The Textile and Wool Labeling Acts - Fiber Content Disclosure - Fiber Trademarks

Fiber Trademarks on Labels

Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, the Wool Products Labeling Act, and their accompanying rules, a fiber trademark may be used on a fiber content label as long as it appears immediately next to the generic fiber name. The type or lettering of the trademark name and the generic name must be equally conspicuous and of the same size. Whenever a fiber trademark appears on any label or tag, a complete fiber content disclosure must be made the first time the trademark is used.

If the trademark does not appear in the fiber content disclosure, but appears elsewhere on the label, the generic name of the fiber must appear together with the trademark the first time the trademark is used.

Fiber trademarks or generic names appearing on non-required labels or tags must not be false, deceptive, or misleading. For example, a fiber trademark must not be used to indicate or imply that a product is made completely of a certain fiber when it is not.

Fiber Trademarks in Advertising

If a fiber trademark is used in advertising, including advertising on the Internet, the fiber content must be disclosed at least once in the ad. The percentages do not have to be included. However,

* if the advertised product contains more than one fiber, other than ornamentation, the content disclosure must include the fiber trademark and the generic name of the fiber immediately next to each other in lettering of equal size and conspicuousness.

* if the advertised product contains only one fiber, other than ornamentation, the fiber trademark and the generic name of the fiber must appear immediately next to each other at least once in the ad in lettering that is legible and conspicuous.

The generic name cannot be placed in a footnote or elsewhere in the ad, signaled by an asterisk. Fiber trademarks used elsewhere in ads must not give a false, deceptive, or misleading message about content, such as implying that the product is made completely of a certain fiber when it is not.

Copyright 2011 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.