TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE

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TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE ——附加英文版

Hong Kong


TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE
 (CHAPTER 362)
 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
  
  ion
  I    PRELIMINARY
  hort title
  nterpretation
  pecial provisions applicable to goldware
  arking orders
  nformation to be given in advertisements
  II    FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS OR REPRESENTATIONS AND FORGED
TRADE
  S
  pplying a trade description, trade mark or mark to goods
  ffences in respect of trade descriptions
  rade descriptions used in advertisements
  ffences in respect of trade marks
  False representations as to Royal approval or award. etc.
  False representations as to supply of goods
  Prohibited import and export of certain goods
  Power to exempt goods sold for export
  III   ENFORCEMENT
  Appointment of authorized officers
  Power to enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents
  Restrictions on the entry and search of domestic premises
  Power to detain goods by locking or sealing premises or container
  Powers of arrest of authorized officers
  Disclosure of information, etc.
  Offences of obstruction and disclosure of information
  Penalties
  Time limit for prosecutions
  Offences by corporations
  Offences due to fault of other person
  Accessory to offences committed outside Hong Kong
  Samples
  Evidence by certificate
  Rule of evidence regarding imported goods with false trade
  ription
  Description of trade mark in pleading
  Defence mistake, accident, etc.
  Innocent publication of advertisements
  Costs in proceedings
  Power to make orders with respect to property in possession of
the
  n
  Forfeiture and disposal of certain goods
  [Repealed]
  IV    MISCELLANEOUS
  Trade marks containing trade descriptions
  Definition Orders
  Saving for civil rights
  Compensation for loss of goods seized under section 15 (1) (f)
 Whole document
  
  rohibit false trade descriptions, false marks and 
misstatements in
  ect of goods provided in the course of trade; to confer 
power to
  ire information or instruction relating to goods to be marked on
or to
  mpany the goods or to be included in advertisements; to prohibit 
the
  thorized use of devices or emblems signifying an award by the
Queen or
  Governor; to restate the law relating to forgery of trade marks; 
and
  purposes connected therewith.
  pril 1981.]
 PART I PRELIMINARY
  
  hort title.
  Ordinance may be cited as the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.
  nterpretation.
  In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
  ertisement" includes a catalogue, a circular and a price list;
  horized officer" means a public officer appointed under section
14;
  missioner" means the Commissioner of Customs and Excise and any
Deputy
  ssistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise; (Added, L. N.
294/82)
  vention country" has the meaning assigned to it by section 13A
(6) of
  Trade Marks Ordinance (Cap. 43.);
  se trade description" means--
  a trade description which is false to a material degree;
  a trade description which, though not false, is misleading, that
is to
  likely to be taken for such an indication of any of the 
matters
  ified in the definition of "trade description" as would be false
to a
  rial degree;
  anything which, though not a trade description, is likely to be 
taken
  an indication of any of the matters specified in the 
definition of
  de description" and, as such an indication, would be false 
to a
  rial degree;
  a false indication, or anything likely to be taken as an 
indication
  h would be false, that any goods comply with a standard specified 
or
  gnized by any person or implied by the approval of any person if
there
  o such person or no standard so specified, recognized or implied;
or
  a false indication, or anything likely to be taken as an 
indication
  h would be false, that any goods of any class or type--
  being goods in respect of which duty is payable under the laws
of Hong
  , are supplied free of the duty so payable in respect of that class
or
  of goods; or
  not being goods in respect of which duty is payable under the laws
of
  Kong, are supplied free of the duty so payable;
  ds" includes vessel and aircraft. things attached to land and 
growing
  s; "goods in transit" means goods which--
  are brought into Hong Kong solely for the purpose of taking them 
out
  ong Kong; and
  remain at all times in or on the vessel, aircraft or vehicle in
or on
  h they are brought into Hong Kong;
  ort" means to bring, or cause to be brought, into Hong Kong;
  mises" includes any place and any stall, vehicle, vessel or
aircraft;
  
  de description" means an indication, direct or indirect, 
and by
  ever means given, of any of the following matters with respect
to any
  s or parts of goods, that is to say--
  quantity (which includes length, width, height, area, 
volume,
  city, weight, and number), size or gauge;
  method of manufacture. production, processing or reconditioning;
  composition;
  fitness for purpose, strength, performance, behaviour or
accuracy;
  any physical characteristics not included in the preceding
paragraphs;
  testing by any person and results thereof;
  approval by any person or conformity with a type approved 
by any
  on;
  place  or  date  of  manufacture ,  production, 
processing  or
  nditioning;
  person by whom manufactured, produced, processed or
reconditioned;
  other history, including previous ownership or use;
  de mark" means--
  a trade mark relating to goods registered in Hong Kong under the
Trade
  s Ordinance (Cap. 43.);
  a trade mark registered in the register of trade marks kept under 
or
  erved by the Trade Marks Act 1938;
  a trade mark--
  registered, or in respect of which an application for
registration has
  made, in a British territory or a Convention country; and
  capable of registration in Hong Kong under the Trade Marks 
Ordinance
  trade mark relating to goods, and
  ) in respect of which a period of 6 months has not expired since 
the
  of the application for the registration thereof in a 
British
  itory or a Convention country.
  (a) For the purposes of this Ordinance, goods shall be deemed to 
have
  --
  manufactured in the country in which they last underwent a 
treatment
  rocess which changed permanently and substantially the shape, 
nature,
  or utility of the basic materials used in their manufacture; or
  produced in the country in which they were wholly grown or mined.
  The Commissioner may by order specify--(Amended, L. N. 294/82)
  in relation to any description of goods, what treatment or process 
is
  e regarded for the purposes of this Ordinance as resulting 
or not
  lting in a permanent and substantial change in shape, nature, form 
or
  ity of the basic materials used in their manufacture;
  in relation to any description of goods different parts of which
were
  factured or produced in different countries, or of goods
assembled in
  untry different from that in which their parts were 
manufactured or
  uced, in which of those countries the goods are to be regarded
for the
  oses of this Ordinance as having been manufactured or produced.
  This subsection shall not apply to goods which are the subject 
of a
  ce published under subsection (2A).
  The Director-General of Trade may by notice in the Gazette specify
in
  tion to any description of goods (being goods that are subject 
to a
  me of import or export control specified in the notice) the place 
in
  h the goods are to be regarded for the purposes of this Ordinance 
as
  ng been manufactured or produced, and any such goods shall, for 
the
  oses of this Ordinance, be deemed to have been 
manufactured or
  uced in such place. (Added 96 of 1991, s. 2)
  
  For the purposes of this Ordinance, a trade description or 
statement
  ished in any newspaper, book or periodical or in any film or sound 
or
  vision broadcast shall not be deemed to be a trade description
applied
  tatement made in the course of a trade or business unless it 
is or
  s part of an advertisement.
  pecial provisions applicable to goldware.
  Notwithstanding the definition of "false trade description" in
section
  trade description which indicates the fineness (whether in parts 
per
  sand or in carats) of gold shall be a false trade description if 
that
  cation is false to any extend or degree, except by understating 
the
  ness.
  For the purpose of construing descriptions relating to the
fineness of
  --
  a description indicating that an article, or the metal in an 
article,
  o many carats shall be presumed to be an indication that the 
article
  etal is of gold, and that its fineness is that specified in the 
table
  he Schedule for that number of carats;
  paragraph (a) shall not apply if (as in a case where the article
is a
  ious stone) the word "carat" is used as a measure of 
weight for
  ious stones, and not as a measure of fineness.
  Notwithstanding the definition of "false trade description" in
section
  
  a trade description which indicates that any article (other 
than an
  cle of pure gold) is of gold shall be a false trade description
unless
  article consists solely of gold alloy and--
  contains not less than 8 carats of gold; or
  bears a mark clearly indicating in carats, by number or by number
and
  letters "k", "c" or "ct", the fineness of the gold content; or
  ) bears a mark clearly indicating in parts per thousand the 
fineness
  he gold content; and
  a mark calculated to be taken as an indication of the fineness
of gold
  n article--
  which is plated with or enclose in gold alloy or gilded; or
  to which gold alloy is soldered or otherwise affixed, shall 
be a
  e trade description unless it is manifest from the appearance of 
the
  cle that the mark refers solely to the part of the article 
which
  ists of gold alloy.
  Any number of 1 or 2 digits on an article which indicates or 
purports
  ndicate, or is likely to be taken as an indication of, the fineness
in
  ts of its gold content shall be a false trade description unless 
the
  cle contains at least the same proportion of pure gold as the 
number
  s to 24.
  Any number of 3 digits on an article which indicates or 
purports to
  cate, or is likely to be taken as an indication of, the fineness 
in
  er of parts per thousand of its gold content shall be a false 
trade
  ription unless the article contains gold of such a 
standard of
  ness.
  For the purposes of this section "fineness" means the 
proportion of
  gold in accordance with subsection (4) or the number of 
parts by
  ht of gold in accordance with subsection (5) as the case may
require.
  
  arking orders.
  The Governor in Council may by order require that any goods 
specified
  he order shall be marked with or accompanied by any information
  ther or not amounting to or including a trade 
description) or
  ruction relating to the goods and, subject to the provisions of 
this
  nance, impose requirements for securing that the goods are so 
marked
  ccompanied, and regulate or prohibit the supply of goods with 
respect
  hich the requirements are not complied with; and the requirements 
may
  nd to the form and manner in which the information or instruction 
is
  e given.
  Where an order under this section is in force with respect to goods
of
  description, any person who, in the course of any trade or 
business,
  lies or offers to supply goods of that description in
contravention of
  order commits an offence.
  An order under this section may make different provision for
different
  umstances and may, in the case of goods supplied in 
circumstances
  e the information or instruction required by the order would 
not be
  eyed until after delivery, required the whole or part thereof 
to be
  displayed near the goods.
  nformation to be given in advertisements.
  The Governor in Council may by order require that any 
description of
  rtisements of any goods specified in the order shall contain or 
refer
  information (whether or not amounting to or including 
a trade
  ription) relating to such goods and subject to the provisions of 
this
  nance impose requirements as to the inclusion of that 
information or
  n indication of the means by which it may be obtained.
  An order under this section may specify the form and manner in 
which
  such information or indication is to be included in
advertisements of
  description and may make  different  provision  for 
different
  umstances.
  Where an advertisement of any goods to be supplied in the 
course of
  trade or business fails to comply with any requirement imposed 
under
  section, any person who publishes the advertisement 
commits an
  nce.
 PART II FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS OR REPRESENTATIONS AND 
FORGED TRADE MARKS
  
  pplying a trade description, trade mark or mark to goods.
  A person applies a trade description or trade mark or mark to goods
if
  
  affixes or annexes it to or in any manner marks it on or 
incorporates
  ith--
  the goods themselves; or
  anything in, on or with which the goods are supplied;
  places the goods in, on or with anything which the trade 
description
  rade mark or mark has been affixed or annexed to, marked 
on or
  rporated with, or places any such thing with the goods;
  uses the trade description or trade mark or mark in any manner 
likely
  e taken as referring to the goods; or
  makes in any affidavit, declaration or writing any statement 
to the
  ct that a trade description or trade mark or mark is applicable
to the
  s.
  
  An oral statement may amount to the use of a trade 
description or
  e mark or mark.
  Where goods are supplied in pursuance of a request in which a 
trade
  ription or trade mark or mark is used and the circumstances are 
such
  o make it reasonable to infer that the goods are supplied as 
goods
  esponding to that trade description or trade mark or mark, the 
person
  lying the goods shall be deemed to have applied that trade
description
  rade mark or mark to the goods.
  ffences in respect of trade descriptions.
  Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, any person who--
  in the course of any trade or business--
  applies a false trade description to any goods; or
  supplies or offers to supply any goods to which a false 
trade
  ription is applied; or
  has in his possession for sale or for any purpose of 
trade or
  facture any goods to which a false trade description is 
applied.
  its an offence.
  A person exposing goods for supply or having goods in his 
possession
  supply shall be deemed to offer to supply them.
  Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance any person who
disposes of
  as in his possession any die, block, machine, or other instrument 
for
  purpose of making, or applying to goods a false trade 
description
  its an offence unless he proves that he acted without 
intent to
  aud.
  rade descriptions used in advertisements.
  The following provisions of this section shall have effect where
in an
  rtisement a trade description is used in relation to any 
class of
  s.
  The trade description shall be taken as referring to all goods
of the
  s, whether or not in existence at the time the 
advertisement is
  ished--
  for the purpose of determining whether an offence has been 
committed
  r section 7 (1) (a) (i); and
  where goods of the class are supplied or offered to be supplied 
by a
  on publishing or displaying the advertisement, also for the
purpose of
  rmining whether an offence has been committed under section 7 (1)
(a)
  .
  In determining for the purposes of this section whether any goods 
are
  class to which a trade description used in an advertisement 
relates,
  rd shall be had not only to the form and content of the 
advertisement
  also to the time, place, manner and frequency of its publication 
and
  other matters making it likely or unlikely that a person to whom 
the
  s are supplied would think of the goods as belonging to the class 
in
  tion to which the trade description is used in the advertisement.
  
  ffences in respect of trade marks.
  Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, any person who--
  forges any trade mark;
  falsely applies to any goods any trade mark or any mark so 
nearly
  mbling a trade mark as to be calculated to deceive;
  makes any die, block, machine or other instrument for the 
purpose of
  ing, or of being used for forging, a trade mark;
  disposes of or has in his possession any die, block, machine or 
other
  rument for the purpose of forging a trade mark; or
  causes to be done anything referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c)
or
  commits an offence unless he proves that he acted without intent 
to
  aud.
  Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, any person who 
sells or
  ses or has in his possession for sale or for any purpose of trade 
or
  facture, any goods to which any forged trade mark is applied, 
or to
  h any trade mark or mark so nearly resembling a trade mark as 
to be
  ulated to deceive is falsely applied, commits an offence.
  For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed--
  to forge a trade mark who either--
  without the assent of the proprietor of the trade mark, makes 
that
  e mark or a mark so nearly resembling that trade mark as 
to be
  ulated to deceive; or
  falsifies any genuine trade mark, whether by alteration, 
addition,
  cement or otherwise;
  falsely to apply to goods a trade mark who without the assent of 
the

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  商标注册制度的产生使得人们逐渐把关注的重点转向注册商标,以至于有人认为既然注册商标制度已经建立,未注册商标就不应再受到法律保护了,否则将不利于提高市场主体注册商标的积极性。但随着实践的发展,人们逐渐认识到这种“ 唯注册保护论”有着很大的弊端,不仅难以适应市场经济发展的客观需要,而且一定程度上容易导“ 抢注”的大量产生,使公平竞争秩序遭到破坏,诚实信用信仰遭受侵蚀。如今, “ 唯注册保护论”已经基本被世界各国所摈弃, 我国的《商标法》和《反不正当竞争法》也体现了对未注册商标的保护。但不能否认的是, “ 唯注册保护论”对我国商标保护理论和实践的消极影响仍然客观存在,侵犯未注册商标的现象仍然十分严重。有识之士早已大声疾呼要加强对未注册商标的法律保护。本文通过对未注册商标法律保护理论的研究和比较法上的探讨,试图为未注册商标的法律保护再作鼓与呼。

  一、未注册商标也应进行保护

  从保护商标所有人的合法民事权益来说,应当保护未注册商标。我国《民法通则》第五条规定,公民、法人的合法的民事权益受法律保护,任何组织和个人不得侵犯。未注册商标,尤其是已经建立了一定商誉的未注册商标,本身就是经营者的一项无形资产,代表了经营者的形象,是经营者赖以吸引消费者购买其产品和服务的最重要最直接的桥梁,凝结了经营者的智慧和资金投入,能给经营者带来持续的经济回报,属于合法的民事权益,理应受到他人的尊重和法律的保护。将已经建立起一定声誉的未注册商标作为一项民事权益进行保护,也是国际上通行的做法。如英国普通法认为,凝结在商标之上的商业信誉是企业的一项权益,商标所有人在这种权益因他人侵犯而遭受损害之时可以提出“ 仿冒”之诉进行救济。美国的一些判例甚至认为,既然在一定地域一定商品类别上,商标所有人对商标有独占使用权,那么商标权可以被视为一种“ 受到限定的财产权" 。

  从保护消费者权益的角度上来说,应当保护未注册商标。商标是能够区分商品或者服务来源的标志。商标的目的之一就是为了防止公众对商品来源产生混淆和误认。有的学者甚至认为,商标保护的本意是为了保护消费者免受欺诈,应当由消费者出面主张权利,与被仿冒商标的所有人无关。只不过如果每件纠纷都由消费者本人来寻求救济的话,成本太高,而且消费者只能在受骗上当后寻求事后的救济。而由商标所有人代位来制止商标仿冒者继续仿冒则往往可以毕其功一役,防止更多的消费者受到混淆,经营者出于维护其信誉目的也有此积极性。因此这些学者认为,商标所有人获得保护其商誉的途径只是“ 保护公众利益的一个直接的副产品” 。

  从商标的功能上说,一般认为,商标主要有三个功能: ( 1) 标示来源;( 2)保证质量; ( 3)推销和宣传。也有的学者认为,随着市场经济的发展和商标文化的兴起,商标的功能已经不再局限于以上几种,著名商标用以表彰消费者身份和品位的功能正在不断扩张。 对于消费者而言,商标是他们降低购买商品的搜索成本,接受广告宣传获取产品质量信息以及在所购买的产品出现质量问题时进行追责的最直接的桥梁,也是他们用以表彰自己的身份和个性的外在语言。假如已经建立了一定声誉的未注册商标仅仅因为没有及时获得注册就不能获得合理的保护,那么消费者的上述权益将无法获得可靠的保障。

  从维护诚实信用原则来说,应当保护未注册商标。诚实信用原则是公民和法人进行民事活动应当遵循的基本原则之一,是市场经济健康发展必然的道德要求。仿冒、抢注他人未注册商标,甚至在抢注成功之后反过来禁止先使用人继续使用, 对先使用人的继续使用进行“ 打假”,或者要求先使用人支付高额的商标许可使用费的行为严重违背了诚实信用原则。放任这种践踏诚实信用的行为,无疑将会打击企业进行智力投入创立自主品牌的积极性。

  从维护公平的原则来说,应当保护未注册商标。注册商标的一个优势在于它在全国的范围内有效。在以在先申请为商标权取得原则的国家,商标权归在先申请者所有,并且注册人可以凭借注册商标禁止他人包括先使用人的在相同或者类似商品上使用相同或者近似的商标。但对于进行了大量投入使商标具有了一定声誉的先使用人或者不知道他人已经在先使用的在后善意使用人来说,如果因为他人在先申请并获得注册,自己的投入和心血就瞬间化为乌有,连在自己已经长期持续使用的地域内也不能继续使用,那将是极不公平的。有人认为,既然先使用人没有积极寻求注册,就应当承担他人抢先注册并禁止其继续使用的风险,这是实行注册原则的必要代价。但是对于未注册商标所有人来说,这种全有或者全无的代价是否过高?许多国家已经认识到在保护商标注册人的同时在一定限度内保护在先使用人的合理性和重要性,如日本《商标法》第三十二条规定,善意的在先使用者对其在他人申请商标注册之前已为消费者广为知晓的商标,拥有在原来使用的商品和服务上继续使用该商标的权利。意大利商标法第九条规定,非驰名商标或仅具地方知名度的未注册商标由他人在先使用的,该他人应有权继续使用商标,也有权在广告上使用商标,但须在同一地域,并不与商标注册相抵触。美国的商标法和普通法从衡平的原则出发,认为先使用人在他人注册商标已经不可争议的情况下,仍然可以提出“ 限制区域”抗辩寻求并存使用,或者要求获得并存注册。英国1938 年《商标法》第七条也有“ 既得权利保留”的规定 。

  从历史发展、现实需要和国际法的角度上来看,也应当保护未注册商标。商标产生的历史几乎和人类社会商品经济产生的历史一样久远,人类学家在中东等地区曾经发现几千年前工匠们已经在自己制作的用于交换的器物上刻上了自己的标记。而商标的注册和未注册之分却出现在不久之前,至多也就追溯到一个半世纪前法国颁布的第一部《注册商标法》。在注册制度产生之前的漫长岁月里,如果有对商标的法律保护,那也一定都是对未注册商标的保护。从历史的角度看,以注册商标的保护来完全替代未注册商标的保护是不完整的。从现实的角度来看,未注册商标仍然有存在的必要和优势。一方面,一些小企业和经营者多是根据市场行情生产一些紧俏的商品,随时可能调整产品的种类,使用未注册商标可以适应生产的灵活性,大量注册随时可能弃置不用的商标则成本太高时间上也太慢;一些企业在主商品上使用主品牌的同时,也经常需要使用一些未注册的商标来推销新产品和外围产品,待经营成熟之后再进行注册。另一方面,一些因缺乏显著性而暂时不能获得注册的商标只能先以未注册商标的形式逐步建立后天的显著性;一些由不能作为商标注册的元素组成的标记,如单一颜色标志、活动影像、声音和嗅觉标记,只能以未注册商标的形式发挥区分商标或者服务来源的作用。我国实行的是自愿注册的原则,未注册商标大量存在,数量远远超过注册商标,加强对未注册商标的保护是一个不容回避的现实问题。保护未注册商标,尤其是保护知名度较高的未注册商标也符合国际法的精神。《巴黎公约》第六条之二要求成员国对驰名商标进行保护,这里的驰名商标并没有注册和非注册之分。我国是《巴黎公约》的成员国,理应负有保护未注册驰名商标的国际责任。

  二、对未注册商标的保护是有条件的

  前面分析了加强对未注册商标的法律保护的理论基础和必要性。我们欣喜地看到加强对未注册商标的保护已经成为越来越多的人的共识。但在未注册商标保护的程度问题上,尚存在着一些分歧。有人认为对未注册商标和注册商标的保护应当绝对等同,也有人认为当有所区别。笔者赞成后一种意见,认为不是所有的未注册商标都能获得保护,对未注册商标保护的时间和地域效力范围也应当与注册商标有所不同,以体现注册商标的优势,鼓励商标注册。

  商标保护的原则是禁止混淆,也就是防止相关公众对商品和服务的来源产生混淆和误认。对未注册商标的保护当然也必须以防止混淆为基础和界限。所谓基础,就是指他人在相同或者类似商品上使用相同或者近似商标容易导致相关公众的混淆,也就是说相关公众已经将该商标与特定的来源之间建立了联系。仅仅在先使用但没有建立起上述联系的未注册商标不会因为他人的使用和注册而导致相关公众的混淆,该未注册商标的在先使用人也就没有禁止他人使用该商标的权利基础( 他人严重违反诚实信用原则的除外)。简而言之,也就是保护未注册商标有商业信誉的门槛。我国《商标法》第十三条第一款关于“ 驰名” 的要求和第三十一条关于“ 具有一定影响”的要求,以及《反不正当竞争法》第五条关于“ 知名”商品的“ 特有”名称、包装和装潢的要求等都体现了保护未注册商标需要有知名度基础。

  所谓界限,就是指对未注册商标的保护只能局限于相关公众已经建立联系的商品或服务的类别和地域范围内,在前述类别及地域范围之外,相关公众一般不会产生混淆。我国《商标法》第三十一条对未注册商标的保护的条件除了“ 具有一定影响之外”,同时还要求申请注册人是“ 以不正当手段抢注”,这里的“ 不正当手段”主要是指恶意,恶意主要体现为申请注册人是否明知或应知所申请注册的商标为他人在先使用的商标,而在先使用人和在先申请人是否处于同一地域是考察是否明知或应知的重要因素。我国《反不正当竞争法》关于知名商标的特有称的保护也是有行业性和地域性的。日本《商标法》第三十二条对善意在先使用人的保护仅止于原来使用的商品或者服务范围之内。美国虽然实行使用在先原则,禁止在后使用人注册他人在先使用的商标 ,要求申请人作出其为首先使用人的声明,但在商标已经获得注册并且不可争议的情况下,在先使用人只能限定在原先的地域范围内继续使用。

  对未注册商标的保护除有商业信誉、商品或服务类别及地域要求之外,从稳定商标权的要求上来看,也应当设一定的期限。在阻止他人抢注方面,我国《商标法》规定的救济期限是初步审定公告之日起30天的异议期及注册日之后的五年( 恶意抢注他人驰名商标的情形不受五年期限限制)。知名商品的特有名称受到他人侵害的,如果侵害一直持续,知名商品的所有人可以随时提起诉讼,如果已经停止,则应当在知道或者应当知道权利被侵害之日起&2年内提起诉讼。在普通法系国家的原告提出仿冒之诉时,还必须证明原告的商誉受到了现实的损害或者可能遭受损害。

  与未注册商标不同,注册商标所有人要求法律保护时不需要举证证明自己已经建立了何种程度的商誉( 将注册的效力视为推定通知的美国亦同),不需要举证自己在何种地域范围内建立了商誉,也无需证明自己的商誉受到或者可能受到损害,举证责任较轻。这种差异性的存在是合理的,否则注册制度的存在就失去了必要性,鼓励注册的立法导向也无从实现。

  三、我国未注册商标保护的法律制度及与其他国家相关制度之比较

  我国目前在未注册商标保护方面主要有以下法律规定:

  1、《商标法》

  我国商标法主要是围绕对注册商标的保护和管理展开的,涉及未注册商标的规定不多,且许多是管理性的规定,主要体现为对未注册商标使用人的义务性要求。如:未注册商标不得冒充注册商标,不得与他人在同一种或者类似商品上已经注册的商标相同或者近似等。但《商标法》中也有一些对未注册商标进行保护的规定,尽管这些规定一定程度上还是围绕加强注册商标的质量设置的,但它们在实践中已经成为制止抢注行为、维护诚实信用原则、保护未注册商标使用人和消费者合法权益的有力依据,相当程度上遏制了威胁我国市场经济健康发展的抢注之风。这些规定是:第十三条第一款:就相同或者类似商品申请注册的商标是复制、模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。该条是《巴黎公约》第六条之二的要求在国内法上的体现。目前,商标局和商标评审委员会已经认定了“ 中化”、“ 惠尔康”及“ 小肥羊”等未注册的驰名商标,虽然引起了一些争论,但总的来既保护了驰名商标所有人应有的权利,又促进了对于“ 商标的根本精髓在于保护合法使用 ”这一观点的认识,取得了良好的效果。

  第三十一条:⋯⋯不得以不正当手段抢先注册他人已经使用并具有一定影响的商标。该条规定的设置是为了保护已经具有一定知名度但尚未成为驰名商标的未注册商标,在制止抢注方面起到了很大的作用。

  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。该条是《巴黎公约》第六条之七在国内法上的体现,是针对代理人或代表人抢注这一恶意比较明显的违反诚实信用原则的行为制定的,对未注册商标的知名度没有要求,被代理人或被代表人未经使用但已经选定的商标也可以依此条进行保护。

  第四十一条第一款:已经注册的商标⋯⋯是以欺骗或者其他不正当手段取得注册的,由商标局撤销该注册;其他单位和个人请求商标评审委员会裁定撤销该注册商标。对于该款规定,目前存在两种理解。

  一种认为该款纯粹是一个程序性的条款,其中的“ 欺骗或者其他不正当手段” 已经在诸如第十三条、第十五条、第三十一条等条款中得到了具体的体现,此处的重点不是强调在上述条款之外还存在其它的“ 欺骗或者不正当手段”,而是强调撤销注册商标的程序和主管机关。理由是法律条款的设置是有一定逻辑的,一般不会将实体性条款和程序性条款在同一条予以规定。第二种意见认为,该款是指法律、法规规定的或者商标局、商标评审委员会认定的欺骗和其他不正当手段,可以作为商标审查及审理的实体条款予以适用。持后一种意见的人在欺骗或者其他不正当手段的范围问题上又分为“ 狭义”和“ 广义”两种理解。“ 狭义”理解主要是指商标当事人以弄虚作假的手段欺骗商标行政主管机关取得商标注册的行为。“ 广义” 的理解则认为除弄虚作假的欺骗行为之外,一切明知或应知是他人商标而进行抢注行为除法律已经单独予以规定的之外也都属于该款调整的范围之内。广义的理解虽然有扩大解释之嫌,但对于打击目前中国相当范围内存在的违反诚实信用但又未在其他条款中具体体现的不正当行为来说,不啻是一剂猛药,因此也开始受到理论界和实务界的重视和认同。在商标评审委员会2005年专家咨询会上,与会的专家大部分认为该款可以作为处理商标确权纠纷案件的审理依据。目前,商标评审委员会已经逐渐将该款适用到商标确权案件的审理当中。当然该款的适用还有一些理论性的问题需要探讨,如该款能否适用于跨类保护,是否要求在中国大陆有商业使用,当事人依此款请求评审是否有期限要求等等。

  2、《反不正当竞争法》

  普通法系国家当事人一般通过普通法上的仿冒之诉对未注册商标进行保护,而大陆法系国家一般由《反不正当竞争法》来调整对未注册商标的保护。我国的《反不正当竞争法》虽没有关于保护未注册商标的明确规定,但一些条款也体现了对未注册商标的保护,主要有:

  第五条第二项: 经营者不得⋯⋯ 擅自使用知名商品特有的名称、包装、装潢,或者使用与知名商品近似的名称、包装、装潢,造成和他人的知名商品相混淆,使购买者误认为是该知名商品。由于名称、包装和装潢都是可视性的标志,可以作为商标的元素,而且“ 特有”意味着这些名称、包装和装潢具有区别性,所以一般认为,这里的“ 知名商品的特有名称、包装、装潢”指的主要就是未注册商标。

民政部关于清理各类供养对象减员和检查抚恤、救济专项拨款使用情况的通知

民政部


民政部关于清理各类供养对象减员和检查抚恤、救济专项拨款使用情况的通知
民政部


各省、自治区、直辖市民政厅(局),各计划单列市民政局:
目前,全国由民政部门负责支付伤残抚恤金、定期抚恤金、定期定量救济费、原工资40%救济费、专项生活救济费和地方职工离休金、退休金、退职金等的对象, 每年都有由于死亡、转出、迁移等原因发生自然减员。据了解有些地方对减员未能及时办理注销手续,仍在继续发放经费。

为了加强管理,堵塞漏洞,防止虚报、顶替、冒领等现象,充分发挥民政事业经费的使用效益,经商得财政部同意,现对关于开展清理各类供养对象减员和检查抚恤、救济专款使用情况的要求通知如下,请贯彻执行。
一、各级民政部门特别是县级民政部门,要对发给定期抚恤、补助、救济和离退休金的各类人员,进行一次全面、认真的清理核对,做到领取各项抚恤、定补、离退休金的人员及户籍与领取证相符;享受各项优抚的原始证件与享受条件相符;发放的经费与统计台帐相符。凡是在清理过
程中发现有减员而仍继续发放经费的,应立即办理注销手续,予以停发。停发后的优抚对象和地方离休人员遗属生活确有困难的,应按有关规定处理。今后对各种情况 的减员都应及时办理注销手续,减拨和停发经费。
各地要把各类供养对象的减员经费,统一集中到县级掌握,继续用于由民政部门负责管理的各类优抚、救济对象和离退休人员的抚恤、救济方面支出。
二、各地民政部门在清理各类供养对象的同时,对于一九八五年以来上级拨给的抚恤、救济专款使用情况,要结合各地开展税收、财务、物价大检查活动进行一次认真的检查。检查的主要内容是:各专项拨款是否如实如数地指定用向,按时按项按标准使用;是否有截留、克扣、挪用、
挤占和滞留等现象。
各地在清查和检查工作中发现的各类违纪问题,要按财务大检查的有关违纪处罚规定办理,其中触犯刑律的,要及时移交司法部门处理。
三、清查和检查工作要在各级人民政府的领导下,有计划、有步骤地进行,省和地市级民政部门要对县级的清理工作进行重点复查或抽查,确保质量,不走过场。切实做到边查边纠正边改进,健全和完善各类供养对象经费的发放领取手续、制度,强化专项资金的管理。
此项工作在今明两年内完成,由各地根据实际情况自行安排。请各省、自治区、直辖市和计划单列市民政部门,在明年底前将清理、检查情况认真总结,上报民政部,并抄送财政部。



1991年11月8日