Part IRegistered trade marks
Grounds for refusal of registration
4Specially protected emblems
1
A trade mark which consists of or contains—
a
the Royal arms, or any of the principal armorial bearings of the Royal arms, or any insignia or device so nearly resembling the Royal arms or any such armorial bearing as to be likely to be mistaken for them or it,
b
a representation of the Royal crown or any of the Royal flags,
c
a representation of Her Majesty or any member of the Royal family, or any colourable imitation thereof, or
d
words, letters or devices likely to lead persons to think that the applicant either has or recently has had Royal patronage or authorisation,
shall not be registered unless it appears to the registrar that consent has been given by or on behalf of Her Majesty or, as the case may be, the relevant member of the Royal family.
2
A trade mark which consists of or contains a representation of—
a
the national flag of the United Kingdom (commonly known as the Union Jack), or
b
the flag of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man,
shall not be registered if it appears to the registrar that the use of the trade mark would be misleading or grossly offensive.
Provision may be made by rules identifying the flags to which paragraph (b) applies.
3
A trade mark shall not be registered in the cases specified in—
section 57 (national emblems, &c. of Convention countries), or
section 58 (emblems, &c. of certain international organisations).
4
Provision may be made by rules prohibiting in such cases as may be prescribed the registration of a trade mark which consists of or contains—
a
arms to which a person is entitled by virtue of a grant of arms by the Crown, or
b
insignia so nearly resembling such arms as to be likely to be mistaken for them,
unless it appears to the registrar that consent has been given by or on behalf of that person.
Where such a mark is registered, nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorising its use in any way contrary to the laws of arms.