Introduction to Trademark Law

1
Introduction to Trademark Law

• Riga Graduate School of Law
• EUL C4 Intellectual Property Law
• 8 February 2008
• Ingrida Karina-Berzina, M.A., J.D.

2
Kinds of Marks

• Trademarks
• Service Marks
• Collective Marks--membership
• Certification Marks--standards
• Geographic Indicators

3
What is a Trademark?

• WIPO
• A trademark is any sign that individualizes the
  goods of a given enterprise and distinguishes
  them from the goods of its competitors.
• Indicates source
• Must distinguish

4
What is a Trademark?

• USPTO
• A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or
  design, or a combination of words, phrases,
  symbols or designs, that identifies and
  distinguishes the source of the goods of one
  party from those of others.
• Indicates source
• Must distinguish

5
What is a Trademark?

• OHIM
• A trade mark is any sign which serves in
  business to distinguish the goods and services of
  one undertaking from those of other undertakings
  and over which the owner has an exclusive right.
• Indicates source
• Must distinguish
• Must have exclusive right

6
What Can Be a Trademark

• Words and phrases
• Letters and numerals
• Devices (drawings)
• Logotypes
• 3-dimensional goods (packaging)
• Sound (U.S.)
• Smell (U.S. and EU)
• Touch

7
For What Does a Mark Indicate Origin?

• For DEFINED GOODS AND SERVICES
• Defined in trademark registration
• Cannot be added (can only be struck)
• Must be in actual use (grace period)
• Nice Convention classifications
• Goods (Classes 1-34)
• Services (Classes 35-45)
• Useful to choose pre-defined definitions

8
Examples of Trademarks

• Word Disneyland (resort)
• Phrase The Wonderful World of Disney (pyjamas,
  toothbrushes, coffee cups)
• Symbol
• Color Qualitex green-gold for commercial press
  pads (design TM)

9
Sample Trademark Record

• Word Mark BISQUICK
• Goods and Services IC 030. US 046. G S BISCUIT
  FLOUR. FIRST USE 19310716. FIRST USE IN
  COMMERCE 19310716
• Mark Drawing Code(5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR
  NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
• Serial Number71317541
• Filing DateJuly 31, 1931
• Current Filing Basis1A
• Original Filing Basis1A
• Change In RegistrationCHANGE IN REGISTRATION HAS
  OCCURRED
• Registration Number0289319
• Registration DateNovember 24, 1931
• Owner(REGISTRANT) GENERAL MILLS, INC. CORPORATION
  DELAWARE NUMBER ONE GENERAL MILLS BOULEVARD
  MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA 55426
• Type of MarkTRADEMARK
• RegisterPRINCIPAL
• Affidavit TextSECT 12C. SECT 15. SECTION 8(10-YR)
  20010915.
• Renewal2ND RENEWAL 20010915
• Live/Dead IndicatorLIVE

Source TESS Online, Feb. 2008
10
Sample Trademark Record

• Trade mark No000144287
• Type of markFigurative
• Filing date01/04/1996
• Date of registration18/11/1998
• Nice Classification1, 5, 30, 31
• StatusCTM registered
• Name of the ownerConopco Inc.Your
  reference291334
• Trade mark basisCTM

Source CTM-Online February 2008
11
Legal Framework

• Trademarks are territorially limited
• Ownership determined by use (U.S.) and
  registration (rest of world)
• Types of registrations
• National
• International (Madrid Treaty)
• Regional (e.g. Community Trademark)

12
Legal Framework

• Paris Convention of 1883 priority right
• Madrid Agreement 1891 Madrid Protocol 1989
• Nice Agreement on Classifications
• EEC Directive 89/104/EEC establishing CTM
• Council Regulations 40/94 (1993) (CTM)
• Commission Regulation 2868/95 (implementing
  40/94, definitions and procedures)
• NATIONAL LAWS

13
Scope of Rights

• Trademark registration defines goods and
  services identified by mark.
• Grants exclusive rights to mark, including right
  to assign and licenseright to exclude others
• Time-limitedregistration granted for 10 years,
  but can renew
• Limited by territory, though conventions ease
  cross-border registrations

14
Registration Process Overview

• Select mark. Conduct search for prior rights.
  Decide to register word or figure.
• Choose where to register.
• Select categories of goods and/or services.
• Prepare and submit application. Fees.
• TM office ex parte analysis (usually).
• Published for opposition (usually).
• Registration
• Maintenancemust be used, cannot be abandoned,
  remember to renew (10 years).

15
Registering a trademark

• Requirements if lacking, then absolute grounds
  of refusal in nearly every jx
• Must be capable of indicating origin (words,
  combinations, colors, sounds, 3-D marks)
• Distinctive
• Cannot be generic or descriptive
• If suggestive, then gt secondary meaning
• Acquired distinctiveness
• Secondary meaning
• Cannot be deceptive, contrary to public policy
• Profanity
• National flags, insignia, name of country, etc.

16
Grounds for Refusal

• Some countries TM offices do this analysis
• OHIM prior rights owner must initiate an
  opposition proceeding.
• PRIOR RIGHT
• Earlier CTM application or registration
• Earlier Madrid registration in EU country
• Earlier national registration in EU country
• Earlier mark in use in EU country
• Famous mark

17
Opposition vs. Cancellation

• Opposition is prior to registration
• Cancellation is after registration
• USPTO registration will fail if an owner
  asserting prior rights (registered or
  unregistered) asserts likelihood of confusion in
  an opposition proceeding. When after registration
  published gt cancellation proceeding.

18
Basis for Cancellation

• Infringement of prior rights
• Should not have been registered
• Abandonment
• Failure to monitor quality of goods (licensing)
• Actual non-use of mark in commerce
• NB cancellation can be partial (for some GS) or
  complete

19
Infringement

• Infringement possible only when right to mark has
  been established (registration and/or use in
  commerce).
• Basic theory of infringement is likelihood of
  confusion based on similarity of infringing mark
  AND GOODS.

20
A Note on Counterfeiting

• Counterfeiting when marked goods are sold
  without permission of mark owner.
• These are all counterfeits
• Exact copies (different maker)
• Knock-offs (different maker) ROLLEX
• Parallel imports (same maker)
• Enforcement involves police, border patrol

21
Trademark Litigation

• Courts
• National courts
• LV Rigas apgabaltiesa (exclusive jx)
• US Federal District Courts, Circuit Courts of
  Appeal
• EU
• OHIM Board of Appeal (opposition and
  cancellation)
• Court of First Instance (infringement trial
  court)
• European Court of Justice (infringement, appeals)

22
Remedies in Trademark Litigation

• Damages
• Actual damages
• Punitive damages (U.S.)
• Lost profits
• Cancellation of the mark
• Injunction from further marketing
• Destruction of counterfeit goods

23
Sneak Preview of Advanced Trademark Topics

• Community Trademark
• IP Licensing
• Ethics in IP
• IP Litigation

24
Conclusion and Review

• Definition of Trademark
• Legal Framework
• Registration Procedure
• Infringement and Litigation
• Advanced Topics Licensing, In-Depth CTM,
  Litigation