When filing an application, you must describe your mark. Calling it "a squiggly line" gets you rejected. Using the precise terminology from this guide—such as "a figurative mark consisting of a curved band with gradient shading"—passes the examining attorney’s desk with flying colors.
The guide acts as a visual dictionary for the Vienna Agreement. If you have a logo featuring a star inside a circle, you cannot just search "star." You need the specific code for a "star with rays" versus a "four-pointed star." This PDF provides those codes at a glance.
[Click here to download the PDF guide.] Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific trademark registration questions, please consult a licensed trademark attorney.
If you are a logo designer, a brand strategist, or an intellectual property attorney, you know that word marks are just the tip of the iceberg. The real legal and commercial power lies in and Figurative trademarks.
Moving beyond word marks to build true visual distinction.
But look again at those brands. What do you actually see on the sneaker? A swoosh. What is on the back of the iPhone? A bitten apple. What does the red can rely on? The dynamic Spencerian script—which is actually a figurative element, not just letters.
But how do you classify a squiggle? How do you protect a shape? And crucially, how do you search for prior art when the mark isn’t made of letters?
