What is a suggestive trademark?

A suggestive trademark is defined as one that requires a degree of imagination, thought, or perception to connect it with the product's characteristics. This type of trademark does not directly describe the goods or services but rather hints or suggests a certain quality or feature, leading consumers to associate the trademark with the product in question.

For example, a term like "Coppertone" for sunscreen is suggestive; it doesn't explicitly describe sunscreen but evokes imagery related to tanning and sun protection, prompting consumers to think of its qualities without being too literal.

This ability to suggest a connection without directly conveying all the product's features is what differentiates suggestive trademarks from descriptive ones, which directly describe the goods and can be harder to protect. Additionally, suggestive trademarks are eligible for trademark protection, unlike generic terms that cannot be trademarked at all.

In contrast, other options describe different types of trademarks or terms. A fully descriptive trademark gives straightforward information about the product, which does not have the required level of imagination associated with suggestive trademarks. Common terms are generally not eligible for trademark protection due to their widespread use, while a certification mark relates to the quality or characteristics of goods rather than functioning as a source identifier like a suggestive trademark does.