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What is a descriptive mark?

Written by Jan Buza

Co-founder of Trama

A descriptive mark, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), is a term that directly describes a characteristic, quality, function, or feature of the goods or services it represents. Descriptive marks provide information about the nature or attributes of the product or service in a straightforward manner.

Unlike generic marks that are common names for the goods or services, descriptive marks go a step further and provide specific details about them. These marks may describe the ingredients, qualities, characteristics, intended purpose, or geographic origin of the goods or services.

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