Taiwan's IP Office (TIPO) published on November 26, 2019 a draft amendment to the Trademark Act after holding a hearing. All sectors of the community are invited to render their opinions in two months from publication of the draft.
Hereinafter we would like to summarize the main points of the amendment for your ready reference:
Article 6
Under the current Trademark Law, any person may act as a trademark agent so long as he/she has a residence in Taiwan. The draft amendment stipulates that, apart from lawyers or other persons who are surely entitled to act as trademark agents, TIPO may formulate relevant rules and regulations governing the qualifications, management, and revocation of the registration of trademark agents.
Article 13
Official documents can be served electronically according to the draft amendment.
Article 19.3
In addition to natural and legal persons, the draft amendment provides that partnership organizations, administrative organizations, non-corporate bodies established in accordance with the relevant laws or stores registered under the Commercial Registration Law may also file trademark applications.
Article 19.8
An expedited examination system is added. When filing a trademark application, the applicant may request TIPO to expedite examination with submission of the fact and reasons surrounding such request.
Article 20.4
The current Trademark Act provides that a certified copy of the basic application needs to be submitted to TIPO as a supporting document in the case of claiming priority for a trademark application filed in Taiwan. The draft amendment relaxes this requirement and mandates that, any type of documents can be accepted as a supporting document for claiming priority, provided that the document which has evidential effect is issued by the relevant TIPO. On this score, the applicant may claim priority with submission of a certificate of registration.
Article 30.1.14
The current Trademark Act provides that no one is allowed to register a trademark which comprises or is composed of the name of a famous juristic person, store, or other organization and thus likely to confuse the related consumers. The draft amendment expands such protection by prohibiting registration of a trademark which comprises or is composed of a name the same as or similar to the name of a famous juristic person, store, or other organization and thus likely to confuse the related consumers.
Articles 30.1.15 & 57.2
Currently, a trademark is statutorily unregistrable in case it was determined in a final and irrevocable court ruling that the trademark has infringed upon a copyright, patent, or other legal right owned by a third party. Based on the reason that TIPO is not in the capacity to verify the authenticity of the facts surrounding a private right dispute at the trademark filing stage, the TIPO, according to the draft amendment, will not address any registrability issue during the prosecution of an application for a trademark judged to have infringed upon another's IP right. However, a third party may initiate an invalidation action questioning the registrability of such trademark before TIPO based on a court ruling.
Article 36.1.1
According to the current Trademark Act, "fair use" is not restricted by another's exclusive right to a trademark. The draft amendment makes it more clear that either "descriptive fair use" or "nominative fair use" shall be deemed to be "fair use".
Article 36.2
The "international exhaustion of trademark right" doctrine is embraced by the current Trademark Act. The draft amendment adds an exception to said doctrine, under which a trademark holder may still claim his right to the trademark if the branded goods circulating in the market have been processed and refurbished by a third party.
Article 66.2
A non-use cancellation action can be filed against a registered trademark if it has not been put to use for three years after its registration. The draft amendment makes it clear that when a registered trademark is canceled finally and irrevocably due to non-use, the right to said trademark shall be deemed extinguished from the filing date of the cancellation action initiated by TIPO ex officio or by a third party .
智慧財產局公告商標法修正草案
智慧財產局(下稱智慧局)日前就商標法修正舉行公聽會，並於2019年11月28日公告商標法修草案，擬以2個月的時間徵求各界修正意見。此次修正草案重點如下：
1、 商標代理人資格：(商標法第6條)
根據現行商標法，商標代理人僅須在台灣境內有住所即可。修正草案中規定，除了律師或其他依法得執行商標代理業務者，商標法授權智慧局得針對登錄為商標代理人資格、管理商標代理人、撤銷商標代理人登錄等制定辦法。
2、 智慧局得以電子方式 送達文件。(商標法第13條)
3、 增加申請人資格種類：商標申請人除自然人與法人之外，修正草案規定 合夥組織、行政機關、依法設立之非法人團體或依商業登記法登記之商號，也能申請商標。(商標法19.3)
4、 新增加速審查制度：申請商標時，申請人得於申請時一併敘明事實與理由，請求智慧局加速審查(商標法19.3)
5、 修正優先權證明文件種類：現行商標法規定，主張優先權者，申請人應檢附據以主張優先權之主管機關受理之申請文件。修正草案放寬文件種類，不限於申請文件，只要能證明據以主張優先權之主管機關 受理之文件，例如註冊證也可接受。(商標法20.4)
6、 擴大對著名之法人、商號或其他團體名稱之保護：現行商標法第30條第1項第14款規定，相同於著名之法人、商號或其他團體名稱者不得註冊商標。修正草案則擴大範圍為相同或 近似於著名之法人、商號或其他團體名稱者不得註冊商標。(商標法第30.1.14)
7、 現行商標法規定，商標侵害他人之著作權、專利權或其他權利，經判決確定者不得註冊商標。惟申請的商標是否有上開事由屬私權糾紛，智慧局無從在商標審查階段審認事實真偽，故修正草案將上開不得註冊商標的事由移列為 評定事由。 (商標法第57.2)
8、 新增指示性合理使用(Nominative Fair Use)型態亦不受他人商標權效力拘束(商標法第36.1.2)
9、 現行商標法對於商標的權利採國際耗盡原則。修正草案新增一則國際耗盡原則之例外，即商品流通於市場後經第三人擅自加工、改造者，商標權人仍得對該商品主張商標權。(商標法第36.2)
10、 明定商標廢止的生效日：
註冊商標3年未使用是廢止最常見的事由。修正草案明定，商標經處分廢止確定者，其商標權自第三人申請廢止或智慧局依職權提起廢止之日後失其效力。(商標法第66.2)
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
