# TMEP § 1205.01(d)(ii): Other Refusals

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1205.01(d)(ii)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 1205.01(d)(ii)
- **Heading:** Other Refusals
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 1200 - Substantive Examination of Applications / TMEP § 1205.01(d)(ii)

## Text

If a mark containing matter that would be
perceived as the Swiss coat of arms or Swiss flag also includes other Swiss
indicia, such as the wording "Switzerland" or "Swiss," or foreign
equivalents, the examining attorney should consider whether the primary
significance of the mark as a whole is geographic. If so, a refusal under
Trademark Act §2(e)(2) (geographically descriptive) or §2(a)/§2(e)(3)
(geographically deceptive/primarily geographically deceptively
misdescriptive) may be appropriate, in addition to a refusal under §2(b).
For detailed information regarding the examination procedures relating to
geographic refusals, see
TMEP
§§1210-1210.07(b)
.
Like the Swiss coat of arms and the Swiss
flag, the Red Cross features an upright equilateral cross and the colors red
and white. However, the color scheme in the Red Cross is reversed,
displaying the cross in red and the background in white. The Red Cross is
also protected by federal statute, and marks containing this matter may be
subject to refusals under Trademark Act §§1 and 45 (not in lawful use) and
§2(a) (false suggestion of a connection with the American National Red
Cross).
See
18 U.S.C. §706
.  If the mark contains an equilateral
cross, but the application does not provide a clear indication of the colors
that appear in the mark, examining attorneys should consider whether a
refusal on the basis that the mark appears to contain the Red Cross may be
appropriate. For additional information, see
TMEP §1205.01
.
Refusals for failure to function as a
trademark or service mark,
15
U.S.C. §§1051
,
1052
,
1053
,
1127
(
see also
TMEP
§§1202
,
1301.02(a)
), or for likelihood of confusion,
15 U.S.C. §1052(d)
,  may also apply
to these marks.

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 1201 Ownership of Mark](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.01 Claim of Ownership May Be Based on Use By Related Companies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(a) Identifying the Applicant Properly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(c) Correcting Errors in How the Applicant Is Identified](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(c).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(d) Operating Divisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(d).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(e) Changes in Ownership After Application Is Filed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(e).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(a) No Explanation of Use of Mark by Related Companies or Applicant’s Control Over Use of Mark by Related Companies Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(b) Wholly Owned Related Companies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(b).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(c) Common Stockholders, Directors, or Officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(c).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(e) License and Franchise Situations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(e).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.04 Inquiry Regarding Parties Named on Specimens or Elsewhere in Record](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.04.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.05 Acceptable Claim of Ownership Based on Applicant’s Own Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.05.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.06(a) Applicant Is Merely Distributor or Importer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.06(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.06(b) Goods Manufactured in a Country Other than Where Applicant Is Located](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.06(b).md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1205.01(d)(ii). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.