The Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR), now called CFA Institute of Charlottesville, Virginia, US, has been refused registration of collective trademark of `chartered financial analyst' in class 36 in the UK.

The outcome is based on a recent application filed by the Chartered Insurance Institute of the UK opposing registration by AIMR of the `chartered financial analyst' (CFA) mark.

The trademark authority of UK had disallowed AIMR the use of the term CFA as it would mislead the public into believing that the mark was approved or regulated by a professional body established by the Royal Charter and or had enjoyed the endorsement of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Under international classification of goods and services for trademarks, class 36 is applicable to services in insurance, financial, monetary and real estate affairs, among others.

The class does not include services such as accountancy, which is class 35.

The decision of the trademark authority bars members of AIMR to use the designation `chartered financial analyst' in the UK. A collective trademark is indicative of membership of an organisation, which is involved in offering services in the corresponding class.

Trademark application of AIMR under class 36 to use the words `chartered financial analyst' are still pending in several other countries, including Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and India.