Charting Limits On Trademark Rights

Trademark scholarship has focused largely on the protection of trademark rights against consumer confusion and the dilution of trademarks. Studies of limitations on trademark rights, meanwhile, have remained relatively peripheral, especially in jurisdictions outside of the United States. However, this reality is incongruous with the importance of the limitations, such as descriptive and nominative uses, in promoting freedom of commerce, market competition, free speech, and cultural dynamics. Against this backdrop, Charting Limitations on Trademark Rights is the first comprehensive academic volume detailing limitations in trademark rights from both theoretical and comparative perspectives. The book presents new theoretical perspectives to justify trademark rights limitations, re-examines the nature of these limitations, delineates the scope of the limitations, and offers comparative studies of the limitations. With contributions from leading trademark scholars in the EU, US, and Asia, this is a must read for scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers with an interest in the theories, policies, and doctrines of trademark law.

Trademark scholarship has focused largely on the protection of trademark rights against consumer confusion and the dilution of trademarks. Studies of limitations on trademark rights, meanwhile, have remained relatively peripheral, especially in jurisdictions outside of the United States. However, this reality is incongruous with the importance of the limitations, such as descriptive and nominative uses, in promoting freedom of commerce, market competition, free speech, and cultural dynamics. Against this backdrop, Charting Limitations on Trademark Rights is the first comprehensive academic volume detailing limitations in trademark rights from both theoretical and comparative perspectives. The book presents new theoretical perspectives to justify trademark rights limitations, re-examines the nature of these limitations, delineates the scope of the limitations, and offers comparative studies of the limitations. With contributions from leading trademark scholars in the EU, US, and Asia, this is a must read for scholars, students, practitioners, and policymakers with an interest in the theories, policies, and doctrines of trademark law.

This book addresses the issue of trademark use that may be required for the protection and/or maintenance of trademark rights. Since the first edition of this book in 2018, there have been significant modifications in some countries, particularly, following the implementation of EU Directive 2015/2436 in the EU countries. Laws around the world do not attach the same consequence to the lack of use of a trademark, and courts do not always assess in the same way whether a trademark is genuinely used. This is a fundamental issue for trademark owners since, depending on the jurisdiction, lack of genuine use can lead to the refusal of trademark registration, the revocation of trademark rights, or prevent the owner of a non-used trademark from initiating an action based on its trademark. This detailed analysis provides clarity, insight, and guidance on the legal issues and practical implications of genuine use of trademarks in twenty-six jurisdictions worldwide. This book was developed within the framework of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), a non-affiliated, non-profit organization dedicated to improving and promoting the protection of intellectual property at both national and international levels. This topic was the subject of an AIPPI study, and its subsequent Resolution – The Requirements of Genuine Use of Trademarks for Maintaining Protection (2011, Hyderabad) – which aims to harmonize this issue of genuine use of trademarks. The authors of the chapters for each jurisdiction were carefully selected based on their extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of trademark protection in their respective jurisdictions. Each chapter considers issues and topics such as the following: types of use that qualify as genuine use of a trademark, including requirements as to whether uses are consistent with the function of the trademark or made in the course of trade; requirements as to the volume, duration, and frequency of use; impact of the trademark’s designation of goods and services; issues relating to the sign used, particularly, if it is used in a different form from the registered trademark (this includes consideration of alteration of the distinctive character, or the potential impact of a plurality of registered trademarks for different signs, or the question of use in black and white or in colour); proof to be provided to evidence genuine use as a trademark, including issues of timing and territory; situations in which the issue of genuine use can be of importance; valid reasons for non-use; consequences of lack of use depending on the context, including possible revocation of trademark rights; and case law examples. As a comparative law study and a collection of contributions from around the world on a key issue of trademark law, this book is of tremendous practical interest. Trademark owners, parties involved in or contemplating enforcement proceedings, and interested legal practitioners will benefit greatly from its thorough comparative analysis and guidance. It is also exceptionally valuable as a comprehensive resource for academics and researchers interested in the international harmonization of trademark law.

This is the first practical treatise of its kind to approach trademark law from a fully integrated legal and business perspective. It walks you through the major areas of trademark practice: Selecting and adopting trademarks Perfecting, exploiting, and maintaining trademark rights Asserting and defending against trademark claims Business issues in trademark ownership You'll find clear, concise explanations and illustrative case examples to help you take a course of action in the full range of business scenarios. This book covers every key area, including: Trademark selection and adoption Trademark registration Trade dress Conducting due diligence Fair use of the trademarks of others Enforcement letters and more

The contributors explore how the rise of international trade and globalization has changed the way trademark law functions in a number of important areas, including protection of well-known marks, parallel imports, enforcement of trademark rights again

. . . the book differs from the norm in addressing issues not conventionally found in the more standard trade mark works and in dealing with the subject not in the traditional textbook manner but in a series of contributions from a panel of distinguished international experts. . . While there will always be a need for the detailed and comprehensive academic and practitioner tomes, books such as this give the reader access to the cutting-edge minds of a number of leading experts in their fields. Books of this nature encourage the reader to question and challenge the current status of the law the only way law can evolve. In both its structure and its content this book is highly commended. Colin R. Davies, European Intellectual Property Review Trade Marks at the Limit is a collection of current, informed and original essays on different aspects of a topic that unites trade mark owners, practitioners and potential infringers alike the fine borderline that separates permitted use of another business s trade mark from a use that constitutes trade mark infringement. This important and groundbreaking book first examines the international legal framework for regulating unauthorised use of the trade marks of others. Then writers from both sides of the Atlantic and from Australia look at the practical problems and conceptual issues that the courts face in striking a balance between the needs of trade mark owners, their competitors, businesses that provide downstream services, and also consumers. The authors address industry specific issues involving the financial services sector and consumer goods as well as problems raised by comparative advertising, the need to protect free speech, the problems faced when dealing with non-traditional trade marks and the special case of multilingual jurisdictions. Authored by leading legal practitioners and consultants in related sectors, Trade Marks at the Limit is the first book to bring these issues together under the banner of permitted but unauthorised trade mark use.

Written by a team of international experts, marshalled by one of the world’s foremost trademark lawyers, Trademark Dilution and Free Riding is the leading comparative work on trademark dilution. This book is a must-have resource for trademark professionals worldwide, and will also stand as a valuable reference point for intellectual property scholars.

This discerning and detailed Research Handbook examines the law of trademarks, unfair competition, and dilution from a variety of law and economics perspectives. With a comprehensive exploration of trademarks and trademark law, it provides an excellent illustration of the analytical diversity that the law and economics approach can bring to legal issues.