This standard work by the reputed author comes in its Sixth Edition covering the Trade Marks Act of 1999 facilitating projection of Indian products and services to the developed countries like Europe, the U.K. and the U.S.A. with our Trade Marks & Brands which can be protected throughout the world as consumers abroad are brand conscious. Exhaustive exposition has been made of the essential features of European Law, Unfair Competition Law, Trade Dress and Geographical Indication of Goods. Latest amendments with major changes are reflected in the appropriate places in the text.
• European Law
• Unfair Competition
• Trade Dress
• Geographical Indication
Chapter Paras
1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 1.01–1.20
2 What is a Trade Mark
1. Definition of trade mark.......................................................................... 2.01–2.04
2. Function of a trade mark......................................................................... 2.05–2.06
3. Different kinds of marks......................................................................... 2.07–2.09
4. Use of a trade mark................................................................................. 2.10–2.28
5. Common law trade mark.............................................................................. 2.29
6. Certification trade mark................................................................................ 2.30
7. Property mark.............................................................................................. 2.31
8. Collective mark....................................................................................... 2.32–2.33
3 Property in Trade Mark 3.01–3.23
4 Register of Trade Marks and the Trade Marks Registry
1. Register of trade marks............................................................................ 4.01–4.07
2. Trade marks registry and branches.......................................................... 4.08–4.09
3. Organisation of the trade marks registry.................................................. 4.10–4.15
4. Inspection of documents......................................................................... 4.16–4.17
5. Certified copies and evidence.................................................................. 4.18–4.21
5 Registration of Trade Marks
Statutory provisions............................................................................................ 5.01
1. Applicant................................................................................................. 5.02–5.12
2. Application for registration...................................................................... 5.13–5.20
3. Examination and objections.................................................................... 5.21–5.23
4. Acceptance and advertisement................................................................. 5.24–5.28
5. Amendment of application...................................................................... 5.29–5.32
6. Opposition.................................................................................................. 5.33
7. Registration............................................................................................. 5.34–5.40
8. Renewal, removal and restoration............................................................ 5.41–5.43
9. Refusal and grounds of decision............................................................. 5.44–5.47
10. Discretion of Registrar............................................................................. 5.48–5.58
6 Opposition to Registration
1. Procedure................................................................................................ 6.01–6.05
2. Grounds of opposition and counter–statement........................................ 6.06–6.10
3. Evidence................................................................................................. 6.11–6.19
4. Costs....................................................................................................... 6.20–6.21
5. Onus........................................................................................................... 6.22
6. Registrar’s powers................................................................................... 6.23–6.26
7. Appeal..................................................................................................... 6.27–6.29
8. Interlocutory proceedings........................................................................ 6.30–6.35
7 Powers of the Registrar and the Central Government ..... 7.01–7.31
8 What marks are registrable
1. Essential requisites for registration.......................................................... 8.01–8.05
2. Device marks.......................................................................................... 8.06–8.16
3. Name....................................................................................................... 8.17–8.19
4. Surname, personal name etc.................................................................... 8.20–8.25
5. Registration of surnames, personal names, etc........................................ 8.26–8.29
6. Signature..................................................................................................... 8.30
7. Words......................................................................................................... 8.31
8. Invented words and coined word............................................................ 8.32–8.37
9. Non–descriptive words........................................................................... 8.38–8.52
10. Geographical names................................................................................ 8.53–8.57
11. Letters, numerals etc............................................................................... 8.58–8.64
12. Shape of goods, packaging...................................................................... 8.65–8.66
13. Combination of colours........................................................................... 8.67–8.68
14. National emblems.................................................................................... 8.69–8.70
15. Capable of distinguishing........................................................................ 8.71–8.72
9 What Marks are not Registrable
Introduction......................................................................................................... 9.01
1. Grounds for refusal of application.......................................................... 9.02–9.06
2. Meaning of similar, deceptively similar and
nearly resembling, marks........................................................................ 9.07–9.10
3. Well known trade marks.......................................................................... 9.11–9.13
4. Marks registered in good faith................................................................. 9.14–9.16
5. Relevance of principles laid down under ss. 11
and 12(1) of the Act of 1958................................................................... 9.17–9.26
6. Marks identical or similar, but goods different........................................ 9.27–9.31
7. Marks which deceive the public or cause confusion................................ 9.32–9.45
8. Marks contrary to law, etc....................................................................... 9.46–9.58
9. Similar goods or goods of same description............................................ 9.59–9.68
10. Applications for registration of similar marks......................................... 9.69–9.72
11. Chemical names and non–proprietory names.......................................... 9.73–9.74
10 Registration of Marks prima facie not Capable
of Distinguishing
Introduction....................................................................................................... 10.01
Distinctive character and capable of distinguishing............................................. 10.02
1. Descriptive words........................................................................... 10.03–10.10
2. Registration of surnames, personal names etc............................................. 10.11
3. Registration of geographical names.................................................. 10.12–10.18
4. Evidence of distinctive character..................................................... 10.19–10.29
10 Registration of Marks prima facie
not Capable of Distinguishing—continued
5. Registration of part of a trade mark............................................................. 10.30
6. Registration of trade marks in series................................................ 10.31–10.34
11 Certification Trade Mark ........................................................... 11.01–11.12
12 Textile Trade Marks 12.01–12.07
13 Collective Marks ............................................................................ 13.01–13.08
14 Common to the Trade .................................................................. 14.01–14.12
15 Appellate Board ............................................................................. 15.01–15.10
16 Concurrent Registration ............................................................. 16.01–16.25
17 Similarity, Near Resemblance and Deceptive
Similarity of Marks
1. General.......................................................................................... 17.01–17.16
2. Comparison of word marks........................................................... 17.17–17.48
3. Comparison of devices and composite marks................................ 17.49–17.62
4. Marks containing features common to the trade............................. 17.63–17.69
5. Letters and numerals...................................................................................... 17.70
6. Surrounding circumstances to be considered................................. 17.71–17.78
7. Evidence........................................................................................ 17.79–17.101
18 Assignment and Transmission of Trade Marks ...................... 18.01–18.32
19 Goodwill 19.01–19.20
20 Licensing of Trade Marks and Registered Users
1. Licensing of trade marks................................................................ 20.01–20.22
2. Registered users and non–registered permitted users..................... 20.23–20.45
21 Rectification of Register
1. General.......................................................................................... 21.01–21.13
2. Extent of power of tribunal to rectify register................................. 21.14–21.19
3. Who are persons aggrieved............................................................ 21.20–21.33
4. Onus of proof................................................................................ 21.34–21.35
5. Grounds of rectification................................................................. 21.36–21.42
6. Entry made without sufficient cause—s. 57(2).............................. 21.43–21.50
7. Entry wrongly remaining on the register......................................... 21.51–21.61
8. Nature and scope of orders under s. 57......................................... 21.62–21.64
9. Rectification under s. 57(4)............................................................................ 21.65
10. Discretion of the tribunal under s. 57............................................. 21.66–21.67
11. Rectification based on s. 36........................................................... 21.68–21.78
12. Rectification on the ground of non–user under s. 47......................... 21.79–21.115
13. Correction of register....................................................................... 21.116–21.124
14. Alteration of registered trade mark.................................................. 21.125–21.130
15. Amendment of register on amendment of
classification of goods.................................................................................. 21.131
22 Effect of Registration ................................................................... 22.01–22.21
23 Infringement of Trade Mark
General................................................................................................................ 23.01
Burden of proof................................................................................................... 23.02
Value of decided cases........................................................................................ 23.03
Section 29............................................................................................................ 23.04
1. What constitutes infringement....................................................... 23.05–23.34
2. Acts not constituting infringement................................................ 23.35–23.45
24 Action for Infringement
Enforcement of rights conferred by registration................................................. 24.01
1. Suits for infringement and passing off.......................................... 24.02–24.09
2. Who may use for infringement..................................................... 24.10–24.20
3. Who may be sued......................................................................... 24.21–24.28
4. Pleadings...................................................................................... 24.29–24.32
5. Defences in an action for infringement......................................... 24.33–24.84
6. Evidence in infringement and passing off actions......................... 24.85–24.93
7. Relief in suits for infringement or passing off............................... 24.94–24.95
8. Injunctions................................................................................... 24.96–24.130
9. Damages and account of profits..................................................... 24.131–24.141
10. Other reliefs................................................................................................ 24.142
11. Costs.............................................................................................. 24.143–24.145
12. Discovery...................................................................................... 24.146–24.150
25 Passing off Action
General................................................................................................................ 25.01
1. General principles of the law of passing off....................................... 25.02–25.32
2. Distinction between infringement and passing off actions.................. 25.33–25.41
3. Evidence in passing off actions.......................................................... 25.42–25.55
4. Likelihood of deception or confusion and evidence........................... 25.56–25.67
5. Where goods or business different..................................................... 25.68–25.74
6. Passing off based on use of words..................................................... 25.75–25.92
7. Imitation of get–up........................................................................... 25.93–25.101
8. Non–profit making bodies............................................................. 25.102–25.103
9. Trade names and domain name...................................................... 25.104–25.138
10. Miscellaneous cases of passing off................................................ 25.139–25.165
11. Defences in passing off actions...................................................... 25.166–25.180
12. Reliefs granted in suits for passing off........................................... 25.181–25.182
13. Suits for passing off....................................................................... 25.183–25.195
26 Evidence in Trade Mark Proceedings ...................................... 26.01–26.17
27 Fraud 27.01–27.11
28 Offences and Penalties
Introduction......................................................................................................... 28.01
Relevant sections................................................................................................. 28.02
Trade Mark.......................................................................................................... 28.03
Deceptively similar.............................................................................................. 28.04
Proprietor of the trade mark................................................................................. 28.05
1. Nature of offences and penalties..................................................... 28.06–28.12
2. False trade marks............................................................................ 28.13–28.16
3. False trade description..................................................................... 28.17–28.22
4. Liability of master, servant and shopkeeper.................................... 28.23–28.26
5. Failure to mark textile goods........................................................... 28.27–28.28
6. Offences relating to registration, registry and register...................... 28.29–28.32
7. Defences......................................................................................... 28.33–28.41
8. Disposal of falsely marked goods.................................................................. 28.42
28 Offences and Penalties—continued
9. Procedure before courts................................................................. 28.43–28.57
10. Seller’s warranty............................................................................................ 28.58
11. Imported goods.............................................................................. 28.59–28.60
29 Threat of Legal Proceedings and Trade Libel
1. Groundless threats......................................................................... 29.01–29.08
2. Trade Libel.................................................................................... 29.09–29.22
30 Miscellaneous Topics
1. Res Judicata................................................................................... 30.01–30.04
2. Persons acting in good faith and public servants............................................ 30.05
3. Death of party and abandonment of application............................. 30.06–30.11
4. Other matters................................................................................. 30.12–30.29
Pages
31 Trade Mark Law in Europe 968–972
32 Unfair Competition Law .................................................................... 973–977
33 Trade Dress 978–983
Paras
34 Geographical Indication of Goods ............................................ 34.01–34.101
Appendices
Appendix Pages
1 The Trade Marks Act, 1999 .......................................................... 1021–1073
2 The Trade Marks Rules, 2002 1074–1200
3 The Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 ........................ 1201–1243
4 The Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 .................................... 1244–1269
5 The Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Rules, 2002 ............................... 1270–1334
6 The Trade Marks (Applications and Appeals to the
Intellectual Property Appellate Board) Rules, 2003 ............ 1335–1344
7 Intellectual Property Appellate
Board (Procedure) Rules, 2003 .................................................... 1345–1355
8 Trade Marks Act 1994 of the United Kingdom 1356–1408
9 Federal Trademark Act of 1946 as Amended
(The Lanham Act) (U.S.A.) .......................................................... 1409–1440
10 Notifications by Central Government 1441
11 Indication of Origin of Goods ..................................................... 1442–1449
12 Instructions for the Limits of Variation
in Respect of Trade Descriptions .............................................. 1450–1451
13 Directions of Central Government 1452–1454
14 The Emblems and Names (Prevention of
Improper Use) Act, 1950 ............................................................... 1455–1458
15 Certain Provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics
Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 ............. 1459–1460
16 Certain Provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies
(Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 ............................... 1461–1463
17 Certain Provisions of the Geneva
Conventions Act, 1960 .................................................................... 1464–1465
18 Ratification of Paris Convention .............................................. 1466–1467
19 Certain Provisions of the GATT and TRIPS 1468–1476
20 Paris Convention for the Protection of
Industrial Property 1477–1496
P. Narayanan
MA, LLB, Advocate
Indispensable for the profession and Business Executives.
