法国商标改法：官费上调？

 

The new measures of trademark in France come into effect as date of 11, December 2019, except for the cancellation procedure that will begin on April 1, 2020.

法国首批商标改革措施于2019年12月11日起生效。新的商标撤销程序则将于2020年4月1日生效。

 

The biggest change of the new measures is fee increase.in trademark.

本次商标改革最大的变化是商标费用上涨。

 

Here is the comparison between the current officials fees for trademark application, renewal and the new official fees as of date 11, December 2019.

以下是目前法国商标申请，续展的规费，与之前（2019年12月11日前）规费的对比：

 

	2019-12-11前	2019-12-11起
商标申请（首类）	€210	€190
商标申请（二类）		€230
商标申请（三类）		€270
商标申请（增类）	€42	€40
商标续展（首类）	€250	€290
商标续展（二类）		€330
商标续展（三类）		€370
商标续展（增类）	€42	€40

 

According to the table, the application and renewal fee is quite different from before. In the past, the application fee €210 is for 3 classes which means no matter an applicant apply for 1 class or 3 classes, the official fee is still €210. But the new fee doesn’t inclde 3 classes any more. It divides into the first class €190 and €40 for each additional class. Renewal is the same, renewal fee also doesn’t include 3 classes but divides into first class and each additional class.

申请和续展费用与之前截然不同。 过去，€210的申请费可包含3个类别，也就是说无论申请人申请1个或3个类别，规费皆为€210。但是新费不再包含3个类别，新费首类为€190，增类为€40。续展也同样如此，如今续展费用也不再包含三个类别，而是分为首类，次类。

 

Knowledge Extension.France

知识延伸.法国

 

1.What can be registered as a trademark?

什么可以注册为商标？

a.  A sign capable of being graphically represented and distinguishing the goods or services of an undertaking from those of another;

 

能够以图形方式表示，并区分某企业与其他企业的商品或服务的标志；

b. Denomination in all forms, such as words, combinations of words, surnames and geographical names, pseudonyms, letters, numerals and abbreviations;

商标可以是各种形式，如文字、文字组合、姓氏和地名、化名、字母，数字和缩写；

c. Audible signs, such as sounds and musical phrases;

音符，如声音和乐句；

d. Figurative signs, such as labels, logos, shapes and combinations or colour.

具有象征意义的标志，例如标签、标志，形状及其组合，或颜色。

 

2. What information is needed to register a trademark?

注册商标需要什么材料

a. The name and address of the applicants;

申请人名址；

b. An image of the mark being claimed as a trademark and a description thereof;

指定商标的图样及其描述；

c. A list of goods and/or services under Nice Classification;

选定的尼斯商品/服务；

d. A document confirming payment of the official filing fee.

确认支付官方申请费的文件。

 

3. What is the general procedure for trademark registration?

商标注册的一般性程序

The applicant must file an online registration form. The French Office shall review the application and check if the mark complies with the formal requirements and absolute grounds for refusal, the application shall be published within six weeks following the filing. In case of non-compliance, the French Office will notify the applicant the objections raised and give a certain period of time to amend the application filed or reply to the French Office’s observations.

申请人必须提交在线注册表格，商标局将对商标进行形式审查和绝对理由审查，申请应在申请后6周内公告。如果审查不合格，商标局将通知申请人，并给予其特定的时间补正或答复审查意见。

Within two months following the publication of the application, any third party can file opposition. Unless opposition is filed, the French Office shall allow the registration of the trademark within 6 months following the application, publish the registration and issue the corresponding certificate of registration.

申请公布后两个月内，任何第三方均可提出异议。若无异议，商标局则应在申请后的6个月内予以商标注册，公布注册并颁发相应的注册证书。

 

4. Can a trademark acquire distinctiveness through use?

商标是否可以通过使用而获得显著性？

Distinctiveness can be acquired before and/or after the trademark’s registration.

商标可在注册前/后通过使用来获得显著性。

 

5. How long on average does registration take?

商标注册平均时间？

Provided that no official actions and no objections by third parties are raised, the registration of a trademark takes, on average, 6 months.

如果没有收到何官审查意见和第三方异议，商标注册平均约6个月。

 

6. Is there more than one way to obtaining a registration in France?

是否可以通过其他途径注册法国商标？

A French trademark can either be registered before the French Office or via the Madrid system with the filing of an international trademark application designating France.

除了向法国商标局直接提交申请外，申请人也可以通过马德里国际注册指定法国来注册法国商标。

7. What are the relative grounds of for refusal of registration?

 

相对理由驳回有哪些？

a. An earlier registered or well-known mark;

在先近似或驰名商标；

b. A company name, where there is a risk of confusion in the public mind;

申请商标是公司名称，可能会与他人的在先权利引起混淆；

c. A protected appellation of origin;

受保护的原产地名称；

d. Rights deriving from a model or a design; and

源自模型或设计的权利；

e. Personality rights of a legal person, particularly his surname, pseudonym or likeness.

侵犯法人的人格权，尤其是其姓氏，化名或肖像；

 

8. Are there ways to overcome a relative grounds refusal?

如何克服商标的相对理由驳回

a. Argue that there is no risk of confusion between the trademark applied for and the earlier sign;

答辩申请商标与在先商标之间不会产生混淆；

b. Bring invalidity proceedings against the prior trademark;

对在先商标提起无效诉讼；

c. Limit the application to some goods and/or services;

限制产品/服务；

d. Negotiate a co-existence agreement with the owner of the prior right.

与在先商标的权利人协商共存。

 

9. On what grounds can a trademark be opposed?

什么情况下会收到异议？

a. The trademark is confusingly similar or identical to a previously registered trademark or a famous mark;

商标与先前注册的商标或驰名商标相同或相似；

b. A right over the name, image or reputation of a prior appellation of origin or geographical appellation;

商标侵犯了原产地名称、地理名称的名字、图像或声誉；

c. A right over the name of a local territorial authority or a geographical indication.

商标侵犯了地方领土名称或地理标志。

 

10. What is the procedure of opposition?

 异议程序是怎样的？

Opposition can be filed before the French Office within 2 months from the publication of the trademark application.

异议可以在商标申请发布后的两个月内向商标局提出。

The opposition shall notably specify the identity of the opponent; the nature, origin, and scope of the prior rights claimed; the references of the application against which the opposition is filed and the list of goods and services.

异议方应表明身份、在先权利的性质，来源和范围；提出异议的申请的参考文献以及商品和服务清单。

The statement of grounds of opposition, establishing notably the likelihood of confusion between the signs. In this respect, it can be underlined that the likelihood of confusion must be globally assessed taking into account all relevant factors, including the distinctiveness, the well-known character or the degree of recognition of the earlier trademark as repeatedly reinstated by the French Supreme Court.

异议人应提交反对理由的陈述，特别是确定双方商标混淆的可能性。必须综合考虑所有相关因素，包括法国最高院反复重申的对在先商标的独特性、众所周知的特征或认可程度，对混淆的可能性进行全面评估。 。

The opposition is notified to the applicant, who is granted a delay to submit counter-observations. Upon these counter-observations, a draft decision will be proposed by the French Office. Both the opponent and applicant will be able to file observations on the draft decision to request a pleading date. Absent any observations, the French Office’s draft decision will become final and such draft will constitute the decision.

通知申请人该异议，申请人将有一段特定时间来提交反驳陈述。根据反驳陈述，商标局将作出裁定。异议人和申请人都能就该决定提出意见，进行上诉。如双方未在规定时间内提出上诉，商标局的裁定将成为最终决定。

Unless the proceedings are stayed, the French Office’s decision must be issued within 6 months from the expiry of the opposition deadline and can be appealed before the Competent Court of Appeal.

除非中止诉讼程序，否则商标局的决定必须在异议截止日期届满后的6个月内发布，并可以向主管上诉法院提出上诉。

 

11. What is the term of a trademark? How about Renewal?

商标有效期多久？关于续展？

The mark is valid for 10 years from the filing date of the application. An application of trademark renewal maybe filed not more than 6 months before the expiration of the registration and the grace period is 6 months.

自商标申请日起算，商标有效期为10年。商标一般自有效期截止前6个月开始续展，宽展期为6个月。

 

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五洲普华将持续致力于为您提供更多的知产新闻！