Under what circustances a registration of Trade Mark can be refused?
Adv.Shine Thomas (Advocate) 12 September 2008
Under what circustances a registration of Trade Mark can be refused?
Sapna Makhija (Lawyer) 12 September 2008
Section 9 and 11 specify the grounds for refusal of a TM.
Section 9. Absolute grounds for refusal of registration.- (1) The trade marks -
(a) Which are devoid of any distinctive character, that is to say, not capable of
distinguishing the good or services of one person from those of another person.
(b) Which consist exclusively of marks or indications which may serve in trade to
designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, values, geographical origin or the
time of production f the goods or rendering of the service or other characteristics of the
goods or service.
© Which consist exclusively of marks or indications which have become customary in
the current language or in the bona fide and established practices of the trade.
Shall not be registered:
Provided that a trade mark shall not be refused registration if before the date of
application for registration it has acquired a distinctive character as a result of the use
made of it or is a well-known trade mark.
1. A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark if-
(a) it is of such nature as to deceive the public or cause confusion.
(b) It contains or comprises of any matter likely to hurt the religious susceptibilities of
any class of section of the citizens of India.
© It comprises or contains scandalous or obscene matter.
(d) Its use is prohibited under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use)
Act, 1950 (12 of 1950).
1. A mark shall not be registered as a trade mark if it consists exclusively of-
2. the shape of goods which results from the nature of the goods themselves. Or
(a) the shape of good which is necessary to obtain a technical result, or
(b) the shape which gives substantial value of the goods.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, the nature of goods or services in relation
to which the trade mark is used to proposed to be used shall not be a ground for refusal of
registration.
11. Relative grounds for refusal of registration.- (1) Save as provided in section 12,
trade mark shall not be registered if, because of- (a) its identity with an earlier trade mark
and similarly of goods or services covered by the trade mark, or
(b) its similarity to an earlier trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods of
services covered by the trade mark.
There exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public, which includes the
likelihood of association with the earlier trade mark.
(2) A trade mark which - (a) is identical with or similar to an earlier trade mark, and
(b) is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the
earlier trade mark is registered in the name of a different proprietor.
Shall not be registered if or to the extent the earlier trade mark is a well-known trade
mark in India and use of the later mark without due cause would take unfair advantage of
or be detrimental to the distinctive character or repute of the earlier trade mark.
(3) A trade mark shall not be registered if, or to the extent that, its use in India is liable to
be prevented - (a) by virtue of any law in particular the law of passing off protecting an
unregistered trade mark used in the course of trade, or
(b) by virtue of law of copyright.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the registration of a trade mark where the
proprietor of the earlier trade mark or other earlier right consents to the registration, and
in such case the Registrar may register the mark under special circumstances under
section 12.
Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, earlier trade mark means-
(a) a registered trade mark or convention application referred to in section 154 which has
a date of application earlier than that of the trade mark in question, taking account, where
appropriate, of the priorities claimed in respect of the trade marks.
(b) a trade mark which, on the date of the application for registration of the trade mark in
question, or where appropriate, of the priority claimed in respect of the application, was
entitled to protection as a well-known trade mark.
(5) A trade mark shall not be refused registration on the grounds specified in sub-section
(2) and (3), unless objection on any one or more of those grounds is raised in opposition
proceedings by the proprietor of the earlier trade mark.
(6) The Registrar shall, while determining whether a trade mark is a well-known trade
mark, take into account any fact which he considers relevant for determining a trade mark
as a well-known trade mark including - (i) the knowledge or recognition of that trade
mark in the relevant section of the public including knowledge in India obtained as a
result of promotion of the trade mark.
(ii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any use of that trade mark.
(iii) the duration, extent and geographical area of any promotion of the trade mark,
including advertising or publicity and presentation, at fairs or exhibition of the gods or
services to which the trade mark applies.
(iv) the duration and geographical area of any registration of or any publication for
registration of that trade mark under this Act to the extent they reflect the use or
recognition of the trade mark.
(v) the record of successful enforcement of the rights in that trade mark, in particular, the
extent to which the trade mark has been recognised as a well-known trade mark by any
court on Registrar under that record.
(7) The Registrar shall, while determining as to whether a trade mark is known or
recongnised in a relevant section of the public for the purposes of sub-section (6), take
into account.
(i) the number of actual or potential consumers of the goods or services.
(ii) the number of persons involved in the channels of distribution of the goods or
services.
(iii) the business circles dealing with the goods or services.
To which that trade mark applies.
(8) Where a trade mark has been determined to be well-known in at least one relevant
section of the public in India by any court or Registrar, the Registrar shall consider that
trade mark as a well-known trade mark for registration under this Act.
(9) The Registrar shall not require as a condition, for determining whether a trade mark is
a well-known trade mark, the any of the following, namely:-
(i) that the trade mark has been used in India,
(ii) that the trade mark has been registered.
(iii) that the application for registration of the trade mark has been filed in India.
(IV) that the trade mark - (a) is well known in; or
(b) has been registered in; or
© in respect of which an application for registration has been filed in, any jurisdiction
other than India; or
(v) that the trade mark is well known to the public at large in India.
(10) While considering an application for registration of a trade mark and opposition filed
in respect thereof, the Registrar shall--
(i) protect a well known trade mark against the identical or similar trade marks;
(ii) take into consideration the bad faith involved either of the applicant or the opponent
affecting the right relating to the trade mark.
(11) Where a trade mark has been registered in good faith disclosing the material
informations to the Registrar of where right to a trade mark has been acquired through
use in good faith before the commencement of this Act, then, nothing in this Act shall
prejudice the validity of the registration of the trade mark or right to use that trade mark
on the ground that such trade mark is identical with or similar to a well known trade
mark.
Hope this will suffice.
Adv.Shine Thomas (Advocate) 12 September 2008
Thanks
Senthil Kumar (Patent Consultant) 25 September 2008
In case, the mark is Non-distinctive or Deceptive, the mark will be refused.