the community trade mark seminar on trademarks and designs warsaw, 28. november 2006
DESCRIPTION
The Community Trade Mark Seminar on Trademarks and Designs Warsaw, 28. November 2006 Dr. Jörg Weberndörfer. First - OHIM: an EU Agency. Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market. -Created through Community trade mark Regulation (CTMR) -Decentralized agency of the EU - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Community Trade Mark
Seminar on Trademarks and DesignsWarsaw, 28. November 2006
Dr. Jörg Weberndörfer
First -
OHIM: an EU Agency
• - Created through Community trade mark Regulation (CTMR)
• - Decentralized agency of the EU• - Around 700 staff from soon 27 Member States• - Self-financed through fees
Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market
PO
RT
UG
AL
SPAIN
Madrid
Sevilla
Bilbao
Barcelona
Valencia
FRANCE
ALICANTEOHIM
The Seat of OHIM
• A sign that identifies and distinguishes goods and services
• Valid in the whole territory of the European Union• Has unitary character• Registered by the OHIM in accordance with the
CTM Regulation
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY TRADE MARK (CTM)?
COMMUNITY WIDE TRADE MARK PROTECTION
Since 1996: The Community trade mark
• Reduced administrative burden:– Only one Office to deal with– One single application– One legal system– One single language (out of 20 to choose)– One single file to be dealt with– One single fee system
• Obligation to use easy to be met• Uniform protection throughout the EU.
MAIN ADVANTAGES
• Czech
• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• Estonian
• Finnish
• French
• German
• Greek
• Hungarian
• English
• French
• German
• Italian
• Spanish
• Italian
• Latvian
• Lithuanian
• Maltese
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Slovak
• Slovenian
• Spanish
• Swedish
EU OHIM
LANGUAGES
• Accessible for everybody!– Anyone from any country in the world may be the
owner of a CTM. • Any applicant without a seat or real and effective
establishment within the EU needs to be represented by:– A legal practitioner– A professional representative authorised to act before
the OHIM– An employee
WHO CAN BE CTM OWNER?
Reduced fees since 22/10/2005!• Application fee
– 900 EUR incl. 3 classes of goods/services in case of paper filing
– 750 EUR incl. 3 classes of goods/services in case of e-filing
– 150 EUR for each additional class• Registration fee
– 850 EUR incl. 3 classes of goods/services – 150 EUR for each additional class
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
• Duration: – 10 years from the date of filing
• Renewal: – Every 10 years, provided that the renewal fees are
paid (indefinitely possible!)– Renewal fees:
• 1.500 EUR paper renewal• 1.350 EUR e-renewal
DURATION OF REGISTRATION
• Two conditions – Signs which distinguish the goods or services of
one enterprise from those of another– Signs which can be represented graphically,
particularly words, including personal names, designs, letters, numerals, the shape of goods or of their packaging
WHICH SIGNS MAY BE COMMUNITY TRADE MARKS?
What can be a Community Trade Mark?
WORDS (word marks)
Adidas Starbucks Whirlpool Nestlé Volkswagen
Sony Harley Davidson Philips Just Do It Orange
Siemens Lays Red Bull Java Vodafone JVC
Gatorade Coca Cola Shell Ford Apple Levis
Rolex Microsoft PepsiCo RayBan Zippo Bic
MGM Petronor Herbalife EMI Sellotape Pfeizer
What can be a Community Trade Mark?
LOGOS (figurative marks)
What can be a Community Trade Mark?
SOUNDS (sound marks)
(Sound of tennis balls being hit)
(Tarzan yell)
(Popping)
What can be a Community Trade Mark?
OTHERS ?
• Olfactory Marks (smells)
• Movement Marks
• Holograms
Though acceptable in principle, graphic representation is problematic with such marks.
Smell marks have already been ruled out by EU courts
EXAMINATION OF THE APPLICATION
Filing
Classification, Formalities examination
Search and translation
Publication
Absolute grounds examination
Opposition (inter partes proceeding)
RegistrationPartial and total refusal
10-12 months
Third parties observations
18-20 months
• “absolute grounds” relating to the sign itself– Examined ex officio for all applications– Grounds based on the interest of the consumers
• Prohibition of illicit signs (deceiving or contrary to public order and morality)
– Grounds in the sake of a free competition• Refusal of signs which are not distinctive,
descriptive or generic.
ABSOLUTE GROUNDS EXAMINATION
PUBLICATION
NOTICE OF OPPOSITION (OPPONENT)
ADMISSIBILITY EXAMINATION
NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANT
COOLING OFF PERIOD
START OF WRITTEN PROCEDURE
(observations from parties, proof of use, etc.)
EXAMINATION AND DECISION ON OPPOSITION, COSTS AND APPLICATION FOR A CTM
OPPOSITION PROCEDURE
• „Relative grounds for refusal“ = conflicts with earlier rights of third parties– Not examined ex officio by the office– Only if an opposition is lodged by the owner of the
earlier right– Delay: 3 months as from the publication of the
application
RELATIVE GROUNDS EXAMINATION (EXTRACT)
If no opposition or if opposition rejected:• CTM proceeds to Registration• Request for payment sent to
applicant/representative• Published again as registered CTM in CTM
Bulletin (Part B)• Certificate sent out
REGISTRATION
• Congratulations… You are the owner of a CTM!
• Put the CTM to use in at least one Member State (within 5 years)
• Observe the market and defend your right against subsequent conflicting applications!
AND NOW?
LINKS BETWEEN NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SYSTEMS
• National system• International system
– Trade Marks: Madrid system and/or Madrid Protocol for trade marks (Designs: Hague Agreement)
• Community systems
Or a combination of these systems
(at the free choice of the applicant)
Different ways to protect trade marks within the EU
File individual applications at each of the national TM offices ALWAYS:
Translation Costs
Lawyers Fees
Each protection title subject to the different national laws
(1) The national route
Individual fees are payable to the national TM offices
In case of problems:
Translation Costs
Lawyers fees
A home application/registration is needed
Request in EN, FR or ES - basic fee to be paid
No single unitary right is granted - ‘bundle’ of rights’
- subject to national law of each country
(2) The international route
• EU as a single territory
• 1 application, 1 file, 1 fee
• 1 unitary right
• Single legislation - interpreted by the same Courts
• publication in 20 (22) languages (translations to other 19 (21) needed)
(3) The Community route
The international Trade Mark route is based on the Madrid Agreement/Protocol: OHIM joined the Madrid Protocol on 10/2004
The international Design route is based on the Hague Agreement: It is assumed that OHIM will join it in the second half of 2007
Result: OHIM can be either the office of origin or the office of designation
Inclusion of OHIM in the international route
Filing of a CTM application
regular filing in each Member State
effect of 23 (soon 25) national applications
filed simultaneously• CTM application may impede subsequent registrations at
national /international level in the EU• National applications in the EU may impede subsequent
registrations at Community level
EQUIVALENCE COMMUNITY FILING / NATIONAL FILING
• Allows proprietors of national trade marks to group them into the CTM
Goal: Simplification of administration and reduction of costs of the trade mark portfolio
Links between national and CTM system: 1. SENIORITY
Requirement: Triple Identity of trade mark, goods/ services and owner
SENIORITY
BX: International trade mark as from 29.7.52
DK: National trade mark as from 30.3.07
DE: International trade mark as from 29.7.52
AT: International trade mark as from 29.7.52
SUCHARD
ES: International trade mark as from 29.7.52
SUCHARDCTM: 31294
Community trade mark as from 01.04.96
SENIORITY
national(s) trade mark(s) application(s)
national(s) trade mark(s) application(s)
CTM application: withdrawal or refusal
Registered CTM: Surrender, revocation, invalidity, non-renewal
Goal: Maintaining the filing/priority date of the CTM
ConversionLinks between national and CTM system: 2. CONVERSION
Art 142 (a) CTMR: 3 Rules• Automatic extension for free!• Grandfathering of CTMs• Respect of acquired rights in new Member States via
possibility of protection against the use of acquired CTMs in the national territory
THE EU ENLARGEMENT:
Legal Implications?
ALICANTE
LUXEMBOURG
APPEAL PROCEEDINGS
Trade Marks Department Admin. of TM & DesignsDepartment
Designs Department
OHIM Boards of Appeal
Court of First Instance
European Court of Justice
CTM COURTS
• Competent for infringement actions (full details Art. 92 CTMR)
• Designated by the respective countries• List of competent courts:
http://oami.eu.int/en/mark/aspects/default.htm
Accumulated CTM Applications
Total - 527,853
43,139
27,27731,629
41,294
57,380
48,90845,221
57,679 58,955
64,774
57,726
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Accumulated CTM Registrations
Total - 348,418
0 576
24,244
34,256 34,75638,529
35,885 34,305 34,434
59,737
51,277
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Oppositions Filed Against CTM Applications
Total - 106,891
0851
11,059 10,60911,500
12,879
9,802 9,94010,721
17,367
11,684
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Cancellation Applications Filed
Total - 1,938
0 019
60
114
167 160
271300
369
478
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Community Trade Marks Cancelled
Total - 910
0 0 0 0
53
93104
144 142149
263
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Top Ten CTM Filing Countries
30.7
19.45
12.54
6.98
5.28
4.62
3.61
3
2.42
1.96
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
USA
Germany
UK
Spain
Italy
Japan
France
Switzerland
Netherlands
Sweden
Percentage of CTM Application Filed Since 1996
Type of Marks Filed
61
38.19
0.54
0.03
0.04
0.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Word
Figurative
3D
Colour
Other
Sound
Percentage by Type of Mark Filed
Top Ten CTM Owners
1282
1215
1071
917
862
793
687
595
588
562
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400
The Procter & Gamble Company
Konami Kabushiki Kaisha
Deutsche Telekom AG
Mars, Incorporated
DaimlerChrysler AG
L'Oreal
Novartis AG
BASF Aktiengesellschaft
REWE-Zentral AG
Unilever N.V.
Number of CTMs Applied For
Top Ten CTM Representatives
14978
6682
6181
4782
4428
4423
4147
4169
4036
3615
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
Bureau Gevers
Marks & Clerk
Elzaburu
Boult Wade Tennant
Field Fisher Waterhouse
Lovells
Ungría López
Novagraaf Nederland B.V.
Withers & Rogers LLP
Murgitroyd & Company
Number of CTMs Applied For
Community Trade Mark Statistics
CTM Statistics for
POLAND
CTM Applications from Poland
Total - 2380
798750
557
188
20112666612050
100150200250300350400450500550600650700750800
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Registered CTMs from Poland
Total - 615
0 0 11 5
356
4
184
11622 16
0
40
80
120
160
200
240
280
320
360
400
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Type of Marks Filed by Polish Applicants
44
0
60.94
36.62
0.13
0.38
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
Word
Figurative
3D
Colour
Other
Sound
Percentage by Type of Mark Filed
Top Ten Polish Applicants
21
21
21
18
18
17
16
15
15
15
0 5 10 15 20 25
Kam is-Przypraw y S.A.
Tym bark S.A
V&S Luksusow a Zie lona Góra
Agencja Wydaw ninza ' Technopol'
ASA Sp. Z.o.o
Pzedsiêbiorstw o WiM...
Valvex S.A.
Agros Nova Sp. Z.o.o.
Tan Viet International Ltd.
Nepentes Sp. zo.o.
Num ber of CTMs Applied For
Top Ten Representatives in Poland
67
66
53
47
46
45
45
45
40
38
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Kancelaria Patentow a Piotr Jankow ski
Patent-Service Kancelaria
Weber & Sauberschw arz
Hubisz
Kancelaria Patentow a W Zajyczkow ski..
Kancelaria Patentow a Klar M irosaw
Rom uald Suszczew icz
Ostriga, Sonnet, Wirths & Roth
Loesenbeck, Stracke, Specht Dantz
Bocheñska
Num ber of CTMs Applied For
General
Information: (+ 34) 965 139 100
(+ 34) 965 131 344
Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)Avenida de Europa, 4E-03008 AlicanteSPAIN