What is a trade mark?
A means of one party distinguishing themselves from another
What does a TM provide in the business world?
Trade mark provides a product or organisation with an identity which cannot be imitated by others.
Give a common example of a trade mark.
- Mcdonalds golden arches (logo)
- Mcdonalds slogan “I’m lovin’ it”
Why was the Trade Marks Act 1994 significant?
First piece of legislation since the 1930’s to significantly extend protection to trade mark holders within UK.
How did Anthony Mosawi describe the legislation prior to 1994?
- “extremely limited” in its protection of trade marks.
- In dire need of modernisation.
What were the most significant changes of the TMA 1994?
- Made it possible for registration of any mark which was capable of graphical representation - recently updated by TMR 2018
- Extended protection to shapes, logos slogans etc.
- Addressed issues under s.3 of TMA 1938 - which required for registration to be for particular goods falling within one of the 42 international standards of goods
- Traders wishing to register goods in different classes were required to fill out numerous applications.
- 1994 Act requires only a single application therefore easier for Tm owners to register marks for different classes of goods
How has Lord Neuberger described the development of trade marks?
“From being bodyguards to being kings”
- Referencing that TM’s are not only growing in protection but also becoming brands in their own right
What did s.92 provide for?
That it is a criminal offence to sell a product which is likely to be mistaken for a registered trade mark.
Why is s.92 likely to deter any potential misuses of trade marks?
- Liable to imprisonment
What did R v Keane 2001 establish?
- That the TM holder did not have to establish that the defendant knew of the infringement as this would render s.92(5) redundant.
How did the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 increase protection for TM holders?
- If a successful prosecution was led under s.92 of TMA 1992 then TM owners could, under the POCA, apply for confiscation and recovery of any assets or profits that resulted from IP crime.
- Valuable protection for IP holders profits and reputation.
What is the criminal courts valuable protection for TM owners?
- Threat of imprisonment likely to deter any potential infringers.
- Potential for larger financial recovery than using the civil courts.
What did the Trade Mark (Relative Grounds) Order 2007 introduce?
- The removal of automatic refusal of TM application by the registry at the application stage that would potentially conflict with an earlier trade mark or right.
If a right is no longer automatically refused by the UKIPO on relative grounds, when will it be rejected?
- only at a time when the earlier applicant objects to the TM application in opposition proceedings.
What was the law prior to the Trade Marks (RG) Order 2007?
- A person applying for a TM which may have conflicted with an earlier right was objected to by the Registry.
- Application could only proceed if the applicant could overcome the objection.
What will the UKIPO do now after implementation of the Trade Marks (RG) Order 2007?
- UKIPO will notify applicant of potential conflict with earlier TM.
- Up to applicant whether to proceed.
If an applicant choose to proceed with registration of TM after notification from UKIPO of earlier TM, what will the UKIPO then do?
- Application will be publish in TM Journal.
- Simultaneously UKIPO will:
- Automatically notify earlier owners or registered UK mark, or international mark which covers UK of application
- only notify owners of international marks where the cover the EC community or are ECTM if they are signed up to notifications from the UKIPO.
What can an earlier owner of a TM do once notified by UKIPO of potentially conflicting application for registered trade mark by another party?
- Has 3 months to lodge an opposition to the application.
- If successful, the UKIPO will refuse the application
How does the Trade Marks and (Relative Grounds) Order 2007 provide more protection for trade marks?
- More protection for those wishing to register potentially conflicting TM as there is no longer automatic refusal by the UKIPO on relative grounds.
- Far greater protection for competitors as onus is on the earlier applicant to take action to prevent registration within strict time restraints.
What does the Business Protection from Misleading Market Regulations 2008 seek to prohibit?
- Misleading business to business advertising.
- Impose more restrictions on how businesses compare their products to rival goods from other companies.
If the conditions under the BPR 2008 relating to comparative advertising are not met, what will happen?
If any of these conditions are not met, the comparative advertising is prohibited even if it does not deceive anyone or alter economic behaviour.
How does the BPR 2008 extend trade mark protection?
- By preventing distortion to the reputation trade marks through misleading or comparative advertising.
What does the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 seek to achieve?
- That consumers are protected against misleading or unfair advertisements which may cause confusion between a trade marked product and a competitors product.
How does the BPR and CPUTR 2008 seek to afford more protection under trade mark law?
- Taking in to account many stakeholders interests.
- Consumers protected from potential purchases of products they associated with reputable TM
- TM owners protected from having their reputation distort by false or misleading advertisements.
