Hong Kong Regulations

TRADE MARKS RULES - RULE 3

Unacceptable words and representations

Caution: This is a past version. See the current version here.

REGISTRABILITY OF TRADE MARKS (SECTIONS 9 TO 12)
PRELIMINARY ADVICE (SECTION 73)

(1) The Registrar may refuse to accept any application for the registration of
a mark upon which any of the following appear-

   (a)  the words "Patent", "Patented", "Registered", "Registered Design",
        "Copyright", "To counterfeit this is a forgery", or words to the like
        effect;

   (b)  representations of Her Majesty or any member of the Royal Family, or
        any colourable imitations thereof;

   (c)  the words "Red Cross" or "Geneva Cross" and representations of the
        Geneva and other crosses in red, or of the Swiss Federal cross in
        white on a red ground or silver on a red ground, or such
        representations in a similar colour or colours.

(2) Where there appears in a trade mark the registration of which is applied
for a representation of a cross in any colour, not being one of those
mentioned in subrule (1)(c), the Registrar may require the applicant as a
condition of acceptance to undertake not to use the cross device in red, or in
white on a red ground or silver on a red ground, or in any similar colour or
colours.

(3) Representations of exhibition medals and awards that have been granted to
an applicant or his predecessor in business in respect of the goods or
services for which a trade mark is proposed to be registered may appear on the
mark but shall not be accepted as a registrable feature thereof.
Representations of medals and awards that have not been so granted to the
applicant or his predecessor in business may not appear on the mark. (Enacted
1992)