Written by Jan Buza
Co-founder of Trama
If you wish to register a keyword as a trademark, it must meet multiple requirements.
If the keyword is non-descriptive of your goods and services and, in that sense, unique, it can likely be trademarked.
Your chances also depend on how generic the keyword in question is. If, for example, you wish to trademark the word "appliance" for your business selling fridges, the application will most likely receive a rejection. You cannot claim exclusive ownership of words that any member of the general public can use.
However, Apple Inc. registered the word "Apple" even though it is generic. In this case, the word "apple" is not descriptive of what the company does. This allows clients of Apple to associate the word "Apple" in the context of electronics solely with their brand. As you can see, the context is very important when trademarking a keyword or a generic word.
Do I already need a business licence to register a trademark?
Can I make my trademark all capital letters instead of a mix of lower and upper case?
What is the best way to protect all of the different variations of our logo?
I've just filed my trademark application; does this mean my trademark is registered?
What is the best way to register a trademark in the US, the EU and Australia?
I already bought the website names for the brand, should I also register a trademark?
Our team of experienced trademark attorneys is here to help you! Simply send us an email outlining your request and we'll be happy to assist you.
