Tennessee § 47-25-502 - Registrability.

§ 47-25-502. Registrability.

A mark by which the goods or services of any applicant for registration may be distinguished from the goods or services of others shall not be registered if it: Consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter; Consists of or comprises matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute; Consists of or comprises the flag or coat of arms, or other insignia of the United States, or of any state or municipality, or of any foreign nation, or any simulation thereof; Consists of or comprises the name, signature, or portrait identifying a particular living individual, except with that individual's written consent; Consists of a mark which: When used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant, is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of them; When used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant is primarily geographically descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of them; or Is primarily merely a surname; provided, that nothing in this subdivision (5) shall prevent the registration of a mark used by the applicant which has become distinctive of the applicant's goods or services. The secretary 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 thereof as a mark by the applicant in this state for the five (5) years before the date on which the claim of distinctiveness is made; or Consists of or comprises a mark which so resembles a mark registered in this state or a mark or trade name previously used by another and not abandoned, as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant, to cause confusion, mistake or deception. Acts 1982, ch. 698, § 3; T.C.A., §§ 69-531, 47-25-423; Acts 2000, ch. 671, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Former §§ 47-25-501 — 47-25-507 , concerning unfair practices related to household goods, were transferred to part 9 of this chapter in 1984. Attorney General Opinions. Commercial use of the state flag, OAG 95-083 (8/15/95). State agency trademark of logo including part of state flag, OAG 98-0107 (6/11/98). Cited: WHS Entertainment Ventures v. United Paperworkers Int'l Union, 997 F. Supp. 946, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3336 (M.D. Tenn. 1998).