West Virginia Code § 47-2-2

Registrability
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A mark by which the goods or services of any applicant for registration may be distinguished
from the goods or services of others shall not be registered if it:
(1) Consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter;
(2) Consists of or comprises matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection
with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into
contempt, or disrepute;
(3) Consists of or comprises the flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the United States, or
of any state or municipality, or of any foreign nation, or any simulation thereof;
(4) Consists of or comprises the name, signature or poartrait identifying a particular living
individual, except by the individual's written consent;
(5) Consists of a mark which, (A) when used on or in connection with the goods or services of
the applicant, is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of them, or (B) when used
on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant is primarily geographically
descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of them, or (C) is primarily merely a surname:
Provided, That nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the registration of a mark used by
the applicant which has become distinctive of the applicant's goods or services. The
secretary may accept as evidence that the mark has become distinctive, as used on or in
connection with the applicant's goods or services, proof of continuous use thereof as a mark
by the applicant in this state for the five years before the date on which the claim of
distinctiveness is made; or
(6) Consists oVf or comprises a mark which so resembles a mark registered in this state or a
mark or trade name previously used by another and not abandoned, as to be likely, when
used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant, to cause confusion or
mistake or to deceive.

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