(1)  A mark by which the goods or services of an applicant for registration may be distinguished from the goods or services of others may not be registered if it:

Terms Used In Utah Code 70-3a-301

  • Applicant: means :
(i) the person filing an application for registration of a mark under this chapter; and
(ii) a legal representative, successor, or assign of a person described in Subsection (1)(b)(i). See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • Division: means the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code within the Department of Commerce. See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Mark: means any trademark or service mark entitled to registration under this chapter whether or not the trademark or service mark is registered. See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • Person: means :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Signature: includes a name, mark, or sign written with the intent to authenticate an instrument or writing. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Trade name: means any name used by a person to identify a business or vocation of that person. See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • trademark: means :
    (A) a word, term, name, symbol, design, or device; or
    (B) any combination of words, terms, names, symbols, designs, or devices. See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • United States: includes each state, district, and territory of the United States of America. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Use: means the bona fide use of a mark in the ordinary course of trade, and not made merely to reserve a right in a mark. See Utah Code 70-3a-103
  • (a)  consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter;

    (b)  consists of or comprises matter that may:

    (i)  disparage or falsely suggest a connection with:

    (A)  a person, living or dead;

    (B)  an institution;

    (C)  a belief; or

    (D)  a national symbol; or

    (ii)  bring an item listed in Subsection (1)(b)(i) into contempt or disrepute;

    (c)  consists of or comprises the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of:

    (i)  the United States;

    (ii)  any state;

    (iii)  any municipality;

    (iv)  any foreign nation; or

    (v)  any simulation of an item listed in Subsections (1)(c)(i) through (iv);

    (d)  consists of or comprises the name, signature, or portrait identifying a particular living individual, except by the individual’s written consent;

    (e)  subject to Subsection (3), consists of a mark that:

    (i)  when used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant, is:

    (A)  merely descriptive of the goods or services;

    (B)  deceptively misdescriptive of the goods or services;

    (C)  primarily geographically descriptive of the goods or services; or

    (D)  primarily geographically deceptively misdescriptive of the goods or services; or

    (ii)  is primarily merely a surname;

    (f)  consists of or comprises a mark that:

    (i)  resembles:

    (A)  a mark registered in this state; or

    (B)  a mark or trade name previously used by another and not abandoned; and

    (ii)  is likely, when used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant, to cause confusion, mistake, or to deceive; or

    (g)  without the written consent of the United States Olympic Committee, contains or consists of:

    (i)  the symbol of the International Olympic Committee, consisting of five interlocking rings;

    (ii)  the emblem of the United States Olympic Committee, consisting of an escutcheon having a blue chief and vertically extending red and white bars on the base with five interlocking rings displayed on the chief;

    (iii)  any trademark, trade name, sign, symbol, or insignia falsely representing association with, or authorization by, the International Olympic Committee or the United States Olympic Committee;

    (iv)  the words “Olympic,” “Olympiad,” “Citius Altius Fortius”; or

    (v)  any combination or simulation of any item referenced in Subsections (1)(g)(i) through (iv) that:

    (A)  causes confusion or mistake;

    (B)  deceives; or

    (C)  falsely suggests a connection with:

    (I)  the International Olympic Committee;

    (II)  the United States Olympic Committee; or

    (III)  any Olympic activity.
  • (2) 

    (a)  Any actual use of an item under Subsection (1)(g)(ii) or the words or any combination of the words under Subsection (1)(g)(iv), for any lawful purpose prior to September 21, 1950, is not prohibited by this section and may be continued for the same purpose and for the same goods or services.

    (b)  Any actual use of any other trademark, trade name, sign, symbol, or insignia under Subsections (1)(g)(iii) and (iv) for any lawful purpose prior to September 21, 1950, is not prohibited by this section and may be continued for the same purpose and for the same goods or services.

    (3) 

    (a)  Subsections (1)(e)(i)(A) through (1)(e)(i)(C) do not prevent the registration of a mark used by the applicant that has become distinctive of the applicant’s goods or services.

    (b)  For purposes of Subsection (3)(a), the division may accept as evidence that the mark has become distinctive as used on or in connection with the applicant’s goods or services, proof of continuous use of the mark as a mark by the applicant in this state for the five years before the date when the claim of distinctiveness is made.

    Enacted by Chapter 318, 2002 General Session