Common Trademark Naming Mistakes for SMEs!

When helping SMEs register trademarks, Lao Yang (Putui IP) frequently encounters these naming pitfalls:

⚠️ Mistake 1: Ignoring Visually Similar Characters
Assuming “slightly different” names avoid conflict is risky.
Examples:

Sprite vs. Rayprite (雪碧 vs. 雷碧)

Wusu Beer vs. Niaosu Beer (乌苏 vs. 鸟苏)
Names with minimal visual/meaning differences risk rejection or opposition—even if initially approved.

⚠️ Mistake 2: Ineffective Word Addition
While 4-character names reduce conflicts, adding generic/descriptive terms defeats the purpose:

❌ “FreshPure Water” (if Pure is generic)

❌ “FastClean Detergent” (if Clean describes function)
Such additions rarely strengthen distinctiveness.

⚠️ Mistake 3: Overusing Efficacy Claims
Names implying exaggerated effects (e.g., “SuperGrow Fertilizer”) face strict scrutiny:

May be rejected unless highly distinctive and free of prior conflicts.

Recent trends show tighter enforcement (e.g., names like “OneBigSolution” 一颗大 often rejected).

(Note: Culturally adapted examples (e.g., Coca-Cola → Sprite); “功效词” translated as “efficacy claims”; retained all critical warnings without added content.)