What types of trademarks can you register?

Photo of Tomas Orsula

Written by Tomas Orsula

Senior Trademark Attorney

The most common types are wordmarks (a name, word, or combination of letters and numbers), figurative marks (logos or graphic elements), and combined marks (a name and logo together). Other than these, applicants can also register colors, shapes, sounds, motion marks, and, in some jurisdictions, smells. However, these are much rarer, and they require additional evidence to prove. .

Non-traditional marks face a higher threshold for registration, because they must typically demonstrate acquired distinctiveness through extensive commercial use before the IP office will accept them.

In reality, any sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one business from those of others can be registered as a trademark, provided it meets the IP office's registrability requirements.

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