1. Overview

Trademark law governs the registration, protection, and enforcement of trademarks—signs used to distinguish goods and services originating from different enterprises. The legal framework aims to prevent confusion, safeguard reputation, and ensure fair competition. It covers what types of signs can be registered, grounds for refusal, and the scope of rights. The process involves assessing absolute and relative grounds for refusal, including prior rights, similarity, reputation, and functions of trademarks. The course systematically explores legal criteria, legal concepts, and case law to understand valid trademarks and infringement issues.

2. Core Concepts & Key Elements

Trademark Definition: Sign capable of graphical representation used to distinguish goods/services.

Categories of trademarks:

Individual trademarks
Reputed trademarks

Functions of a trademark:

Identification of origin
Guarantee of quality
Advertising and investment assurance

Absolute grounds for refusal:

Not fitting legal definition (e.g., lacking distinctiveness)

Relative grounds for refusal:

Infringement of third-party rights (prior trademarks, other prior rights)

Legal concepts:

Likelihood of confusion
Link/linkage
Reputation and unfair advantage

Legal sources:

Trademark Directive 2015/2436

Infringement cases:

Signs identical, similar, and creating likelihood of confusion
Reputation-based rights (e.g., "Vouitton" for cars)
The principle of "specialty" and exceptions

Assessment Criteria:

Similarity of signs: visual, aural, conceptual
Similarity of goods/services: nature, end users, method, competition, complementarity
Distinctive and dominant elements
Public perception (average consumer)
Reputation and prior rights
Adverse effect on functions

3. High-Yield Facts

Likelihood of confusion: Risk public believes signs/products from same or linked undertakings.

Reputation: Significant parts of public must recognize the mark; territorial and temporal scope matter.

Infringement of prior trademark:

Sign identical or similar
For identical or similar goods/services
Creates confusion or link

Reputed trademark: Reputation in substantial part of country or EU.

Protection scope:

Absolute grounds: not meeting criteria
Relative grounds: prior rights, reputation, unfair advantage

Legal standards come from CJEU: Sabel (1997), Canon (1998), Lloyd (1999), Arsenal (2002)

Exception to principle of specialty: Using a sign with reputation for different goods/services if unfair advantage or harm occurs

Prior IP rights: Patent rights generally do not infringe upon trademarks

4. Summary Table

Concept	Key Points	Notes
Valid trademark criteria	Capable of graphical representation, distinctive, not deceptive	Essential for registration
Absolute grounds for refusal	Not fitting legal definition, descriptive, generic	Not fitting the function of TM
Relative grounds for refusal	Prior trademark rights, reputation, unfair advantage	Based on third-party rights
Likelihood of confusion	Risk public associates signs/products with same origin	Assessed globally, considering similarities, consumer perception
Infringement cases	Signs identical, similar, link to reputation, unfair advantage	Based on similarity, reputation, and effect
Reputed trademarks	Known by significant public, in substantial territory	Reputation + recognition
Examination process	Compare signs: visual, aural, conceptual; goods/services: nature, competition	Involves legal appreciation

5. Mini-Schema

Trademark Law ├─ Types and Functions ├─ Grounds for Refusal │ ├─ Absolute: Not fitting TM │ └─ Relative: Third-party rights ├─ Legal Concepts │ ├─ Likelihood of confusion │ └─ Reputed trademarks ├─ Infringement cases │ ├─ Identical or similar signs │ ├─ Reputation-based protections │ └─ Exceptions (specialty principle) └─ Assessment Criteria ├─ Sign similarity (visual, aural, conceptual) └─ Goods similarity (nature, consumer, use)

6. Rapid-Review Bullets

Trademark distinguishes goods/services; protects consumers from confusion.

Absolute refusal if sign is deceptive, non-distinctive, or descriptive.

Relative refusal involves prior rights, reputation, or unfair advantage.

Likelihood of confusion depends on sign similarity, goods, and consumer perception.

Signs are identical if same or only insignificant differences.

Similarity of goods considers nature, end user, method, competition or complementarity.

Greater distinctiveness increases likelihood of confusion.

Reputation requires significant public recognition within territory.

The principle of specialty protects signs for specific goods/services, with exceptions.

Infringement includes signs identical, similar, or linked to prior trademarks.

Case law (Sabel, Canon, Lloyd, Arsenal) guides legal assessment.

Trademark reputation can be territorial and time-dependent.

Unfair competition (tortious liability) occurs with reputation and wrongful use.

Patent rights rarely infringe trademark rights.

Trademark functions include origin identification, quality guarantee, advertising.

Trademark rights are territorial but can be extended via EU registration.

Legal analysis involves visual, phonetic, conceptual comparisons.

Consumers are reasonably well-informed, observant, and not always the expert.

Reputed trademarks can prevent similar signs even if not identical.

The scope of protection depends on prior rights and reputation evidence.

Trademark applications can be rejected based on legal grounds outlined in the directive.

Trademark Law Revision Sheet

1. 📌 Essentials

Trademark: Sign capable of graphical representation used to distinguish goods/services.
Functions: Identify origin, guarantee quality, promote brand.
Absolute grounds for refusal: Lack of distinctiveness, descriptiveness, deception.
Relative grounds for refusal: Prior rights, reputation, unfair advantage.
Likelihood of confusion: risk of consumers mistaking one mark for another.
Reputable trademarks: Well known, recognized by significant public segment.
Legal sources: Trademark Directive 2015/2436, CJEU case law.
Infringement: Use of identical or similar signs for same/similar goods causing confusion or link.
Similarity assessment: Visual, phonetic, conceptual.
Goods/services assessment: Nature, end users, competition, complementarity.
Exceptions to specialty: Use of reputation for different goods/services if unfair.
Reputed markers can obstruct similar signs even if not identical.
Prior rights typically do not include patents.
Reputation can be territorial and time-dependent.
Signs are identical if same or minor differences; similar if close.
Confusion likelihood depends on consumer perception, familiarity, and sign similarity.
Legal standards from Sabel, Canon, Lloyd, Arsenal cases.

2. 🧩 Key Structures & Components

Trademark — Sign representing goods/services.
Distinctiveness — Key for registration; can be inherent or acquired.
Reputation — Recognition by substantial part of public.
Prior trademarks — Existing rights that can block registration.
Sign types — Word marks, logos, slogans, shapes.
Legal grounds — Absolute (e.g., lacking distinctiveness) and relative (e.g., prior rights).
Infringement — Use of similar or identical signs causing confusion or unfair advantage.
Assessment criteria — Sign similarity, goods similarity, consumer perception.
Legal sources — European Directive and case law.

3. 🔬 Functions, Mechanisms & Relationships

Sign registration depends on meeting criteria of distinctiveness and legality.
Assessment of confusion considers similarity of signs and goods, plus consumer perception.
Reputation enhances protection; a well-known mark can prevent similar signs even on non-identical signs.
Absolute grounds reject signs lacking function or being deceptive.
Relative grounds prevent confusingly similar marks infringing prior rights.
Likelihood of confusion arises when consumers link signs/products from the same origin.
Reputation can extend protection territorially and temporally.
Unfair advantage occurs if a sign links or damages a famous mark without consent.
Legal cases (Sabel, Canon, Lloyd, Arsenal) establish principles.
Exceptions to restrictions include using a famous mark’s reputation for different goods if not harmful or unfair.

4. Comparative Table

Item	Key Features	Notes / Differences
Absolute grounds	Not distinctive, descriptive, deceptive	Block registration before approval
Relative grounds	Prior rights, reputation, unfair advantage	Affect existing trademarks or well-known marks
Sign similarity	Visual, phonetic, conceptual	Assessed collectively in context
Goods similarity	Nature, end use, consumer target, competition, complementarity	Influences confusion risk
Reputed trademarks	Known by substantial part, within territory, over time	Provides broader protection
Infringement scope	Same or similar signs, causing confusion or linking	Includes unfair advantage

5. 🗂️ Hierarchical Diagram

Trademark Law
 ├─ Functions & Criteria
 │   ├─ Registration criteria (distinctiveness, graphical)
 │   ├─ Grounds for refusal
 │   │   ├─ Absolute: Not fitting, descriptive
 │   │   └─ Relative: Prior rights, reputation
 │   └─ Infringement
 │       ├─ Signs identical or similar
 │       ├─ Cause confusion or unfair advantage
 │       └─ Reputation influence
 ├─ Legal Principles & Case Law
 │   ├─ Sabel (1997): Similar signs cause confusion
 │   └─ Canon (1998): Reputation extends protection
 └─ Assessment parameters
     ├─ Sign similarity (visual, phonetic, conceptual)
     └─ Goods similarity (nature, end user, use)

6. ⚠️ High-Yield Pitfalls & Confusions

Confusing "similarity" with "identity" — not always identical signs are infringing.
Overestimating the scope of patent rights in trademark disputes.
Underestimating the significance of consumer perception.
Assuming reputation provides automatic, unlimited protection.
Mixing absolute and relative grounds without proper legal basis.
Overlooking the territorial and temporal limits of reputation.
Misjudging the effects of using a famous mark for different goods.
Ignoring the legal case law guiding interpretation.

7. ✅ Final Exam Checklist

Define what a trademark is and its functions.
Differentiate absolute and relative grounds for refusal.
Understand how to assess similarity of signs (visual, phonetic, conceptual).
Recognize the importance of reputation and how it influences protection.
Explain the principle of "likelihood of confusion."
Know what constitutes infringement and the scope of protected signs.
Recall key case law (Sabel, Canon, Lloyd, Arsenal).
Understand the concept of unfair advantage and reputation extension.
Identify when prior rights block registration.
Comprehend the exceptions to the principle of specialty.
Be familiar with assessing goods/services similarity.
Explain how territoriality affects reputation.
Understand how to evaluate confusion risk in practical scenarios.
Know the criteria for a sign to be registrable.
Recognize common mistakes in trademark classification and infringement.
Prepare to analyze signs and goods carefully during exam questions.
Remember the importance of consumer perception in the legal assessment.

End of Revision Sheet

Mastering Trademark Law Essentials

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Trademark Law Summary

1. Overview

2. Core Concepts & Key Elements

3. High-Yield Facts

4. Summary Table

5. Mini-Schema

6. Rapid-Review Bullets

Mastering Trademark Law Essentials

Crée tes propres fiches en 30 secondes

Trademark Law Revision Sheet

1. 📌 Essentials

2. 🧩 Key Structures & Components

3. 🔬 Functions, Mechanisms & Relationships

4. Comparative Table

5. 🗂️ Hierarchical Diagram

6. ⚠️ High-Yield Pitfalls & Confusions

7. ✅ Final Exam Checklist

Mastering Trademark Law Essentials

Mastering Trademark Law Essentials

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of trademark law?

Mastering Trademark Law Essentials

Progression globale

Détail par thème

Introduction au système

Les différents types

Structure axiale

Structure appendiculaire

Suivi de progression par thème