People can't register people

An application to register the words WHERE PEOPLE MEET PEOPLE MEET PEOPLE as a UK trade mark, for services such as hotel, bar and catering services, has failed on the basis that the mark consists of a non-distinctive slogan.

An application to register the words WHERE PEOPLE MEET PEOPLE MEET PEOPLE as a UK trade mark, for services such as hotel, bar and catering services, has failed on the basis that the mark consists of a non-distinctive slogan.

The Hearing Officer deciding the case felt that the slogan would not be perceived by a relevant consumer of such services as a trade mark without first educating the public that it is a trade mark. He applied the settled principle of law that the test for registering slogans is no different from any other type of mark. However, as he pointed out, unlike words, logos and signs, slogans are often used for advertising purposes, and as a consequence the relevant public may not so readily accept a slogan as a trade mark (i.e. as individualising the services in respect of which the slogan is used as belonging to one undertaking and one undertaking only).

In the Hearing Officer's opinion, a significant proportion of the relevant public were likely to perceive the words as a slogan "indicating that the premises where it is displayed are suitable for meeting other people" and would not see it as a trade mark indicating the services of just one undertaking (i.e. the commercial origin of the services).