Protection Requirements for Trademark Registrations

All distinctive signs for goods and/or services may be protected as trademarks.

Said signs may in particular include:

• Word marks, i.e., fancy names, names, company names, e.g. MERCEDES
• Figurative marks, e.g. logos, such as the polo player image of Ralph Lauren
• Word and picture combinations
• Numbers
• Sound marks, i.e. especially tone sequences, e.g. jingles
• Three-dimensional designs including the shape of goods or packaging,
  e.g. the Michelin man, the shape of the Ritter Sport chocolate or the Coca Cola bottle
• Colours and colour combinations, e.g. the blue colour mark the of Aral AG

The mark shall not be excluded from registration in accordance with § 8 Trademark Act (Markengesetz).

• Trademarks shall not be descriptive for the registered goods and services,
  e. g. MAXI-TRAC for vehicle tyres, UNIMETER for measuring equipment.
• Trademarks shall not belong to the public domain. By means of the protection conferred by technical, promotional or colloquial terms, the course of business is hence prevented from being obstructed by any obstacles, e. g. STONE for furniture, MTCH for tennis rackets.
• Trademarks shall not be misleading or deceptive for the relevant trade circles, e. g. CAFETINO for coffee substitutes or the image of a bee for artificial honey.