Trade marks cannot be registered if they:
- describe your goods or services or any characteristics of them, for example, marks which show the quality, quantity, purpose, value or geographical origin of your goods or services;
- have become customary in your line of trade;
- are not distinctive;
- are three dimensional shapes, if the shape is typical of the goods you are interested in (or part of them), has a function or adds value to the goods;
- are specially protected emblems (such as national flags, coats of arms, hallmarks, official sign, and state emblems);
- are offensive;
- are against the law, for example, promoting illegal drugs; or;
- contrary to morality
- are deceptive or misleading. There should be nothing in the mark which would lead the public to think that your goods and services have a quality which they do not.
