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Words That Cannot Be Trademarked: Brand Naming Nuances

Choosing a name for a future brand is a complex and responsible task. The main goal of the brand is to attract as many target customers as possible to the goods and/or services it will be used for.

Even before registering a trademark, at the naming stage, you need to keep in mind that not every word can be used in a brand name.
For example, if you plan to register a trademark in the United Kingdom that uses the word “royal” or any word derived from it, you will be refused official registration. Before that, you will be asked to prove a link to the royal family by submitting a request to the Lord Chamberlain. EXIP has been through this process and in fact prepared an official request to use the word Royal in a trademark for one of our clients.
Common words also cannot be registered as a trademark, for example “handmade”, “fatty acids”, “underwear” and similar words. Such words can only be an unprotected element of a trademark.

Have doubts about your brand name? Contact EXIP’s patent attorneys. We will advise you!