics of the goods or services in respect of which registration as a mark is sought may be freely used by all traders offering such goods or services’.
Click here for information on registering a trade mark.
01634 811118
Descriptive Number Cannot Be Registered as Trade Mark
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.
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