Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Trade mark definition

What does Trade mark mean? In practice, a trade mark is a sign used in trade to indicate the commercial origin of goods or services and to distinguish one undertaking’s products or services from another’s. In the UK, section 1 Trade Marks Act 1994 (as amended by the Trade Marks Regulations 2018) and, in Ireland, section 6 Trade Marks Act 1996 (as amended) define a trade mark as any sign that is: (i) capable of being represented on/in the register in a manner enabling the authorities and the public to determine the clear and precise subject matter of the protection; and (ii) capable of distinguishing...

Unconventional EUTMs: representation options and filing strategy

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Published by a LexisNexis IP expert

Q&As

In this Q&A we focus on the amendments introduced by Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 (subsequently consolidated in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the EU trade mark Regulation (EUTM Regulation)), along with the key points to consider when seeking protection for an unconventional mark.

EU Trade Mark Regulation—What is new?

See News Analysis: New EU trade mark reforms, which provides an analysis of the background to the new EU trade mark reforms. As outlined there, five new categories of trade mark can be applied for in the EU:

Position
Pattern
Motion
Multimedia
Hologram

These are in addition to a Certification Mark, which has been available in the UK for some time. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has issued guidance relating to the new EU trade mark reforms...

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Steven Murray

HCR Law

Pro-active, commercially minded litigator specialising in IP infringements and international contractual disputes. Qualified in 2004 and previously headed up the firm's IP team....

Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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