Legal Definitions - arbitrary name

An arbitrary name refers to a word or phrase used as a trademark that has no logical or descriptive connection to the goods or services it represents. These names are typically common words that are completely unrelated to the product or service, making them very strong trademarks because consumers are unlikely to associate that word with anything else in that particular industry.

Here are some examples illustrating an arbitrary name:

• Imagine a company that sells high-performance running shoes decides to name its brand "Elephant." The word "elephant" refers to a large land animal and has no inherent connection to athletic footwear, speed, or comfort. Because the name is completely unrelated to the product, it is considered arbitrary. This allows the company to build a unique brand identity around the name "Elephant" for shoes, without consumers confusing it with other shoe brands or with actual elephants.

• Consider a new chain of coffee shops that chooses the name "Comet Coffee." A "comet" is a celestial body, which has no direct or descriptive link to coffee beans, brewing processes, or the experience of drinking coffee. The choice of "Comet" is arbitrary because it doesn't describe the product or service in any way. This distinct, non-descriptive name helps the coffee shop stand out and build a unique brand association in the minds of its customers.

• Suppose a software company develops a new project management tool and names it "Pineapple." A "pineapple" is a tropical fruit, and this word has no inherent meaning or descriptive quality related to software, project management, task organization, or collaboration. The name is arbitrary because it's a common word used in a context entirely unrelated to its original meaning. This helps the software company create a memorable and legally strong brand identity that is distinct from other software products.