一、Legal Texts基本法律框架

Below are the basic legal guidelines in relation to EU trade mark application (just for information and no need to remember the details)

Council Regulation (EU) No. 2015/2424 (the Amending Regulation). In force on 23 March 2016. Some provisions apply from 1 October 2017:

amends Council Regulation (EC) No. 207/2009 (which replaced 40/94) (the EU Trade Mark Regulation) ? amends Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2868/95 (the Implementing Regulation) repealed Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2869/95 (the Fees Regulation). Schedule of fees now in Annex 1 to 207/2009 ? New Trade Mark Directive (EU) 2015/2436. Member states have until January 2019/January 2023 to further harmonise national TM laws. Recasts Directive (EC) 2008/95, repealed in January 2019.

二、Ownership according to Art 5. Of EUTM 欧盟商标所有权

1. Main application申请主体：

Any natural or legal person or an entity i.e. company formed under public law 可以是个人或者公司企业。

2.Language Regime申请所使用的语言:

①24 official languages of European Community 24 种欧盟语言 ；

②Five Languages of the Office – Spanish, English, French, German and Italian

5种官方语言:西班牙语, 英语,法语,德语, 义大利；

May file in any official language 可以用以上任何一种提交申请。

三、Application information申请资料:

Essential filing information required for Filing Date to be accorded (Article 26(1) EUTMR): 根据欧盟商标法 26 章第一款,下列信息提交申请时不可缺失：

1.request for registration 注册要求；

2.information identifying applicant (name, address, nationality) :申请人的身份,地址,国籍等自然信息；

3.list of goods/services for which registration sought所申请的产品或者服务类别； 4.representation of mark 所申请的商标标样。

提醒△

①Failure to file any of the essential information,Two months to rectify defect没有提交申请所必须的信息 ,限期 2 个月内改正；

②Date essential information supplied to EUIPO = Filing Date: 所有必须信息提交完整的那一天才是正式申请受理日期。

③but have two months to rectify defect. Otherwise application lapses or for,

deficiencies relating to priority or seniority, priority or seniority claim will be rejected 限期 2 个月内修正任何不足,否则申请会当作放弃处理, 或者相关的优先申请权利会被拒绝采纳受理。

四、Summary of Application Procedure: 欧盟商标申请程序

1.Filing Application/提交申请 ；

2.Formalities and Classification Check手续和分类检查；

提醒△

mainly if the trade mark name is descriptive or not or any deficiency may lead to absolute ground rejection 以上没有问题了, 商标局会就商标本身的合法性及所申请的产品服务类别进行审查。

3.Searches 根据现有注册商标检索比对；

4.Substantive Examination 进一步量化分析审查；

5.Publicatio以上没有问题则予公示；

6.Registration 公示没有反对给予注册。

7.Application fees申请费用: basic fee for application in 1 class: 750$ (八戒涉外代理)；

8.Rights Priority‐can only be claimed on filing. 优先权只能在提交申请时一并要求, 不可以过后补交申请优先权.

9.Seniority‐ claim on filing or within 2 months of filing date 高级权利可以在申请时提交也可以提交 2 个月后补申.

△注意Fast track services (4‐5months if not opposed)/满足下列条件的申请可以通过快速通道注册 (4‐5 个月注册成功):

①use of 5‐step form 使用在线申请 5 步表格

②mark must be word, figurative, 3‐D or sound mark 仅限于文字,图形, 3D 和 声音标的 ?

③no description of mark 标识不需要额外描述

④all goods/services must be selected from database of terms accepted by EUIPO

使用欧盟商标局现有的产品及服务划分类别

⑤no request for EUIPO or national searches 不需要检索服务

⑥no priority or seniority claim or, if claimed, details of relevant marks must be

imported from TMView during application process or certificates provided on filin没有申请优先或者高级权利. 如果需要, 那这个优先权必须是通过欧盟TMVIEW 资料库直接可以引用的标的才可以.

⑦fees paid on filing 申请同时缴付官费

五、Classification Check 分类检查

1.Only terms not in EUIPOs database of accepted terms are examined

只有欧盟资料库中没有的产品分类需要审查

注意△Examiner notifies applicant if there is a deficiency e.g.通常会产生下列两种错误

①terms within specification not considered sufficiently clear and precise to

enable scope of protection to be determined 所申请的产品及服务类别描述不准确清楚

②terms classified in wrong class 产品被划分在错误的尼斯分类

2.Applicant set deadline of two months in which to overcome objections 申请人有 2个月改错

3.If deficiencies not remedied, application may be refused in whole or in part

如果限期没有改正, 申请会被全部或者部分拒绝

六、Publication & Opposition 公示与异议

1.European Union Trade Marks Bulletin 欧盟商标公告

Three month period from date of publication for filing oppositions

Observations by third parties 公告后 3 个月内无人反对给予注册

EUIPO can refuse registration on absolute grounds as a result of third party observations 如果有第三方要求以绝对条款反对, 欧盟商标局会拒绝注册该商标.

2.Opposition Proceedings 反对流程

Relative grounds set out in Article 8 EUTM Regulation 根据相对条款阐述反对的依 据

Filed by proprietors of earlier rights, and also authorised licensees in respect of

rights under Articles 8(1) and 8(5) and persons authorised to exercise rights under Articles 8(4) and 8(4a) 根据欧盟商标法第 8 章第一, 五款规定的前商标持有人或者商标许可证持有者或者根据第八章第 4 和 4a 款规定的具有对前商标行使权利的人都可以提出反对

注意△Qualifying Rights可以依据以下权利提出反对申请人的申请

An earlier right having effect throughout EU or in any EU member state 在欧盟范围或者某一欧盟成员国内依据下列提出反对:

①earlier trade marks 早期申请注册商标

②EUTMs 欧盟注册商标

③national registrations in member state or Benelux registrations 欧盟成员国注册商标

④international registrations designating EU, Benelux or member state 国际注册商标但是要已经指定欧盟, 比利时, 卢森堡,荷兰或者欧盟成员国的.

⑤applications for TMs referred to above 根据以上提出过申请的

⑥well‐known marks 驰名商标

⑦Unregistered trade marks or signs used in the course of trade of more than

mere local significance 没有注册的商标但是可以证明是驰名商标的也可以 (这个驰名不可以只是某一地区性, 要是至少国家范围内的).

⑧Protected designations of origin or geographical indications (new Article 8(4a)

EUTMR). In simple word, only the genuine origin applicant can claim the origin right. 受原产地权益保护的,比如产自波尔多的葡萄球, 产自其它地区的葡萄酒不可以自称自己来自波尔多.

3.Oppositions: 反对要满足下列条件

①Identify opposed EUTM and relevant goods/service 指明反对的商标及产品

②Opponent and earlier rights being relied upon 反对人身份及期早期权益

③Grounds of opposition 反对法律依据

④Details and representations of earlier rights (including unregistered rights)详细的早期权益包括未注册的商标

⑤Relevant goods and services covered by earlier right 早期权益所涵盖的产品类别

⑥If relying on well‐known mark, identify where well‐known 驰名商标要指明区域

⑦If earlier registered mark has reputation, where reputation exist 如果驰名, 要产品 如何为何驰名

EUIPO will review opposition for admissibility 欧盟商标局要对反对进行判定, 满足反对 条件的反对才会受理.

4.Support of Oppositions 支持反对

Opponent can provide its facts, evidence and arguments with Notice of Opposition or later in the proceedings. These include: 反对可以在提出反对时或者提出反对后 提出下列支持证据进行反对

①evidence of registration or application for the earlier mark, except EUTMs

注册证明, 如果是欧盟注册的商标不需要提供因为其资料库已经有记录

②evidence of well‐known marks reputation and where

驰名商标的驰名地点和依据

③evidence of registered mark with reputation – its reputation and where, and

evidence of how the opposed mark would take unfair advantage 已经注册并且是驰名商标要证明为什么后来申请的商标会借力于它.

④particulars and evidence relating to other earlier rights

任何其它早期权利

注意△

issues of national law that parties have to prove e.g. right to rely on『passing

off』in UK 欧盟各个成员国的商标法会有不同.比如英国会对假冒商标有具体的相关法律规定. Once opposition admitted, EUIPO sends letter to parties setting out opposition timetable and evidence required 一旦反对被受理, 欧盟商标局会通知双方反对的时间表名要求提供进一步证据.

5.Cooling Off Period 冷却期

①Initially two months – can extend at signed request of both parties 开始 2 个月

②Automatic extension of 22 months but either party may terminate early 可以最多延期22 个月, 但是可以单方终止

Aim to give parties an opportunity to try to reach a negotiated settlement 目的是给正反两方达成和解的期限 (最关键是这个期限内如果和解就不会给双方带来额外的经济负担).

If proceedings closed in cooling-off period due to a withdrawal of application, or

withdrawal of opposition following restriction of goods/services covered by application, opposition fee refunded 如果在此期间, 申请方撤销申请或者限制所申请的产品范围, 则反对方的官费会退换给反对人.

③Cooling‐off period expires/terminated, adversarial stage of proceedings

begins冷却期过后, 申请会依据情况过期, 终止, 或者进入反对审判程序.

6.Evidence 证据

①Opponent has two months (extendable) to file facts, evidence and arguments in

support of opposition: 反对人有至少2个月时间提交事实, 证据, 辩护来支持自己这方的反对意见.

②Applicant then has two months (extendable) to file facts, evidence and

arguments in reply: 申请人有两个月时间 (可以延期)为自己辩护.

? includes any proof of use request 比如使用证明

? where proof of use requested observations may be submitted later 辩词

③Office can allow further rounds of evidence, including proof of use by the

Opponent 商标局会允许正反两方进一步提供证据和辩词

Proof of use of earlier trade mark

?evidence of place, time, extent and nature of use for goods/ services for which earlier mark registered and upon which opposition is based.

? need for translations ? effect of failure to provide proof of use

反对人要提出早期注册的商标及使用证明. 如果反对人拿不出过去 5 年内的使用证明会导致自己的商标被申请人以不使用原则要求注销. 但是很少有反对方犯这种低级错误的.

Appeal 上述，关于欧盟商标注册事宜，可咨询八戒涉外。

实际申请进入到上述程序的案例非常少. 如果发生会有大致下列步骤发生, 整个申请没有个 3 年 5 载恐怕不会有定论.即使有了定论还可以继续去高法, 基本上是跨国公司烧钱的游戏.

①Board of Appeal ②Notice + Statement of Grounds ③Revision ④Examination ⑤Decision ⑥ Further Appeal General Court (formerly CFI)

本文特邀：八戒涉外欧盟知识产权律师 Lewis Liu 分享

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