Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China
(Adopted at the 24th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress on August 23, 1982; amended for the first time in accordance with the Decision on Revising the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 30th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People's Congress on February 22, 1993; amended for the second time in accordance with the Decision on Revising the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China adopted at the 24th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People's Congress
on October 27, 2001;and amended for the third time in accordance with the Decision
on Revising the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China adopted at the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Twelfth National People’s Congress on August 30, 2013)
Contents
Chapter |
I |
General Provisions |
Chapter |
II |
Application for Trademark Registration |
Chapter |
III |
Examination and Approval of Trademark Registration |
Chapter |
IV |
Renewal, Alteration, Transfer and Licensing of Registered |
Trademarks
Chapter V Declaration of the Invalidity of Registered Trademarks
Chapter VI Administrative Control of the Use of Trademarks
Chapter VII Protection of the Exclusive Right to the Use of a Registered
Trademark
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 This Law is enacted for the purpose of improving the administration of trademarks, protecting the exclusive right to the use of a trademark, and encouraging producers and dealers to guarantee the quality of their goods and services and preserve the credibility of trademarks, so as to protect the interests of consumers, producers and
dealers and promote the development of the socialist market economy.
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Article 2 The trademark office of the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall be in charge of the work of trademark registration and administration throughout the country.
The administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council shall establish a trademark review and adjudication board to be responsible for handling trademark disputes.
Article 3 Registered trademarks refer to trademarks that are registered with the approval of the trademark office, including trademarks for goods and services, collective trademarks and certification trademarks. The owner of a registered trademark shall enjoy the exclusive right to the use of the trademark, which shall be protected by law.
For purposes of this Law, a collective trademark refers to one that is registered in the name of a group, association, or any other organization for use in business by its members to indicate membership.
For purposes of this Law, a certification trademark refers to one that is controlled by an organization which is capable of exercising supervision over a particular kind of goods or services and that is used by a unit other than the organization or by an individual for its or his goods or services, and is designed to certify the indications of the place of origin, raw materials, mode of manufacture, quality, or other specified properties of the said goods or services.
Particulars pertaining to the registration and administration of collective trademarks and certification trademarks shall be formulated by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council.
Article 4 Any natural person, legal person or other organization that needs to obtain the exclusive right to use a trademark for its goods or services during production and business operations shall apply for trademark registration with the trademark office.
Provisions regarding the trademarks for goods in this Law shall be applicable to service trademarks.
Article 5 Two or more natural persons, legal persons, or other organizations may jointly file an application with the trademark office for the registration of one and the
same trademark and jointly enjoy and exercise the exclusive right to the use of the
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trademark.
Article 6 Where a registered trademark is required to be used for some goods by laws or administrative regulations, an application for trademark registration shall be made. No such goods may be marketed without an approved and registered trademark.
Article 7 The principle of good faith shall be upheld in the application for trademark registration and in the use of trademarks.
The user of a trademark shall be responsible for the quality of the goods on which the trademark is used. The administrative departments for industry and commerce at all levels shall, through the administration of trademarks, put an end to any practice that deceives consumers.
Article 8 Any signs, including words, graphs, letters, numbers, three-dimensional symbols, color combinations, sound or any combination thereof, that are capable of distinguishing the goods of a natural person, legal person or other organization from those of others may be applied for registration as trademarks.
Article 9 A trademark submitted for registration shall bear noticeable characteristics and be readily distinguishable, and it may not conflict with the legitimate rights obtained by others earlier.
A trademark registrant shall have the right to indicate the wording "Registered
Trademark" or the sign showing that the trademark is registered.
Article 10 None of the following signs may be used as trademarks:
(1) Those identical with or similar to the State name, the national flag, emblem or anthem, the military flag, emblem or songs, or medals of the People's Republic of China; or those identical with the names or emblems of Central State organs, the names of the specific locations where the Central State organs are seated; or those identical with the names or designs of landmark buildings;
(2) Those identical with or similar to the State name, national flag, national emblem or military flag etc., of a foreign country, except with the consent of the government of that country;
(3) Those identical with or similar to the name, flag or emblem of an international inter-governmental organization, except with the consent of that
organization or except where it is unlikely to mislead the public;
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(4) Those identical with or similar to an official mark or inspection stamp that indicates control and guarantee, except where authorized;
(5) Those identical with or similar to the symbol or name of the Red Cross or the
Red Crescent;
(6) Those having the nature of discrimination against any nationality;
(7) Those that are deceptive and likely to mislead the public in terms of the quality, place of production or other characteristics of the goods; and
(8)Those detrimental to socialist ethics or customs, or having other unwholesome influences.
No geographical names of administrative divisions at or above the county level or foreign geographical names known to the public may be used as trademarks, except where geographical names have other meanings or constitute part of a collective trademark or certification trademark. Registered trademarks in which geographical names are sued shall remain valid.
Article 11 None of the following marks may be registered as trademarks:
(1) Where the mark bears only the generic name, design, or model number of the goods concerned;
(2) Where it only directly indicates the quality, principal raw materials, function, use, weight, quantity or other features of the goods; and
(3) Signs that otherwise lack any distinctive character.
Any mark mentioned in the preceding paragraph may be registered as a trademark if it has acquired distinctive features through use and is readily distinguishable.
Article 12 No application for registration of a three-dimensional symbol as a trademark may be granted, where the sign merely indicates the shape inherent in the nature of the goods concerned, or it is only dictated by the need to achieve technical effects or the need to give the goods substantive value.
Article 13 A holder of a trademark that is well known by the relevant public may, if he holds that his rights have been infringed upon, request for well-known trademark protection in accordance with this Law.
Where the trademark of an identical or similar kind of goods is a reproduction, imitation, or translation of another person's well-known trademark not registered in
China and is liable to cause public confusion, no application for its registration may be
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granted and its use shall be prohibited.
Where the trademark of a different or dissimilar kind of goods is a reproduction, imitation, or translation of another person's well-known trademark not registered in China and it misleads the public so that the interests of the owner of the registered well-known trademark are likely to be impaired, no application for its registration may be granted and its use shall be prohibited.
Article 14 A well-known trademark shall be recognized as a fact that needs to be ascertained in dealing with a trademark-related case upon request by the party concerned. The following factors shall be taken into consideration in the recognition of a well-known trademark:
(1) The recognition degree of the trademark among the relevant public; (2) The duration in which the trademark has been in use;
(3) The duration, extent and geographical scope of all publicity operations carried out for the trademark;
(4) The records of protection of a well-known trademark provided for the trademark and
(5) Other factors making the trademark well-known.
Where the party concerned claims rights according to Article 13 of this Law in a trademark registration review or during the process whereby the administrative department for industry and commerce investigates and deals with a case involving trademark infringement, the trademark office concerned may, based on the need for reviewing or dealing with the case, decide whether or not to recognize the relevant trademark as a well-known one.
Where the party concerned claims rights according to Article 13 of this Law, during the handling of a trademark dispute, the trademark review and adjudication board may, based on the need for handling the cases, decide whether or not to recognize the relevant trademark as a well-known one.
Where the party concerned claims rights according to Article 13 of this Law during the hearing of a civil or administrative case involving a trademark, the people's court designated by the Supreme People's Court may, based on the need for trying the case, decide whether or not to recognize the relevant trademark as a well-known one.
No manufacturers and business operators may indicate the words “well-known trademark" upon the goods, the packaging or the containers of the goods, nor may they
use the same for advertising, exhibition or other commercial activities.
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Article 15 Where an agent or representative, without authorization of the client, seeks to register in its own name the client's trademark and the client objects, the trademark shall not be registered and its use shall be prohibited.
An application for registering a trademark for the same kind of goods, or similar goods shall not be approved if the trademark under application is identical with or similar to an unregistered trademark already used by another party, the applicant is clearly aware of the existence of the trademark of such another party due to contractual, business or other relationships with the latter other than those prescribed in the preceding paragraph, and such another party raises objections to the trademark registration application in question.
Article 16 Where a trademark bears a geographical indication of the goods when the place indicated is not the origin of the goods in question, thus misleading the public, the trademark shall not be registered and its use shall be prohibited. However, where the registration is obtained in goodwill, it shall remain valid.
The geographical indication mentioned in the preceding paragraph means the origin of the goods the special qualities, credibility or other characteristics of the goods and it is primarily determined by the natural factors or other humanistic factors of the place indicated.
Article 17 Where a foreigner or foreign enterprise applies for trademark registration in China, the matter shall be handled in accordance with any agreement concluded between the country to which the applicant belongs and the People's Republic of China, or any international treaty to which both countries are parties, or on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.
Article 18 A party may apply for trademark registration or handle trademark-related matters on its own or by entrusting a trademark agency established according to the law.
A foreigner or foreign enterprise shall entrust a trademark agency established according to the law for applying for trademark registration and handling other trademark-related matters in China.
Article 19 Trademark agencies shall uphold the principle of good faith, comply with laws and administrative regulations, apply for trademark registration or deal with
other trademark-related matters as entrusted by the principals, and keep confidential
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the principals' trade secrets that come to their knowledge during the agency process.
Where a trademark entrusted by a principal for registration application may fall under the circumstances prescribed by this Law under which registration is not allowed, the trademark agency shall explicitly so inform the principal.
A trademark agency shall not accept the entrustment of a principal if it knows or should have known that the trademark entrusted by the principal for registration application falls under any of the circumstances prescribed by Article 15 and Article 32 of this Law.
A trademark agency shall not apply for registration of trademarks other than the ones entrusted to it.
Article 20 The association of trademark agencies shall, pursuant to its articles of association, strictly enforce the conditions for admitting members, and mete out sanctions against the members violating industry self-disciplinary standards. The association of trademark agencies shall publish in time information on the members admitted and the disciplinary sanctions against its members.
Article 21 International trademark registration shall be governed by the systems established by relevant international treaties concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China. The specific measures in this regard shall be formulated by the State Council.
Chapter II
Application for Trademark Registration
Article 22 A trademark registration applicant shall make an application and, according to the prescribed categories of goods, indicate in the application the types and the names of goods for which the trademark is to be used.
A trademark registration applicant may apply for registration of the same trademark for multiple types of goods in one application.
A trademark registration application and other relevant documents may be submitted in writing or by way of data message.
Article 23 For obtaining the exclusive right to use a registered trademark on goods beyond the approved scope of use, a new registration application shall be made.
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Article 24 If a change needs to be made in the signs of a registered trademark, an application shall be filed anew.
Article 25 Where an applicant, within six months from the date he applies for registration of his trademark for the fist time in a foreign country, again applies in China for registration of one and the same trademark for the same kind of goods, he may, in accordance with any agreement concluded between the foreign country concerned and the People's Republic of China or any international treaty to which both countries are parties, or on the basis of the priority principle mutually accepted, enjoy priority.
Where, in accordance with the preceding paragraph, an applicant claims priority, he shall so state in writing at the time when he files the application for trademark registration and shall, within three months, submit a copy of the original application he files for the first time. Failure on the part of the applicant to make the statement in writing or to submit a copy of the original application before the expiration of the time limit shall be regarded as not claiming priority.
Article 26 The applicant for registration of a trademark that is used for the first time on goods displayed at an international exhibition organized or recognized by the Chinese Government may, within six months from the date the said goods are placed on exhibition, enjoy priority.
Where, in accordance with the preceding paragraph, an applicant claims priority, he shall so state in writing at the time when he files the application for trademark registration and shall, within three months, submit the name of the exhibition, evidence supporting the use of the trademark on the goods displayed, documents proving the date the exhibition, etc. failure to make the statement in writing or to submit the documents before the expiration of the time limit shall be regarded as not claiming priority.
Article 27 Matters stated in the application for trademark registration and all information provided shall be truthful, accurate and complete.
Chapter III
Examination and Approval of Trademark Registration
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Article 28 The trademark office shall complete the examination of a trademark under registration application within nine months from the date of receiving the application documents for trademark registration, and shall issue a preliminary review announcement if the said application is in compliance with the relevant provisions of this Law.
Article 29 If during the review, the trademark office is of the opinion that the contents of the trademark registration application need to be explained or corrected, it may require the applicant to do so. The failure of the applicant to provide explanations or make correction shall not affect the trademark office in making a decision upon review.
Article 30 Where a trademark, for the registration of which an application is made, that does not conform to the relevant provisions of this Law or that is identical with or similar to the trademark already registered by another person or is given preliminary examination and approval for use on the same kind of goods or similar goods, the trademark office shall reject the application and shall not announce that trademark.
Article 31 Where two or more applicants apply to register identical or similar trademarks for use on the same kind of goods or similar goods, the trademark office shall first conduct examination of, give approval to and announce the trademark whose registration is applied for earlier than the rest. Where the applications are filed on the same day, the trademark office shall first examine, give approval to and announce the trademark which is used earlier that the rest, and it shall reject the applications for registration of the other trademarks and shall not announce them.
Article 32 No applicant for trademark application may infringe upon another person's existing prior rights, nor may he, by illegitimate means, rush to register a trademark that is already in use by another person and has certain influence.
Article 33 If a holder of prior rights or an interested party holds that the trademark announced upon preliminary review is in violation of the second or third paragraph of Article 13, Article 15, the first paragraph of Article 16, Article 30, Article
31, or Article 32 of this Law, he may, within three months from the date of the
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preliminary review announcement, raise objections to the trademark office. Any party that is of the opinion that the aforesaid trademark is in violation of Article 10, Article
11 or Article 12 of this Law may raise objections to the trademark office within the same three-month period. If no objection is raised upon expiry of the announcement period, the trademark office shall approve the registration application, issue the certificate of trademark registration, and make an announcement thereon.
Article 34 Where an application for trademark is rejected and no preliminary review announcement is to be made, the trademark office shall so notify the trademark registration applicant concerned in writing. Where the applicant disagrees to the result, he may, within 15 days from the date he receives the notice, apply to the trademark review and adjudication board for a second review. The trademark review and adjudication board shall, within nine months upon receipt of the application, make a decision and notify the applicant in writing. Where it is necessary under special circumstance, an extension of three months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council. Where the applicant disagrees to the decision of the trademark review and adjudication board, he may, within 30 days from the date he receives the notice, bring a lawsuit to a people’s court.
Article 35 Where objections are raised against a trademark for which a preliminary review announcement has been made, the trademark office shall listen to the facts and grounds stated by both the opponent and the opposed, and after investigation and verification make a decision on whether or not to approve the registration of the trademark within 12 months from the expiry date of the announcement period and shall notify the opponent and the opposed of the decision in writing. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of six months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council.
Where the trademark office decides to approve a trademark registration, it shall issue the certificate of trademark registration to the applicant and make an announcement thereon. Where the opponent is dissatisfied with the decision, he may request the trademark review and adjudication board to declare the said registered trademark invalid in accordance with Article 44 or Article 45 of this Law.
Where the trademark office decides not to approve a trademark registration, the
opposed party disagreeing to the decision may apply for a second review to the
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trademark teview and adjudication board within 15 days upon receipt of the relevant notice. The trademark review and adjudication board shall make a decision after review, and notify both the opponent and the opposed parties of such a decision in writing within 12 months from the date of the receipt of the application for review. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of six months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council. If the opposed is dissatisfied with the decision made by the trademark review and adjudication board, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within 30 days from the date he receives the notice, in which case the people's court shall notify the opponent to participate in the litigation proceedings as a third party.
When carrying out review in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the trademark review and adjudication board may suspend the review if the prior rights involved can only be ascertained based on the outcomes of another case currently under the hearing by a people's court or under the handling by an administrative organ. The trademark review and adjudication board shall resume the review procedure once the circumstances for suspension are eliminated.
Article 36 Where, upon the expiry of the statutory time limit, a party concerned fails to apply for review of the decision on rejection of a registration application or decision on denial of registration made by the trademark office, or fails to bring a lawsuit to the people's court against the decision of review made by the trademark review and adjudication board, the decision on rejection of a registration application, the decision on denial of registration or the decision of review shall become effective.
Where the registration of a trademark is approved after the objection to its registration is found to be unsubstantiated upon examination, the time when the trademark registration applicant obtains the exclusive right to use the trademark shall commence from the date of the expiry of the three-month period of the preliminary examination announcement. During the period from the date of the expiry of the said announcement period to the time when decision is made to approve the registration of the trademark, the trademark shall have no retroactive effect on the use of an identical or similar mark by another party on the same kind of goods or similar goods. However, such other party shall be liable for compensating any losses caused, mala fide, to the trademark registrant.
Article 37 Applications for trademark registration and for review shall be examined without delay.
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Article 38Where an applicant for trademark registration or a registrant discovers an obvious error in the trademark application or registration documents, he may apply for its correction. The trademark office shall, in accordance with law and within the limits of its functions and powers, make the correction and shall notify the party of the matter.
The correction of errors mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall not involve substantive matters in the application or registration documents.
Chapter IV
Renewal, Alteration, Transfer and Licensing of Registered Trademarks
Article 39 The period of validity of a registered trademark shall be 10 years, counted from the day the registration is approved.
Article 40 Where a trademark registrant intends to continue using the registered trademark upon expiry of the validity period of registration, the trademark registrant shall go through the renewal procedure within 12 months prior to the expiry date in accordance with relevant provisions; where the registrant fails to do so during the said time limit, an extension of six months may be granted. Each renewal of registration shall be valid for ten years calculating from the date immediately following the expiry date of the last validity period of the trademark. If no application for renewal is filed upon expiry of the extension period, the registered trademark shall be cancelled.
The trademark office shall announce the trademarks whose registration has been renewed.
Article 41 If a change needs to be made in the name or address of the owner of a registered trademark or in any other registered matter, an application for the change shall be filed.
Article 42 To assign a registered trademark, the assignor and assignee shall sign an assignment agreement and jointly file an application with the trademark office. The assignee shall guarantee the quality of the goods on which the registered trademark is
used.
When transferring a registered trademark, the trademark registrant shall transfer, along with it, other similar trademarks he has registered for the same kind of goods,
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and other identical and similar trademarks he has registered for similar goods.
The trademark office shall not approve the transfer of a registered trademark that is likely to cause confusion or result in other unfavorable effects, and shall notify the applicant concerned in writing and explain the reasons therefor.
After the assignment of a registered trademark is approved, it shall be announced. The assignee shall enjoy the exclusive right to the use of the trademark starting from the date the announcement is made.
Article 43 The owner of a registered trademark may, by concluding a trademark licensing contract, authorize another person to use his registered trademark. The licensor shall supervise the quality of the goods on which the licensee uses his registered trademark, and the licensee shall guarantee the quality of the goods on which the registered trademark is to be used.
If any person is authorized to use the registered trademark of another person, the name of the licensee and the origin of the goods shall be indicated on the goods that bear the registered trademark.
A licensor who licenses others to use his registered trademark shall submit the trademark licensing to the trademark office for file, and the trademark office shall announce the trademark licensing. Without filing, the trademark licensing shall not be used against a bona fide third party.
Chapter V
Declaration of the Invalidity of Registered Trademarks
Article 44 A registered trademark shall be declared invalid by the trademark office if it is in violation of Article 10, Article 11 or Article 12 of this Law, or its registration is obtained by fraudulent or other illegitimate means. Other entities or individuals may request the trademark review and adjudication board to declare the aforesaid registered trademark invalid.
Where the trademark office makes a decision on declaring a registered trademark invalid, it shall notify the party concerned in writing of the decision. If a party concerned is dissatisfied with the decision made by the trademark office, he may apply for a review with the trademark review and adjudication board within 15 days upon the receipt of the notice from the trademark office. The trademark review and adjudication board shall make a decision and notify the party concerned in writing within nine
months upon the receipt of the application for review. Where it is necessary under
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special circumstances, an extension of three months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council. If a party concerned is dissatisfied with the decision made by the trademark review and adjudication board, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within 30 days upon the receipt of the notice from the trademark review and adjudication board.
Where other entities or individuals request the trademark review and adjudication board to declare a registered trademark invalid, the latter shall, upon receipt of the application, notify the party concerned in writing, and require the party concerned to respond within a time limit. The trademark review and adjudication board shall, within nine months upon the receipt of the application, render a ruling on either maintaining the validity of the registered trademark or declaring the registered trademark invalid, and notify the party concerned in writing. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of three months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council. If the party concerned is dissatisfied with the ruling made by the trademark review and adjudication board, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within 30 days upon the receipt of the notice, in which case the people's court shall notify the counterparty to the trademark ruling procedures to participate in the litigation proceedings as a third party.
Article 45 Where a registered trademark is in violation of the second and third paragraph of Article 13, Article 15, the first paragraph of Article 16, Article 30, Article
31 or Article 32 of this Law, the holder of prior rights or an interested party may, within five years upon the registration of the trademark, request the trademark review and adjudication board to declare the registered trademark invalid. Where the aforesaid registration is obtained mala fide, the owner of a well-known trademark is not bound by the five-year restriction.
The trademark review and adjudication board shall, after receiving an application for declaring the registered trademark invalid, notify the party concerned as such in writing, and require the party concerned to respond within a time limit. The trademark review and adjudication board shall, within 12 months upon the receipt of the application, render a ruling on either maintaining the validity of the registered trademark or declaring the registered trademark invalid, and notify the party concerned as such in writing. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of six months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for
industry and commerce of the State Council. If the party concerned is dissatisfied of
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the ruling made by the trademark review and adjudication board, he may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within 30 days upon the receipt of the notice, in which case the people's court shall notify the counterparty to the trademark ruling procedures to participate in the litigation proceedings as a third party.
In reviewing an application for declaring a registered trademark invalid pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the trademark review and adjudication board may suspend the review if the prior rights involved can only be ascertained based on the outcomes of another case currently under the hearing by a people's court or under the handling by an administrative organ. The trademark review and adjudication board shall resume the review procedure once the circumstances for suspension are eliminated.
Article 46 Upon the expiry of the statutory time limit, if the party concerned fails to apply for review of the trademark office’s decision on declaring a registered trademark invalid, or fails to bring a lawsuit to the people's court against the trademark review and adjudication board’s review decision or its ruling on maintaining the validity of a registered trademark or declaring a registered trademark invalid, the trademark office’s decision or the trademark review and adjudication board’s review decision or ruling shall become effective.
Article 47 A registered trademark that is declared invalid in accordance with Article 44 or Article 45 of this Law shall be announced by the trademark office, and the exclusive right to use the registered trademark thereof shall be deemed as non-existent ab initio.
The decision or ruling on declaring a registered trademark invalid shall have no retroactive effect on a judgment, ruling or mediation statement on a trademark infringement case already rendered and enforced by a people's court, a decision on handling a trademark infringement case already made and enforced by an administrative department for industry and commerce as well as a trademark transfer or licensing contract already performed prior to such declaration. However, the trademark registrant shall be liable for compensation where losses are caused, mala fide, to another party.
Trademark infringement damages, trademark transfer fees or trademark royalties shall be refunded fully or partially if the non-refund thereof pursuant to the preceding paragraph is in obvious violation of the principle of fairness.
Chapter VI
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Administrative Control of the Use of Trademarks
Article 48 For the purpose of this Law, the use of trademarks shall refer to the use of trademarks on goods, the packaging or containers of goods and the transaction documents of goods, as well as the use of trademarks for advertising, exhibition and other commercial activities for the purpose of identifying the sources of goods.
Article 49 A trademark registrant that,without authorization, makes alternations with respect to the registered trademark, the name or address of the registrant or other registration items during the use of the registered trademark shall be ordered to make correction within a time limit by the relevant local administrative department for industry and commerce; if it fails to make correction within the prescribed time limit, the trademark office shall cancel the registered trademark thereof.
Where a registered trademark has become the generic name of the goods for which its use is approved or a registered trademark has not been put in use for three consecutive years without a justifiable reason, any entity or individual may apply to the trademark office for revocation of the registered trademark, and the trademark office shall make a decision within nine months upon the receipt of the application. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of three months may be granted for making a decision upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce of the State Council.
Article 50 Within one year from the time where a registered trademark is cancelled or declared invalid, or is not renewed upon the expiry of its validity period, the trademark office shall not approve any application for registration of a trademark identical with or similar to the aforesaid trademark..
Article 51 In the event of a violation of the provisions of Article 5 of this Law, the local administrative department for industry and commerce shall order the violator to file an application for registration within a time limit and if the illegal business revenue is RMB 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of up to 20% of the illegal business revenue may be imposed; if there is no illegal business revenue or the illegal revenue is less than RMB 50,000 yuan, a fine of up to RMB 10,000 yuan may be imposed.
Article 52 Where a party passes off an unregistered trademark as a registered trademark or uses an unregistered trademark in violation of Article 10 of this Law, the
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relevant local administrative department for industry and commerce shall stop such acts, order the party to make correction within a time limit, and may circulate a notice on the matter. If the illegal business revenue is RMB 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of up to 20% of the illegal business revenue may be imposed; if there is no illegal business revenue or the illegal business revenue is less than RMB 50,000 yuan, a fine of up to RMB 10,000 yuan may be imposed.
Article 53 Whoever violates the fifth paragraph of Article 14 of this Law shall be ordered to make correction by the relevant local administrative department for industry and commerce, and be imposed with a fine of RMB 100,000 yuan.
Article 54 A party concerned who has objection to the decision made by the trademark office on revoking or not revoking a registered trademark may apply for review to the trademark review and adjudication board within 15 days upon receipt of the notification of the decision. The trademark review and adjudication board shall, within nine months upon the receipt of the application, make a decision and notify the party concerned in writing. Where it is necessary under special circumstances, an extension of three months may be granted upon approval by the administrative department for industry and commerce under the State Council. The party concerned who has objection to the decision made by the trademark review and adjudication board may bring a lawsuit to the people's court within 30 days from the date the notification is reviewed.
Article 55 Upon expiry of the statutory time limit, if the party concerned fails to apply for review of the trademark office’s decision on revoking a registered trademark, or fails to bring a lawsuit to the people's court against a review decision made by the trademark review and adjudication board, such a decision or review decision shall become effective."
The trademark office shall make an announcement on the registered trademark that is revoked. The exclusive right to use the aforesaid registered trademark shall terminate as of the date of announcement.
Chapter VII
Protection of the Exclusive Right to the Use of a Registered Trademark
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Article 56 The exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark shall be limited to trademarks which are registered upon approval and to goods the use of a trademark on which is approved.
Article 57 Any of the following acts shall constitute an infringement on the exclusive rights to the use of a registered trademark:
(1) Using a trademark that is identical with a registered trademark on the same kind of goods without obtaining licensing from the registrant of the registered trademark;
(2) Using a trademark that is similar to a registered trademark on the same kind of goods, or using a trademark that is identical with or similar to the registered trademark on similar goods without obtaining licensing from the registrant of the registered trademark, and is likely to cause confusion
(3) Selling goods that infringe on the exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark;
(4) Counterfeiting, or making without authorization, representations of another person's registered trademark, or selling such representations;
(5) Altering a registered trademark without permission of its owner and selling goods bearing such an altered trademark on the market;
(6) Providing, intentionally, convenience for such acts as infringe upon others' exclusive right of trademark use, to facilitate others to commit infringement on the exclusive right of trademark use
(7) Impairing in other manners another person's exclusive right to the use of its registered trademark.
Article 58 Whoever uses a registered trademark or an unregistered well-known trademark of another party as the trade name in its enterprise name and mislead the public, which constitutes unfair competition, shall be dealt with in accordance with the Anti-unfair Competition Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 59 The holder of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark shall have no right to prohibit others from properly using the generic name, graphics or models of a commodity contained in the registered trademark, or such information as directly indicates the quality, main raw materials, functions, purposes, weight, quantity or other features of the commodity, or the names of the geographical locations as
contained therein.
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The holder of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark that is a three-dimensional symbol shall have no right to prohibit others from properly using such forms as contained in the registered trademark due to the inherent nature of a commodity or the commodity forms necessary for achieving technological effects or the forms that bring substantive value to the commodity as contained therein.
Where, before a trademark registrant applies for registration of a trademark, another party has used a trademark that is of certain influence and is identical with or similar to the registered trademark on the same kind of goods or similar goods, the holder of the exclusive right to use the registered trademark shall have no right to prohibit the said party from continued use of the trademark within the original scope of use, however, the holder may require the latter to add a proper mark for distinguishment.
Article 60 A dispute that arises from an acts infringing upon the exclusive right to use a registered trademark prescribed in Article 57 of this Law shall be settled by the parties concerned through consultation. Where the parties concerned are unwilling to engage in consultation or a consultation has failed, the trademark registrant or an interested party may bring a lawsuit to the people's court, or request the relevant administrative department for industry and commerce to address the dispute.
When addressing the dispute, if the administrative department for industry and commerce is of the opinion that the infringement is established, it shall order the relevant party to immediately cease the infringing acts, and shall confiscate and destroy the infringing goods and instruments mainly used for manufacturing the infringing goods and forging the registered trademark. Where the illegal business revenue is RMB 50,000 yuan or more, a fine of up to five times the illegal business revenue may be imposed thereon; where there is no illegal business revenue or the illegal business revenue is less than RMB 50,000 yuan, a fine of up to RMB 250,000 yuan may be imposed thereon. If a party has committed trademark infringement on two or more occasions within five years or falls under any other serious circumstances, it shall be subject to a heavier punishment. If a party is unaware of the infringing nature of such products and is able to prove that the products are obtained by legitimate means and can provide information on the suppliers of the products, it shall be ordered to stop selling the products by the administrative department for industry and commerce.
As to a dispute over the amount of damages for infringement on the exclusive
right to use a trademark, the parties concerned may apply to the administrative
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department for industry and commerce that addresses the infringing dispute for mediation, or may bring a lawsuit to the people's court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China. Where the parties concerned fail to reach any agreement upon mediation by the administrative department for industry and commerce, or fail to perform the mediation agreement after it becomes effective, the parties may bring a lawsuit to the people's court in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China.
Article 61 The administrative department for industry and commerce shall have the power to investigate any act infringing upon the exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark. Where a crime is suspected to have been committed, it shall promptly transfer the case to a judicial department for handling in accordance with law.
Article 62 When an administrative department for industry and commerce at or above the county level, on the basis of the evidence or information, obtained for a suspected violation of law, conducts investigation into a suspected infringement of another person's exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark, it may exercise the following functions and powers:
(1) Questioning the parties concerned to find out the facts regarding the infringement of another person's exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark;
(2) Checking and reproducing the parties' contracts, invoices, account books, and other materials relating to the infringement;
(3) Conducting on-the-spot inspection of the premises where the suspected party carries out activities infringing upon another person's exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark; and
(4) Inspecting articles involved in the infringement; sealing or seizing the articles that are proven to been used for infringing upon another person's exclusive right to the use of a registered trademark.
When the administrative department for industry and commerce exercises the functions and powers provided for in the preceding paragraph in accordance with law, the parties shall assist and cooperate with it and may not refuse to do so or stand in its
way.
During the investigation and handling of a trademark infringement case, an administrative department for industry and commerce may suspend the investigation and handling of the case if disputes arise over the ownership of the trademark or if the
right holders simultaneously bring a trademark infringement lawsuit to the people's
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courts. And the investigation and handling procedures shall be resumed or closed up after the circumstances for suspension are eliminated.
Article 63 The amount of damages for infringement on the exclusive right to use a trademark shall be determined based on the actual loss suffered by the right holder as a result of the infringement; if it is difficult to determine the actual loss, the amount of damages may be determined according to the profits gained therefrom by the infringer, if it is difficult to determine both the loss of the right holder and the profits gained by the infringing party, the amount of damages may be reasonably determined in reference to the multiples of the trademark for royalties. Where an infringer maliciously infringes upon another party's exclusive right to use a trademark and falls under serious circumstances, the amount of damages may be determined as not less than one time but not more than three times the amount that is determined according to the aforesaid methods. The amount of damages shall cover the reasonable expenses paid by the right holder for stopping the infringing act.
Where the right holder has exhausted its efforts in discharging the obligation of burden of proof, but the account books and materials related to the infringing acts are mainly controlled by the infringer, the people's court may, for the purpose of determining the amount of damages, order the infringer to submit account books and materials related to the infringing acts. Where the infringer fails to provide such account books or materials or provides false account books or materials, the people's court may render a judgment on the amount of damages in reference to the claims of the right holder and the evidence furnished thereby.
Where it is difficult to determine the actual loss suffered by the right holder as a result of the infringement, the profits gained by the infringer from the infringement or the royalties of the registered trademark concerned, the people's court shall render a judgment awarding damages in an amount not more than RMB three million yuan based on the circumstances of the infringing acts
Article 64 Where the holder of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark claims for damages, and the alleged infringer counterclaims that the right holder has never used the registered trademark, the people's court may require the right holder to provide evidence of its actual use of the registered trademark during the past three years prior to the lawsuit. The alleged infringer shall not be liable for compensation if the right holder is neither able to prove its actual use of the registered trademark during
the past three years prior to the lawsuit, nor able to prove other losses suffered as a
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result of the infringement.
Where a party is unaware that the goods he sells infringe upon another party's exclusive right to use a registered trademark, and the party is able to prove that the goods are obtained by legitimate means and provide information on the suppliers of the goods, it shall not be liable for compensation.
Article 65 Where a trademark registrant or an interested party has evidence proving that another party is committing or is soon to commit an act that infringes upon the former’s exclusive right to use the registered trademark and that such an act, unless promptly stopped, will cause irreparable damage to its legitimate rights and interests, the trademark registrant or interested party may, in accordance with the law, apply to the people's court for an injunction and taking asset preservation before filing a lawsuit.
Article 66 In order to stop an infringing act, and where evidence may be destroyed or vanished, or may become unobtainable in the future, the relevant trademark registrant or interested party may, in accordance with the law, apply to the people's court for evidence preservation before filing a lawsuit.
Article 67 Where a person, without permission of the owner of a registered trademark, uses a trademark that is identical with the owner's on the same kind of goods, which constitutes a crime, he shall, in addition to compensating losses suffered by the infringed, be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law.
Anyone who counterfeits or makes without permission the representations of another person's registered trademark or sells such representations which constitutes a crime, shall, in addition to compensating the losses suffered by the infringed, be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law.
Anyone who knowingly sells goods bearing counterfeit registered trademarks, which constitutes a crime, shall, in addition to compensating the losses suffered by the infringed, be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law.
Article 68 A trademark agency that commits any of the following acts shall be ordered to make correction within a time limit by the administrative department for industry and commerce, be given a warning, and be fined not less than RMB 10,000 yuan but not more than RMB 100,000 yuan; the persons in charge who are directly
responsible and other persons directly responsible shall be given a warning and be
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fined not less than RMB 5,000 yuan but not more than RMB 50,000 yuan; where a crime is constituted, criminal liabilities shall be investigated in accordance with the
law:
(1) Fabricating or tampering with legal documents, seals or signatures, or using fabricated or tempered legal documents, seals or signatures during the handling of trademark-related matters;
(2) Soliciting trademark agency business by defaming other trademark agencies, or disrupting the order of the trademark agency market by other unjust means; or
(3) Violating the provisions of the third or fourth paragraph of Article 19 of this
Law.
Where a trademark agency commits an act prescribed in the preceding paragraph,
the administrative department for industry and commerce shall record such matters in the credit files; if the circumstances are serious, the trademark office or the trademark review and adjudication board may concurrently decide to cease the acceptance and handling the trademark agency business submitted by the trademark agency, and shall make an announcement thereon.
The trademark agency shall bear civil liabilities in accordance with the law if it violates the principle of good faith and infringes the legitimate rights and interests of a principal, and shall be given sanctions by the trade association of the trademark agencies pursuant to its articles of association.
Article 69 Functionaries of State organs engaged in trademark registration, administration, and review shall be impartial in implementing the law, honest and self-disciplined, and devoted to their duties, and shall provide services with civility.
No functionaries of State organs working in the trademark office and the trademark review and adjudication board or engaged in trademark registration, administration, and review may work for trademark agencies or engage in the manufacture or marketing of goods.
Article 70 Administrative departments or industry and commerce shall establish and improve an internal supervision system to supervise and inspect the way State organ functionaries in charge of trademark registration, administration, and review implement laws and administrative regulations and observe discipline.
Article 71 Where a State organ functionary working in trademark registration, administration, and review neglects his duty, abuses his power, and engages in
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malpractice for personal gain, violates the law in trademark registration, administration, and review, accepts money or things of value from a party, or seeks illegitimate interests, and where the case is so serious as to constitute a crime, he shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with law. Where the case does not constitute a crime, he shall be given sanction in accordance with law.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 72 Applicants for trademark registration and persons having other trademark matters handled shall pay a fee, the specific rates of which shall be determined separately.
Article 73 This Law shall go into effect as of March 1, 1983. The Regulations on Trademark Administration promulgated by the State Council on April 10, 1963 shall be annulled simultaneously, and any other provisions concerning trademark administration that conflict with the provisions of this Law shall be nullified at the same time.
Trademarks registered before this Law goes into effect shall remain valid.
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中华人民共和国商标法(2013 修正)
(1982 年 8 月 23 日第五届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十四次会议通过 根据 1993 年 2 月 22 日第七届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第三十次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国商标法〉的 决定》第一次修正 根据 2001 年 10 月 27 日第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第二十四次会议
《关于修改〈中华人民共和国商标法〉的决定》第二次修正 根据 2013 年 8 月 30 日第十二届全国人 民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议《关于修改〈中华人民共和国商标法〉的决定》第三次修正)
目 录
第一章 总 则
第二章 商标注册的申请
第三章 商标注册的审查和核准
第四章 注册商标的续展、变更、转让和使用许可 第五章 注册商标的无效宣告
第六章 商标使用的管理
第七章 注册商标专用权的保护 第八章 附 则
第一条 为了加强商标管理,保护商标专用权,促使生产、经营者保证商品和服务质量,维护商标
信誉,以保障消费者和生产、经营者的利益,促进社会主义市场经济的发展,特制定本法。 第二条 国务院工商行政管理部门商标局主管全国商标注册和管理的工作。 国务院工商行政管理部门设立商标评审委员会,负责处理商标争议事宜。
第三条 经商标局核准注册的商标为注册商标,包括商品商标、服务商标和集体商标、证明商标; 商标注册人享有商标专用权,受法律保护。
本法所称集体商标,是指以团体、协会或者其他组织名义注册,供该组织成员在商事活动中使用, 以表明使用者在该组织中的成员资格的标志。
本法所称证明商标,是指由对某种商品或者服务具有监督能力的组织所控制,而由该组织以外的 单位或者个人使用于其商品或者服务,用以证明该商品或者服务的原产地、原料、制造方法、质量或 者其他特定品质的标志。
集体商标、证明商标注册和管理的特殊事项,由国务院工商行政管理部门规定。
第四条 自然人、法人或者其他组织在生产经营活动中,对其商品或者服务需要取得商标专用权的, 应当向商标局申请商标注册。
本法有关商品商标的规定,适用于服务商标。
第五条 两个以上的自然人、法人或者其他组织可以共同向商标局申请注册同一商标,共同享有和 行使该商标专用权。
第六条 法律、行政法规规定必须使用注册商标的商品,必须申请商标注册,未经核准注册的,不 得在市场销售。
第七条 申请注册和使用商标,应当遵循诚实信用原则。
商标使用人应当对其使用商标的商品质量负责。各级工商行政管理部门应当通过商标管理,制止 欺骗消费者的行为。
第八条 任何能够将自然人、法人或者其他组织的商品与他人的商品区别开的标志,包括文字、图 形、字母、数字、三维标志、颜色组合和声音等,以及上述要素的组合,均可以作为商标申请注册。
第九条 申请注册的商标,应当有显著特征,便于识别,并不得与他人在先取得的合法权利相冲突。 商标注册人有权标明“注册商标”或者注册标记。
第十条 下列标志不得作为商标使用:
(一)同中华人民共和国的国家名称、国旗、国徽、国歌、军旗、军徽、军歌、勋章等相同或者 近似的,以及同中央国家机关的名称、标志、所在地特定地点的名称或者标志性建筑物的名称、图形 相同的;
(二)同外国的国家名称、国旗、国徽、军旗等相同或者近似的,但经该国政府同意的除外;
(三)同政府间国际组织的名称、旗帜、徽记等相同或者近似的,但经该组织同意或者不易误导 公众的除外;
(四)与表明实施控制、予以保证的官方标志、检验印记相同或者近似的,但经授权的除外;
(五)同“红十字”、“红新月”的名称、标志相同或者近似的;
(六)带有民族歧视性的;
(七)带有欺骗性,容易使公众对商品的质量等特点或者产地产生误认的;
(八)有害于社会主义道德风尚或者有其他不良影响的。 县级以上行政区划的地名或者公众知晓的外国地名,不得作为商标。但是,地名具有其他含义或
者作为集体商标、证明商标组成部分的除外;已经注册的使用地名的商标继续有效。 第十一条 下列标志不得作为商标注册:
(二)仅直接表示商品的质量、主要原料、功能、用途、重量、数量及其他特点的;
(三)其他缺乏显著特征的。 前款所列标志经过使用取得显著特征,并便于识别的,可以作为商标注册。
第十二条 以三维标志申请注册商标的,仅由商品自身的性质产生的形状、为获得技术效果而需有 的商品形状或者使商品具有实质性价值的形状,不得注册。
第十三条 为相关公众所熟知的商标,持有人认为其权利受到侵害时,可以依照本法规定请求驰名 商标保护。
就相同或者类似商品申请注册的商标是复制、摹仿或者翻译他人未在中国注册的驰名商标,容易 导致混淆的,不予注册并禁止使用。
就不相同或者不相类似商品申请注册的商标是复制、摹仿或者翻译他人已经在中国注册的驰名商 标,误导公众,致使该驰名商标注册人的利益可能受到损害的,不予注册并禁止使用。
第十四条 驰名商标应当根据当事人的请求,作为处理涉及商标案件需要认定的事实进行认定。认 定驰名商标应当考虑下列因素:
(一)相关公众对该商标的知晓程度;
(二)该商标使用的持续时间;
(三)该商标的任何宣传工作的持续时间、程度和地理范围;
(四)该商标作为驰名商标受保护的记录;
(五)该商标驰名的其他因素。 在商标注册审查、工商行政管理部门查处商标违法案件过程中,当事人依照本法第十三条规定主
张权利的,商标局根据审查、处理案件的需要,可以对商标驰名情况作出认定。
在商标争议处理过程中,当事人依照本法第十三条规定主张权利的,商标评审委员会根据处理案 件的需要,可以对商标驰名情况作出认定。
在商标民事、行政案件审理过程中,当事人依照本法第十三条规定主张权利的,最高人民法院指 定的人民法院根据审理案件的需要,可以对商标驰名情况作出认定。
生产、经营者不得将“驰名商标”字样用于商品、商品包装或者容器上,或者用于广告宣传、展览 以及其他商业活动中。
第十五条 未经授权,代理人或者代表人以自己的名义将被代理人或者被代表人的商标进行注册, 被代理人或者被代表人提出异议的,不予注册并禁止使用。
就同一种商品或者类似商品申请注册的商标与他人在先使用的未注册商标相同或者近似,申请人 与该他人具有前款规定以外的合同、业务往来关系或者其他关系而明知该他人商标存在,该他人提出 异议的,不予注册。
第十六条 商标中有商品的地理标志,而该商品并非来源于该标志所标示的地区,误导公众的,不 予注册并禁止使用;但是,已经善意取得注册的继续有效。
前款所称地理标志,是指标示某商品来源于某地区,该商品的特定质量、信誉或者其他特征,主 要由该地区的自然因素或者人文因素所决定的标志。
第十七条 外国人或者外国企业在中国申请商标注册的,应当按其所属国和中华人民共和国签订的 协议或者共同参加的国际条约办理,或者按对等原则办理。
第十八条 申请商标注册或者办理其他商标事宜,可以自行办理,也可以委托依法设立的商标代理 机构办理。
外国人或者外国企业在中国申请商标注册和办理其他商标事宜的,应当委托依法设立的商标代理 机构办理。
第十九条 商标代理机构应当遵循诚实信用原则,遵守法律、行政法规,按照被代理人的委托办理 商标注册申请或者其他商标事宜;对在代理过程中知悉的被代理人的商业秘密,负有保密义务。
委托人申请注册的商标可能存在本法规定不得注册情形的,商标代理机构应当明确告知委托人。
商标代理机构知道或者应当知道委托人申请注册的商标属于本法第十五条和第三十二条规定情形 的,不得接受其委托。
商标代理机构除对其代理服务申请商标注册外,不得申请注册其他商标。
第二十条 商标代理行业组织应当按照章程规定,严格执行吸纳会员的条件,对违反行业自律规范 的会员实行惩戒。商标代理行业组织对其吸纳的会员和对会员的惩戒情况,应当及时向社会公布。
第二十一条 商标国际注册遵循中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的有关国际条约确立的制度,具体办 法由国务院规定。
第二章 商标注册的申请
第二十二条 商标注册申请人应当按规定的商品分类表填报使用商标的商品类别和商品名称,提出 注册申请。
商标注册申请人可以通过一份申请就多个类别的商品申请注册同一商标。 商标注册申请等有关文件,可以以书面方式或者数据电文方式提出。
第二十三条 注册商标需要在核定使用范围之外的商品上取得商标专用权的,应当另行提出注册申
请。
第二十四条 注册商标需要改变其标志的,应当重新提出注册申请。
第二十五条 商标注册申请人自其商标在外国第一次提出商标注册申请之日起六个月内,又在中国 就相同商品以同一商标提出商标注册申请的,依照该外国同中国签订的协议或者共同参加的国际条约, 或者按照相互承认优先权的原则,可以享有优先权。
依照前款要求优先权的,应当在提出商标注册申请的时候提出书面声明,并且在三个月内提交第 一次提出的商标注册申请文件的副本;未提出书面声明或者逾期未提交商标注册申请文件副本的,视 为未要求优先权。
第二十六条 商标在中国政府主办的或者承认的国际展览会展出的商品上首次使用的,自该商品展 出之日起六个月内,该商标的注册申请人可以享有优先权。
依照前款要求优先权的,应当在提出商标注册申请的时候提出书面声明,并且在三个月内提交展 出其商品的展览会名称、在展出商品上使用该商标的证据、展出日期等证明文件;未提出书面声明或 者逾期未提交证明文件的,视为未要求优先权。
第二十七条 为申请商标注册所申报的事项和所提供的材料应当真实、准确、完整。 第三章 商标注册的审查和核准
第二十八条 对申请注册的商标,商标局应当自收到商标注册申请文件之日起九个月内审查完毕, 符合本法有关规定的,予以初步审定公告。
第二十九条 在审查过程中,商标局认为商标注册申请内容需要说明或者修正的,可以要求申请人 做出说明或者修正。申请人未做出说明或者修正的,不影响商标局做出审查决定。
第三十条 申请注册的商标,凡不符合本法有关规定或者同他人在同一种商品或者类似商品上已经 注册的或者初步审定的商标相同或者近似的,由商标局驳回申请,不予公告。
第三十一条 两个或者两个以上的商标注册申请人,在同一种商品或者类似商品上,以相同或者近 似的商标申请注册的,初步审定并公告申请在先的商标;同一天申请的,初步审定并公告使用在先的 商标,驳回其他人的申请,不予公告。
第三十二条 申请商标注册不得损害他人现有的在先权利,也不得以不正当手段抢先注册他人已经 使用并有一定影响的商标。
第三十三条 对初步审定公告的商标,自公告之日起三个月内,在先权利人、利害关系人认为违反 本法第十三条第二款和第三款、第十五条、第十六条第一款、第三十条、第三十一条、第三十二条规 定的,或者任何人认为违反本法第十条、第十一条、第十二条规定的,可以向商标局提出异议。公告 期满无异议的,予以核准注册,发给商标注册证,并予公告。
第三十四条 对驳回申请、不予公告的商标,商标局应当书面通知商标注册申请人。商标注册申请 人不服的,可以自收到通知之日起十五日内向商标评审委员会申请复审。商标评审委员会应当自收到 申请之日起九个月内做出决定,并书面通知申请人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理 部门批准,可以延长三个月。当事人对商标评审委员会的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三十日 内向人民法院起诉。
第三十五条 对初步审定公告的商标提出异议的,商标局应当听取异议人和被异议人陈述事实和理 由,经调查核实后,自公告期满之日起十二个月内做出是否准予注册的决定,并书面通知异议人和被 异议人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可以延长六个月。
商标局做出准予注册决定的,发给商标注册证,并予公告。异议人不服的,可以依照本法第四十 四条、第四十五条的规定向商标评审委员会请求宣告该注册商标无效。
商标局做出不予注册决定,被异议人不服的,可以自收到通知之日起十五日内向商标评审委员会 申请复审。商标评审委员会应当自收到申请之日起十二个月内做出复审决定,并书面通知异议人和被 异议人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可以延长六个月。被异议人对商 标评审委员会的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三十日内向人民法院起诉。人民法院应当通知异 议人作为第三人参加诉讼。
商标评审委员会在依照前款规定进行复审的过程中,所涉及的在先权利的确定必须以人民法院正 在审理或者行政机关正在处理的另一案件的结果为依据的,可以中止审查。中止原因消除后,应当恢 复审查程序。
第三十六条 法定期限届满,当事人对商标局做出的驳回申请决定、不予注册决定不申请复审或者 对商标评审委员会做出的复审决定不向人民法院起诉的,驳回申请决定、不予注册决定或者复审决定 生效。
经审查异议不成立而准予注册的商标,商标注册申请人取得商标专用权的时间自初步审定公告三 个月期满之日起计算。自该商标公告期满之日起至准予注册决定做出前,对他人在同一种或者类似商 品上使用与该商标相同或者近似的标志的行为不具有追溯力;但是,因该使用人的恶意给商标注册人 造成的损失,应当给予赔偿。
第三十七条 对商标注册申请和商标复审申请应当及时进行审查。
第三十八条 商标注册申请人或者注册人发现商标申请文件或者注册文件有明显错误的,可以申请 更正。商标局依法在其职权范围内作出更正,并通知当事人。
前款所称更正错误不涉及商标申请文件或者注册文件的实质性内容。 第四章 注册商标的续展、变更、转让和使用许可
第三十九条 注册商标的有效期为十年,自核准注册之日起计算。
第四十条 注册商标有效期满,需要继续使用的,商标注册人应当在期满前十二个月内按照规定办 理续展手续;在此期间未能办理的,可以给予六个月的宽展期。每次续展注册的有效期为十年,自该 商标上一届有效期满次日起计算。期满未办理续展手续的,注销其注册商标。
商标局应当对续展注册的商标予以公告。
第四十一条 注册商标需要变更注册人的名义、地址或者其他注册事项的,应当提出变更申请。 第四十二条 转让注册商标的,转让人和受让人应当签订转让协议,并共同向商标局提出申请。受
让人应当保证使用该注册商标的商品质量。
转让注册商标的,商标注册人对其在同一种商品上注册的近似的商标,或者在类似商品上注册的 相同或者近似的商标,应当一并转让。
对容易导致混淆或者有其他不良影响的转让,商标局不予核准,书面通知申请人并说明理由。 转让注册商标经核准后,予以公告。受让人自公告之日起享有商标专用权。
第四十三条 商标注册人可以通过签订商标使用许可合同,许可他人使用其注册商标。许可人应当 监督被许可人使用其注册商标的商品质量。被许可人应当保证使用该注册商标的商品质量。
经许可使用他人注册商标的,必须在使用该注册商标的商品上标明被许可人的名称和商品产地。 许可他人使用其注册商标的,许可人应当将其商标使用许可报商标局备案,由商标局公告。商标
使用许可未经备案不得对抗善意第三人。
第五章 注册商标的无效宣告
第四十四条 已经注册的商标,违反本法第十条、第十一条、第十二条规定的,或者是以欺骗手段 或者其他不正当手段取得注册的,由商标局宣告该注册商标无效;其他单位或者个人可以请求商标评 审委员会宣告该注册商标无效。
商标局做出宣告注册商标无效的决定,应当书面通知当事人。当事人对商标局的决定不服的,可 以自收到通知之日起十五日内向商标评审委员会申请复审。商标评审委员会应当自收到申请之日起九 个月内做出决定,并书面通知当事人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可 以延长三个月。当事人对商标评审委员会的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三十日内向人民法院 起诉。
其他单位或者个人请求商标评审委员会宣告注册商标无效的,商标评审委员会收到申请后,应当 书面通知有关当事人,并限期提出答辩。商标评审委员会应当自收到申请之日起九个月内做出维持注 册商标或者宣告注册商标无效的裁定,并书面通知当事人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行 政管理部门批准,可以延长三个月。当事人对商标评审委员会的裁定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起 三十日内向人民法院起诉。人民法院应当通知商标裁定程序的对方当事人作为第三人参加诉讼。
第四十五条 已经注册的商标,违反本法第十三条第二款和第三款、第十五条、第十六条第一款、 第三十条、第三十一条、第三十二条规定的,自商标注册之日起五年内,在先权利人或者利害关系人 可以请求商标评审委员会宣告该注册商标无效。对恶意注册的,驰名商标所有人不受五年的时间限制。
商标评审委员会收到宣告注册商标无效的申请后,应当书面通知有关当事人,并限期提出答辩。 商标评审委员会应当自收到申请之日起十二个月内做出维持注册商标或者宣告注册商标无效的裁定, 并书面通知当事人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可以延长六个月。当 事人对商标评审委员会的裁定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三十日内向人民法院起诉。人民法院应 当通知商标裁定程序的对方当事人作为第三人参加诉讼。
商标评审委员会在依照前款规定对无效宣告请求进行审查的过程中,所涉及的在先权利的确定必 须以人民法院正在审理或者行政机关正在处理的另一案件的结果为依据的,可以中止审查。中止原因 消除后,应当恢复审查程序。
第四十六条 法定期限届满,当事人对商标局宣告注册商标无效的决定不申请复审或者对商标评审 委员会的复审决定、维持注册商标或者宣告注册商标无效的裁定不向人民法院起诉的,商标局的决定 或者商标评审委员会的复审决定、裁定生效。
第四十七条 依照本法第四十四条、第四十五条的规定宣告无效的注册商标,由商标局予以公告, 该注册商标专用权视为自始即不存在。
宣告注册商标无效的决定或者裁定,对宣告无效前人民法院做出并已执行的商标侵权案件的判决、 裁定、调解书和工商行政管理部门做出并已执行的商标侵权案件的处理决定以及已经履行的商标转让 或者使用许可合同不具有追溯力。但是,因商标注册人的恶意给他人造成的损失,应当给予赔偿。
依照前款规定不返还商标侵权赔偿金、商标转让费、商标使用费,明显违反公平原则的,应当全 部或者部分返还。
第六章 商标使用的管理
第四十八条 本法所称商标的使用,是指将商标用于商品、商品包装或者容器以及商品交易文书上, 或者将商标用于广告宣传、展览以及其他商业活动中,用于识别商品来源的行为。
第四十九条 商标注册人在使用注册商标的过程中,自行改变注册商标、注册人名义、地址或者其 他注册事项的,由地方工商行政管理部门责令限期改正;期满不改正的,由商标局撤销其注册商标。
注册商标成为其核定使用的商品的通用名称或者没有正当理由连续三年不使用的,任何单位或者 个人可以向商标局申请撤销该注册商标。商标局应当自收到申请之日起九个月内做出决定。有特殊情 况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可以延长三个月。
第五十条 注册商标被撤销、被宣告无效或者期满不再续展的,自撤销、宣告无效或者注销之日起 一年内,商标局对与该商标相同或者近似的商标注册申请,不予核准。
第五十一条 违反本法第六条规定的,由地方工商行政管理部门责令限期申请注册,违法经营额五 万元以上的,可以处违法经营额百分之二十以下的罚款,没有违法经营额或者违法经营额不足五万元 的,可以处一万元以下的罚款。
第五十二条 将未注册商标冒充注册商标使用的,或者使用未注册商标违反本法第十条规定的,由 地方工商行政管理部门予以制止,限期改正,并可以予以通报,违法经营额五万元以上的,可以处违 法经营额百分之二十以下的罚款,没有违法经营额或者违法经营额不足五万元的,可以处一万元以下 的罚款。
第五十三条 违反本法第十四条第五款规定的,由地方工商行政管理部门责令改正,处十万元罚款。
第五十四条 对商标局撤销或者不予撤销注册商标的决定,当事人不服的,可以自收到通知之日起 十五日内向商标评审委员会申请复审。商标评审委员会应当自收到申请之日起九个月内做出决定,并 书面通知当事人。有特殊情况需要延长的,经国务院工商行政管理部门批准,可以延长三个月。当事 人对商标评审委员会的决定不服的,可以自收到通知之日起三十日内向人民法院起诉。
第五十五条 法定期限届满,当事人对商标局做出的撤销注册商标的决定不申请复审或者对商标评 审委员会做出的复审决定不向人民法院起诉的,撤销注册商标的决定、复审决定生效。
被撤销的注册商标,由商标局予以公告,该注册商标专用权自公告之日起终止。 第七章 注册商标专用权的保护
第五十六条 注册商标的专用权,以核准注册的商标和核定使用的商品为限。 第五十七条 有下列行为之一的,均属侵犯注册商标专用权:
(一)未经商标注册人的许可,在同一种商品上使用与其注册商标相同的商标的;
(二)未经商标注册人的许可,在同一种商品上使用与其注册商标近似的商标,或者在类似商品 上使用与其注册商标相同或者近似的商标,容易导致混淆的;
(三)销售侵犯注册商标专用权的商品的;
(四)伪造、擅自制造他人注册商标标识或者销售伪造、擅自制造的注册商标标识的;
(五)未经商标注册人同意,更换其注册商标并将该更换商标的商品又投入市场的;
(六)故意为侵犯他人商标专用权行为提供便利条件,帮助他人实施侵犯商标专用权行为的;
(七)给他人的注册商标专用权造成其他损害的。
第五十八条 将他人注册商标、未注册的驰名商标作为企业名称中的字号使用,误导公众,构成不 正当竞争行为的,依照《中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法》处理。
第五十九条 注册商标中含有的本商品的通用名称、图形、型号,或者直接表示商品的质量、主要 原料、功能、用途、重量、数量及其他特点,或者含有的地名,注册商标专用权人无权禁止他人正当 使用。
三维标志注册商标中含有的商品自身的性质产生的形状、为获得技术效果而需有的商品形状或者 使商品具有实质性价值的形状,注册商标专用权人无权禁止他人正当使用。
商标注册人申请商标注册前,他人已经在同一种商品或者类似商品上先于商标注册人使用与注册 商标相同或者近似并有一定影响的商标的,注册商标专用权人无权禁止该使用人在原使用范围内继续 使用该商标,但可以要求其附加适当区别标识。
第六十条 有本法第五十七条所列侵犯注册商标专用权行为之一,引起纠纷的,由当事人协商解决; 不愿协商或者协商不成的,商标注册人或者利害关系人可以向人民法院起诉,也可以请求工商行政管 理部门处理。
工商行政管理部门处理时,认定侵权行为成立的,责令立即停止侵权行为,没收、销毁侵权商品 和主要用于制造侵权商品、伪造注册商标标识的工具,违法经营额五万元以上的,可以处违法经营额 五倍以下的罚款,没有违法经营额或者违法经营额不足五万元的,可以处二十五万元以下的罚款。对 五年内实施两次以上商标侵权行为或者有其他严重情节的,应当从重处罚。销售不知道是侵犯注册商 标专用权的商品,能证明该商品是自己合法取得并说明提供者的,由工商行政管理部门责令停止销售。
对侵犯商标专用权的赔偿数额的争议,当事人可以请求进行处理的工商行政管理部门调解,也可 以依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》向人民法院起诉。经工商行政管理部门调解,当事人未达成协 议或者调解书生效后不履行的,当事人可以依照《中华人民共和国民事诉讼法》向人民法院起诉。
第六十一条 对侵犯注册商标专用权的行为,工商行政管理部门有权依法查处;涉嫌犯罪的,应当 及时移送司法机关依法处理。
第六十二条 县级以上工商行政管理部门根据已经取得的违法嫌疑证据或者举报,对涉嫌侵犯他人 注册商标专用权的行为进行查处时,可以行使下列职权:
(一)询问有关当事人,调查与侵犯他人注册商标专用权有关的情况;
(二)查阅、复制当事人与侵权活动有关的合同、发票、账簿以及其他有关资料;
(三)对当事人涉嫌从事侵犯他人注册商标专用权活动的场所实施现场检查;
(四)检查与侵权活动有关的物品;对有证据证明是侵犯他人注册商标专用权的物品,可以查封 或者扣押。
工商行政管理部门依法行使前款规定的职权时,当事人应当予以协助、配合,不得拒绝、阻挠。 在查处商标侵权案件过程中,对商标权属存在争议或者权利人同时向人民法院提起商标侵权诉讼
的,工商行政管理部门可以中止案件的查处。中止原因消除后,应当恢复或者终结案件查处程序。
第六十三条 侵犯商标专用权的赔偿数额,按照权利人因被侵权所受到的实际损失确定;实际损失 难以确定的,可以按照侵权人因侵权所获得的利益确定;权利人的损失或者侵权人获得的利益难以确 定的,参照该商标许可使用费的倍数合理确定。对恶意侵犯商标专用权,情节严重的,可以在按照上 述方法确定数额的一倍以上三倍以下确定赔偿数额。赔偿数额应当包括权利人为制止侵权行为所支付 的合理开支。
人民法院为确定赔偿数额,在权利人已经尽力举证,而与侵权行为相关的账簿、资料主要由侵权 人掌握的情况下,可以责令侵权人提供与侵权行为相关的账簿、资料;侵权人不提供或者提供虚假的 账簿、资料的,人民法院可以参考权利人的主张和提供的证据判定赔偿数额。
权利人因被侵权所受到的实际损失、侵权人因侵权所获得的利益、注册商标许可使用费难以确定 的,由人民法院根据侵权行为的情节判决给予三百万元以下的赔偿。
第六十四条 注册商标专用权人请求赔偿,被控侵权人以注册商标专用权人未使用注册商标提出抗 辩的,人民法院可以要求注册商标专用权人提供此前三年内实际使用该注册商标的证据。注册商标专 用权人不能证明此前三年内实际使用过该注册商标,也不能证明因侵权行为受到其他损失的,被控侵 权人不承担赔偿责任。
销售不知道是侵犯注册商标专用权的商品,能证明该商品是自己合法取得并说明提供者的,不承 担赔偿责任。
第六十五条 商标注册人或者利害关系人有证据证明他人正在实施或者即将实施侵犯其注册商标专 用权的行为,如不及时制止将会使其合法权益受到难以弥补的损害的,可以依法在起诉前向人民法院 申请采取责令停止有关行为和财产保全的措施。
第六十六条 为制止侵权行为,在证据可能灭失或者以后难以取得的情况下,商标注册人或者利害 关系人可以依法在起诉前向人民法院申请保全证据。
第六十七条 未经商标注册人许可,在同一种商品上使用与其注册商标相同的商标,构成犯罪的, 除赔偿被侵权人的损失外,依法追究刑事责任。
伪造、擅自制造他人注册商标标识或者销售伪造、擅自制造的注册商标标识,构成犯罪的,除赔 偿被侵权人的损失外,依法追究刑事责任。
销售明知是假冒注册商标的商品,构成犯罪的,除赔偿被侵权人的损失外,依法追究刑事责任。 第六十八条 商标代理机构有下列行为之一的,由工商行政管理部门责令限期改正,给予警告,处
一万元以上十万元以下的罚款;对直接负责的主管人员和其他直接责任人员给予警告,处五千元以上
五万元以下的罚款;构成犯罪的,依法追究刑事责任:
(一)办理商标事宜过程中,伪造、变造或者使用伪造、变造的法律文件、印章、签名的;
(二)以诋毁其他商标代理机构等手段招徕商标代理业务或者以其他不正当手段扰乱商标代理市 场秩序的;
(三)违反本法第十九条第三款、第四款规定的。 商标代理机构有前款规定行为的,由工商行政管理部门记入信用档案;情节严重的,商标局、商
标评审委员会并可以决定停止受理其办理商标代理业务,予以公告。
商标代理机构违反诚实信用原则,侵害委托人合法利益的,应当依法承担民事责任,并由商标代 理行业组织按照章程规定予以惩戒。
第六十九条 从事商标注册、管理和复审工作的国家机关工作人员必须秉公执法,廉洁自律,忠于 职守,文明服务。
商标局、商标评审委员会以及从事商标注册、管理和复审工作的国家机关工作人员不得从事商标 代理业务和商品生产经营活动。
第七十条 工商行政管理部门应当建立健全内部监督制度,对负责商标注册、管理和复审工作的国 家机关工作人员执行法律、行政法规和遵守纪律的情况,进行监督检查。
第七十一条 从事商标注册、管理和复审工作的国家机关工作人员玩忽职守、滥用职权、徇私舞弊, 违法办理商标注册、管理和复审事项,收受当事人财物,牟取不正当利益,构成犯罪的,依法追究刑 事责任;尚不构成犯罪的,依法给予处分。
第八章 附则
第七十二条 申请商标注册和办理其他商标事宜的,应当缴纳费用,具体收费标准另定。 第七十三条 本法自 1983 年 3 月 1 日起施行。1963 年 4 月 10 日国务院公布的《商标管理条例》
同时废止;其他有关商标管理的规定,凡与本法抵触的,同时失效。
本法施行前已经注册的商标继续有效。