Trade Marks Act 1994
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Status: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. Changes to legislation: There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Trade Marks Act 1994. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes Trade Marks Act 1994 1994 CHAPTER 26 An Act to make new provision for registered trade marks, implementing Council Directive No.89/104/EEC of 21st December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks; to make provision in connection with Council Regulation (EC) No. 40/94 of 20th December 1993 on the Community trade mark; to give effect to the Madrid Protocol Relating to the International Registration of Marks of 27th June 1989, and to certain provisions of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 20th March 1883, as revised and amended; and for connected purposes. [21st July 1994] Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—F1F2 Extent Information E1 Act extends to the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man see s. 108(2). Textual Amendments F1 Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2008/2206, Sch. 2 (as amended) (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/825), regs. 1(1), 52 (with Pt. 5) F2 Act amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 2013/2601, art. 2, Sch. (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1157), Sch. Modifications etc. (not altering text) C1 Act applied (with modifications) (I.O.M) (1.4.1996) by S.I. 1996/729, art. 2, Sch. (as amended (24.12.2002) by S.I. 2002/3148, art. 2 and (1.7.2004) by S.I. 2004/1497, art. 2, Sch.) Act applied (14.8.1996) by S.I. 1996/1908, reg. 10(2)(3) C2 Act applied in part (with modifications) (1.10.2008) by Trade Marks (International Registration) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2206), art. 3(3), Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 2 (as amended (31.3.2013) by The Trade Marks (International Registration) (Amendment) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/445), arts. 1, 3(2) (with art. 6) C3 Act modified (Isle of Man) (11.11.2013) by The Trade Marks (Isle of Man) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/2601), art. 2, Sch. 2 Trade Marks Act 1994 (c. 26) Part I – Registered trade marks Document Generated: 2021-03-26 Status: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. Changes to legislation: There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Trade Marks Act 1994. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes Commencement Information I1 Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 109(1); Act partly in force for limited purposes temporarily 29.9.1994 by S.I. 1994/2550, art.3, Sch.; Act wholly in force 31.10.1994 by S.I. 1994/2550,art.2. PART I REGISTERED TRADE MARKS Introductory 1 Trade marks. [F3(1) In this Act “trade mark” means any sign which is capable— (a) of being represented in the register in a manner which enables the registrar and other competent authorities and the public to determine the clear and precise subject matter of the protection afforded to the proprietor, and (b) of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. A trade mark may, in particular, consist of words (including personal names), designs, letters, numerals, colours, sounds or the shape of goods or their packaging.] (2) References in this Act to a trade mark include, unless the context otherwise requires, references to a collective mark (see section 49) or certification mark (see section 50). Textual Amendments F3 S. 1(1) substituted (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/825), regs. 1(1), 3 (with Pt. 5) 2 Registered trade marks. (1) A registered trade mark is a property right obtained by the registration of the trade mark under this Act and the proprietor of a registered trade mark has the rights and remedies provided by this Act. (2) No proceedings lie to prevent or recover damages for the infringement of an unregistered trade mark as such; but nothing in this Act affects the law relating to passing off. Grounds for refusal of registration 3 Absolute grounds for refusal of registration. (1) The following shall not be registered— (a) signs which do not satisfy the requirements of section 1(1), (b) trade marks which are devoid of any distinctive character, (c) trade marks which consist exclusively of signs or indications which may serve, in trade, to designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, Trade Marks Act 1994 (c. 26) 3 Part I – Registered trade marks Document Generated: 2021-03-26 Status: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. Changes to legislation: There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Trade Marks Act 1994. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes value, geographical origin, the time of production of goods or of rendering of services, or other characteristics of goods or services, (d) trade marks which consist exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in the current language or in thebona fide and established practices of the trade: Provided that, a trade mark shall not be refused registration by virtue of paragraph (b), (c) or (d) above if, before the date of application for registration, it has in fact acquired a distinctive character as a result of the use made of it. (2) A sign shall not be registered as a trade mark if it consists exclusively of— (a) the shape[F4, or another characteristic,] which results from the nature of the goods themselves, (b) the shape[F4, or another characteristic,] of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result, or (c) the shape[F4, or another characteristic,] which gives substantial value to the goods. (3) A trade mark shall not be registered if it is— (a) contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality, or (b) of such a nature as to deceive the public (for instance as to the nature, quality or geographical origin of the goods or service). (4) A trade mark shall not be registered if or to the extent that its use is prohibited in the United Kingdom by any enactment or rule of law or by any provision of [F5EU] law [F6other than law relating to trade marks]. [F7(4A) A trade mark is not to be registered if its registration is prohibited by or under— (a) any enactment or rule of law, (b) any provision of EU law, or (c) any international agreement to which the United Kingdom or the EU is a party, providing for the protection of designations of origin or geographical indications. (4B) A trade mark is not to be registered if its registration is prohibited by or under— (a) any provision of EU law, or (b) any international agreement to which the EU is a party, providing for the protection of traditional terms for wine or traditional specialities guaranteed. (4C) A trade mark is not to be registered if it— (a) consists of, or reproduces in its essential elements, an earlier plant variety denomination registered as mentioned in subsection (4D), and (b) is in respect of plant varieties of the same or closely related species. (4D) Subsection (4C)(a) refers to registration in accordance with any— (a) enactment or rule of law, (b) provision of EU law, or (c) international agreement to which the United Kingdom or the EU is a party, providing for the protection of plant variety rights.] (5) A trade mark shall not be registered in the cases specified, or referred to, in section 4 (specially protected emblems). 4 Trade Marks Act 1994 (c. 26) Part I – Registered trade marks Document Generated: 2021-03-26 Status: This version of this Act contains provisions that are prospective. Changes to legislation: There are outstanding changes not yet made by the legislation.gov.uk editorial team to Trade Marks Act 1994. Any changes that have already been made by the team appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes (6) A trade mark shall not be registered if or to the extent that the application is made in bad faith. Textual Amendments F4 Words in s. 3(2) inserted (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/825), regs. 1(1), 4(2) (with Pt. 5) F5 Words in Act substituted (22.4.2011) by The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1043), arts. 2, 3, 6 (with arts. 3(2)(3), 4(2), 6(4)(5)) F6 Words in s. 3(4) inserted (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/825), regs. 1(1), 4(3) (with Pt. 5) F7 S. 3(4A)-(4D) inserted (14.1.2019) by The Trade Marks Regulations 2018 (S.I.