Cap. 417 Art. 74Groundsforrefusal of a registration.

A design shall be refused registration:

(a) if the design does not fall within the definition of a design in article 63;

(b) if it consists of or is significantly made up of the national flag of Malta;

(c) if it contains a representation of the national flag of Malta and it appears to the Comptroller to be misleading or offensive;

(d) if it consists of or contains:

(i) the arms, or any of the principal armorial bearings of the arms appertaining to the President or to the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta, or any insignia or device so nearly resembling such arms or any such armorial bearing as to be likely to be mistaken for them or it,

(ii) a representation of the Presidential or Episcopal flags,

(iii) a representation of the President or the Archbishop, or any colourable imitation thereof, or

(iv) words, letters or devices likely to lead persons to think that the applicant either has or recently has had Presidential or Episcopal patronage or authorisation, unless it appears to the Comptroller that consent has been given by or on behalf of the President or the Archbishop;

(e) if it is contrary to public policy or accepted principles of morality; or

(f) if the applicant for the right in a registered design is not entitled to it under Maltese law.