The Lanham Act, the federal law governing trademarks, specifically prohibits the registration of trademarks that fall into a number of categories. For example, Section 2(e) lists the following types of marks that are precluded from registration: Marks that are merely descriptive of the goods or services offered under the marks;The Lanham Act, the federal law governing trademarks, specifically prohibits the registration of trademarks that fall into a number of categories. For example, Section 2(e) lists the following types of marks that are precluded from registration: Marks that are merely descriptive of the goods or services offered under the marks;