trade-marks act
DESCRIPTION
Trade-marks Act. Comparison. Registration Registration is a pre-requisite to protection under the Trade-marks Act No registration required for passing off. Comparison. Reputation/use It is not necessary to establish reputation under the Act - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Trade-marks Act
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Comparison Registration
Registration is a pre-requisite to protection under the Trade-marks Act
No registration required for passing off
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Comparison Reputation/use
It is not necessary to establish reputation under the Act
It is necessary to show use or intended use to obtain registration
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Comparison Confusion
Essentially the same in both passing off and under the Act
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Comparison Damage as an element
Damage is not an element of the infringement action under the Act
Although it is still necessary to show damages to obtain the remedy
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Comparison Geographic scope
Reputation may be geographically localized under passing off
Eg Another sports store named “Radical Edge” could not open in F’ton, but it could in Vancouver
Trade-mark is effective nation-wide under the Act
Local use may support registration
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Comparison Trade-mark Act has section
prohibiting “depreciation of goodwill” (s.22 which has no common law counter-part)
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Overview of the Act
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What is a trade-mark? What is a trade-mark?
a mark that is used by a person for the purpose of distinguishing or so as to distinguish wares or services manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by him from those manufactured, sold, leased, hired or performed by others,
“so as to” – in fact “for the purpose of” – intent
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What is a trade-mark? Also
“distinguishing guise” – as above but shape or mode of packaging instead of “mark”
Like “get-up” in passing off
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Distinctiveness "distinctive", in relation to a trade-
mark, means a trade-mark that actually distinguishes the wares or services in association with which it is used by its owner from the wares or services of others or is adapted so to distinguish them;
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Distinctiveness Note that distinctiveness is not part
of the definition of the mark A mark which is intended to distinguish
is a mark even though it does not distinguish in fact; eg “Shredded Wheat’
Lack of distinctiveness in fact Is not a ground for refusal of
registration by the Registrar – why not? Is a ground for invalidity or opposition
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Prohibited Marks Some marks are protected without
registration “Official marks”: s.9
National flags, Red Cross Geographical indications for wines &
spirits S. 11.14, 11.15 But generic descriptions eg
“Champagne” are neither protected nor registrable
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Registration Required Protection under the Act is not
automatic A mark must be registered under the
Act in order to receive protection under the Act
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Registration Process Application is made Registrar examines mark and may
reject on certain grounds Registrar advertises mark and gives
interested third parties an opportunity to object Normally parties with a confusing
registered or unregistered mark
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Invalidity The validity of a mark may be
challenged even after registration
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Invalidity 18 (1) The registration of a trade-mark is
invalid if (a) the trade-mark was not registrable
at the date of registration, (b) the trade-mark is not distinctive at
the time proceedings bringing the validity of the registration into question are commenced, or
(c) the trade-mark has been abandoned, and subject to section 17, it is invalid if
the applicant for registration was not the person entitled to secure the registration
Note the difference in the relevant dates
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Effect of Registration S16(1) [An applicant who has
satisfied use requirements] in association with wares or services is entitled . . . to secure its registration in respect of those wares or services,
A trade-mark is registered in respect of specific wares and services only that he. . . has used in Canada or made
known in Canada in association with wares or services
The mark must have been used in association with those wares or serves
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Words and Designs A trade-mark may consist of words
alone or words in conjunction with a design “Molson Export” TMA516835
“Brewed alcoholic beverages namely, beer” “Export” application 0545048 by
Molson refused “Export” and design TMA159081
Disclaimer: “The right to the exclusive use of all the reading matter except the word MOLSON'S is disclaimed apart from the trade mark”
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Effect of Registration The right to prohibit use of the same
mark on the same wares: s19 No requirement to show confusion Not commonly litigated
The right to prohibit use of a confusing mark or name: s20 Commonly litigated Need not be the same mark or the same
wares
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Effect of Registration The right to prohibit uses which
might “depreciate the goodwill” of the mark: s22 Controversial and rarely used
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Term Trade-mark registration is effective
for 15 years, renewable indefinitely on payment of the prescribed fee: s.46
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Formalities ®
US law only – no damages without actual notice of registration unless this symbol is displayed
Applies only to marks registered in the US
™ and SM No direct legal implications Indicates that the word is a mark