The Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006
2006 No. 1027
TRADE MARKS
The Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006
Made 5th April 2006
Laid before Parliament 6th April 2006
Coming into force 29th April 2006
The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 52 of the Trade Marks Act 19941:
Citation, commencement, extent and revocations
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006 and shall come into force on 29th April 2006.
(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(3) The instruments set out in the Schedule (revocations) shall be revoked to the extent specified.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
“Community trade mark court” means a court designated by regulation 12;
“international application” means an application to the International Bureau for registration of a trade mark in the International Register;
“international application designating the European Community” means an international application in which a request has been made for extension of protection to the European Community under Article 3ter (1) of the Madrid Protocol;
“International Register” means the register of trade marks maintained by the International Bureau for the purposes of the Madrid Protocol;
“international registration” means the registration of a trade mark in the International Register;
“international registration designating the European Community” means an international registration in relation to which a request has been made (either in the relevant international application or subsequently) for extension of protection to the European Community under Article 3ter (1) or (2) of the Madrid Protocol.
(2) In regulations 3 to 9, a reference to a Community trade mark includes a reference to an international trade mark (EC), and in that case—
(a)
(a) a reference to a revocation or declaration of invalidity of the mark is a reference to a revocation or declaration of invalidity of the protection of the mark;
(b)
(b) a reference to the goods or services for which the mark is registered is a reference to the goods or services in respect of which the mark is protected.
(3) In these Regulations “the Act” means the Trade Marks Act 1994, and any reference to a section is, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to a section of that Act.
Determination of invalidity and liability to revocation in relation to claims of seniority
3.—(1) Where the proprietor of a Community trade mark claims the seniority of a registered trade mark which—
(a)
(a) has been removed from the register under section 43, or
(b)
(b) has been surrendered under section 45,
any person may apply to the registrar or to the court for the declaration set out in paragraph (3).
(2) Where such a proprietor claims the seniority of an international trade mark (UK) which has been removed from the International Register or surrendered, any person may apply to the registrar or to the court for the declaration set out in paragraph (3).
(3) The declaration is that if the trade mark had not been so removed or surrendered, it would have been liable to be revoked under section 46 or declared invalid under section 472.
(4) An address for service in the United Kingdom shall be filed by—
(a)
(a) the person making an application under paragraph (1) or (2); and
(b)
(b) the proprietor of the Community trade mark,
unless in a particular case the registrar otherwise directs.
(5) Where the trade mark has been surrendered in respect of some only of the goods or services for which it is registered (or protected), paragraph (1) or (2) shall apply in relation to those goods or services only.
Procedure for declaration that trade mark would have been liable to be revoked or declared invalid
4.—(1) In proceedings on an application under regulation 3(1) or (2) the registration of a person as proprietor of a trade mark shall be prima facie evidence of the validity of the original registration.
(2) In the case of such proceedings before the registrar, the provisions of rules 31 to 37, 54 to 62, 67 to 69 and 72 of the Trade Marks Rules 20003, with necessary modifications, shall apply.
(3) In the case of such proceedings before the court, the registrar is entitled to appear and be heard, and shall appear if so directed by the court.
(4) Unless otherwise directed by the court, the registrar may instead of appearing submit to the court a statement in writing signed by him, giving particulars of—
(a)
(a) any proceedings before him in relation to the matter in issue,
(b)
(b) the grounds of any decision given by him affecting it,
(c)
(c) the practice of the Patent Office in like cases, or
(d)
(d) such matters relevant to the issues and within his knowledge as registrar as he thinks fit;
and the statement shall be deemed to form part of the evidence in the proceedings.
(5) Anything which the registrar is or may be authorised or required to do under this regulation may be done on his behalf by a duly authorised officer.
Remedies in infringement proceedings
5.—(1) This regulation is without prejudice to the duties of the Community trade mark court under Article 98(1) of the Community Trade Mark Regulation.
(2) In an action for infringement of a Community trade mark all such relief by way of damages, injunctions, accounts or otherwise is available to the proprietor of the Community trade mark as is available in respect of the infringement of any other property right.
(3) The provisions of sections 15 to 19 apply in relation to a Community trade mark as they apply to a registered trade mark; and any reference to the court shall be construed as meaning the Community trade mark court.
Groundless threats of infringement proceedings
6.—(1) The provisions of section 21 apply in relation to a Community trade mark as they apply to a registered trade mark.
(2) However, in the application of those provisions in relation to an international trade mark (EC)—
(a)
(a) the reference in section 21(3) to the registration of the trade mark shall be treated as a reference to the protection of the international trade mark (EC);
(b)
(b) the reference in section 21(4) to notification that a trade mark is registered, shall be treated as a reference to notification that a trade mark is an international trade mark (EC); and
(c)
(c) the reference in section 21(4) to notification that an application for registration has been made, shall be treated as a reference to notification that a trade mark is the subject of an international application or international registration designating the European Community.
Importation of infringing goods, material or articles
7.—(1) The provisions of—
(a)
(a) section 89 (infringing goods, material or articles may be treated as prohibited goods);
(b)
(b) section 90 and section 91 (power of Commissioners of Customs and Excise to disclose information),
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