Trade Marks and Competition Law

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mühlendahl ◽  
Dimitris Botis ◽  
Spyros Maniatis ◽  
Imogen Wiseman
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
European Market ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Market Dominance ◽  
Competition Rules ◽  
The Common ◽  
Scope Of Protection ◽  
Article 102 Tfeu

In this chapter we will examine briefly the formal interaction between trade marks and competition law. We have seen that competition questions were raised in the previous chapter in respect of the potential function of trade mark rights as tools for compartmentalizing the common European market into national markets. We have also highlighted the competition arguments and rationale considered by the Court first in determining what constitutes a protectable trade mark and second in delineating the scope of protection. Here, the focus shifts to how trade mark rights and agreements involving trade marks are weighed up by competition law. The two primary competition rules that are described below deal with anti-​competitive collusion (Article 101 TFEU, previously Article 81 EC) and abuse of market dominance (Article 102 TFEU, previously Article 82 EC).

The Interaction with Other Areas of the Law

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mühlendahl ◽  
Dimitris Botis ◽  
Spyros Maniatis ◽  
Imogen Wiseman
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
Bad Faith ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Domain Names ◽  
The Third ◽  
Trade Mark Law ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Relationship

Competition law and the free movement of goods principles have guided the development of trade mark law in Europe. This chapter will examine other relationships. The first part considers the use of trade marks in comparative advertisements. We have seen in Chapter 7 how comparative advertising has delineated the limits of trade mark law. Here the other side of the relationship is examined. Chapter 5 considered whether a geographical name can function and be protected as a trade mark and the limits of such protection. The second part of this chapter gives a flavour of the system of protecting product designations as geographical indications of origin. The third part looks at the clash between trade marks and domain names and the catalysing role of the concept of bad faith. The fourth part is a good example of how one dispute between distinguishing signs can become the common theme of distinct plots performed before different European audiences;

13. Infringement and loss of registration of trade marks

2019 ◽  
pp. 290-319
Author(s):  
Stavroula Karapapa ◽  
Luke McDonagh
Keyword(s):  
Trade Mark ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Trade Mark Infringement ◽  
Scope Of Protection

This chapter focuses on trade mark infringement, setting out the rights of a trade mark owner to prevent others from making use of any sign which is the same as or similar to the registered mark in the course of trade. A claimant who brings a trade mark infringement action will have to show two things: that an act of infringement has been committed, and that such conduct falls within the scope of protection afforded to the registered mark. Once these two points have been established, the court will normally find in favour of the claimant unless one or more of the counter-arguments raised by the defendant succeeds. A defendant who is sued for trade mark infringement, besides denying that infringement has been made out or raising one of the statutory defences, will usually try to counterclaim that the mark should be revoked or declared invalid.

41. Trade mark defences

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bently ◽  
B. Sherman ◽  
D. Gangjee ◽  
P. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Trade Mark ◽  
Comparative Advertising ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Intended Purpose ◽  
Parallel Importation ◽  
First Sale ◽  
Own Name ◽  
Scope Of Protection

This chapter is about the various defences that are available to a person who has been accused of infringing a trade mark under the Trade Marks Act 1994. A prominent limitation on the scope of protection, which operates defensively, is whether the defendant has made a legally relevant use of the mark. Besides this, the defendant is excused if the mark has been used (i) as the defendant’s own name or address, (ii) for descriptive purposes, or (iii) to indicate the intended purpose of a product or service. These threeuses are subject to a proviso testing for whether the use has been in accordance with honest practices in industrial and commercial matters. Additional defences facilitate comparative advertising and permit parallel importation via the exhaustion of the trade mark owner’s rights upon first sale.

17. Competition law

2020 ◽  
pp. 544-582
Author(s):  
Alison Jones ◽  
Christopher Townley
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Eu Competition Law ◽  
Competition Rules ◽  
Core Competition ◽  
Position Article ◽  
Article 102 Tfeu

This chapter examines the two core competition rules that govern anti-competitive agreements (Article 101 TFEU) and abuse of a dominant position (Article 102 TFEU). It begins with an overview of EU competition law. It then discusses the enforcement and consequences of infringement; who Articles 101 and 102 TFEU apply to and when they apply. It also identifies anti-competitive agreements and conduct.

Trade Marks and Allied Rights

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dev Gangjee
Keyword(s):  
Brand Image ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
Unfair Competition ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Geographical Indications ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Passing Off ◽  
Domain Names ◽  
Detrimental Impact ◽  
Scope Of Protection

This chapter outlines the principal features of trade mark protection regimes, drawing primarily on EU and US materials to illustrate the underlying legal issues. It includes an outline of the principal allied rights; namely (i) unfair competition, (ii) passing off, (iii) publicity rights, (iv) geographical indications, and (v) domain names. The overview traces the incremental re-orientation of trade mark regimes in recent decades as they have moved beyond their traditional remit of origin-indication protection in response to claims that brand image needs to be better accommodated. In some cases, the ensuing broader scope of protection can have a detrimental impact on speech and inhibit marketplace competition.

27. Trade marks—European and international aspects

2019 ◽  
pp. 489-514
Author(s):  
Paul Torremans
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
Registration System ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Trade Mark Law ◽  
Free Movement Of Goods ◽  
International Aspects ◽  
Paris Convention ◽  
The Eu

This chapter discusses the international and European aspects of trade marks. Trade mark law is based on the Paris Convention and the TRIPS Agreement, with the Madrid system offering an international registration system. Inside the EU, one can also register a single trade mark for the whole of the Community by means of the Community Trade Mark Regulation. Trade mark law also has a substantial interaction with the Treaty provisions on the free movement of goods, but minimal conflict with competition law.

39. Revocation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bently ◽  
B. Sherman ◽  
D. Gangjee ◽  
P. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
The Public ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Common

This chapter examines revocation as a reason for removing a mark from the register and the grounds for revocation as set out in section 46 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 and Article 57 of the European Union Trade Marks Regulation. It begins by discussing the first ground on which a mark may be revoked: ‘non-use’ (the trade mark has not been used for five years following the date of completion of the registration). It considers the relevant period of non-use and proper reasons for non-use, along with the issue of rewriting the specification with respect to goods and services. The chapter then looks at the second ground for the revocation of trade marks: if the mark has become the ‘common name in the trade’ (that is, generic marks). The final reason for revocation is if the mark has been used in a way that misleads the public (that is, deception is involved).

28. Tortious protection of intellectual property rights

2019 ◽  
pp. 515-550
Author(s):  
Paul Torremans
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Property Rights ◽  
Intellectual Property Rights ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Trade Mark ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Passing Off ◽  
Trade Mark Law ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Law

This chapter discusses the ways in which the common law, in the form of the law of tort, creates rights of action. It focuses on the torts of passing off and malicious falsehood, although attention is also paid to the ways in which defamation can assist. These rights are supplementary, and complementary, to the statutory formal rights. In particular, trade mark law and passing off closely overlap, although s. 2(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 preserves passing off as a separate cause of action.

17. Competition law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Jones ◽  
Christopher Townley
Keyword(s):  
Competition Law ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Eu Competition Law ◽  
Competition Rules ◽  
Core Competition ◽  
Position Article ◽  
Article 102 Tfeu

This chapter examines the two core competition rules that govern anti-competitive agreements (Article 101 TFEU) and abuse of a dominant position (Article 102 TFEU). It begins with an overview of EU competition law. It then discusses the enforcement and consequences of infringement; who Articles 101 and 102 TFEU apply to and when they apply. It also identifies anti-competitive agreements and conduct.

Scope of Protection, Limitations, 
and Enforcement

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Mühlendahl ◽  
Dimitris Botis ◽  
Spyros Maniatis ◽  
Imogen Wiseman
Keyword(s):  
Trade Mark ◽  
Trade Marks ◽  
Trade Mark Infringement ◽  
In Transit ◽  
Scope Of Protection

This chapter explores the scope of protection and considers trade mark conflicts from the perspective of trade mark infringement and enforcement. It also considers conflicts between trade mark and other types of rights over commercial indicia. The concepts of use, confusion, and protection of trade marks with reputation together with their related tests have been developed in Chapter 5. In this chapter we revisit them from an infringement perspective where the comparisons courts have to make become more concrete, and market and factual contexts become even more relevant. Issues specific to the enforcement of the Community trade mark are considered towards at the end of this chapter together with a discussion on goods in transit.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document