{"id":22688,"date":"2020-12-23T12:56:13","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T07:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/?p=22688"},"modified":"2024-11-19T11:57:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T06:27:59","slug":"know-about-non-use-trademark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you Need to Know about Non-Use Trademark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The pandemic has toughened the\nbelief that there are qualms surrounding us at all stages, levels and aspects\nof life. &nbsp;In the business world as well, corporations\nmay have been shut down, cease to operate or forced out of business. In such circumstances,\nwhat happens to the trademarks? This article answers questions on trademark\nfalling into Non-Use Trademark and the consequences on trademark after pandemic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#What_is_the_General_Validity_of_a_Registered_Trademark_in_India\" >What is the General Validity of a Registered\nTrademark in India?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#How_you_can_remove_Non-use_Trademark\" >How you can remove Non-use Trademark?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#Grounds_for_Removal_of_a_Registered_Non-use_Trademark\" >Grounds for Removal of a Registered Non-use\nTrademark<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#Under_what_Circumstances_a_Trademark_would_not_be_removed\" >Under what Circumstances a Trademark would not be removed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#Rectification_on_Grounds_of_Non-use_Trademark\" >Rectification on Grounds of Non-use Trademark<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/know-about-non-use-trademark\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_General_Validity_of_a_Registered_Trademark_in_India\"><\/span>What is the General Validity of a Registered\nTrademark in India?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A trademark in India is approved&nbsp;for\na time period of 10 years from the date of registration of stated in the trademark\ncertificate. Though, if a trademark proprietor has not used the trademark for a\nperiod of more than 63 months, then he\/she may lose his\/her rights over the\ntrademark in such rectification or opposition proceedings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Right to Use the Trademark is granted?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A registered trademark offers the\nright to protect the identity of a business. First we need to understand how a\nbusiness entity can acquire the right to use a trademark in India \u2013&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Once the entity submits the registration application to the trademark office, the examination of the details provided in the application would begin. This is to verify factual details provided in the application by the entity. This includes filing trademark in the right class, with other precise details.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After the acceptance of the <a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/trademark-registration\"><strong>trademark registration<\/strong><\/a> application, the registrar will publish the proposed mark. This means printing of the trademark symbol or name or both in the Journal of Trademarks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At this stage, the logo or name or both with trademark registration has advised the Trademark Journal to welcome objection, if any.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there are no other objections raised on the proposed mark, the application is accepted. Trademark would then be marked as \u2018Registered\u2019. This is when the applicant of the Trademark can start using the \u00ae symbol next to the name or logo.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">By when should one start Using the Registered\nTrademark?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While there is no particular time\nlimit for using the trademark, one must start using it at the earliest. This\nimplies that even before the&nbsp;trademark registration&nbsp;certificate is\ngranted, the trademark can be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An entity can use its trademark\nwithin and outside the corporation. This includes printing the trademark on hoarding,\nthe official website of the corporation, notices, internal infrastructure of\nthe corporation and its advertisements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Renewal of Trademark Means that Trademark is Permanent?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No, this does not mean that the\ntrademark is permanent. The trademark is not granted for lifetime. The\ntrademark laws states that a registered trademark must be renewed every 10\nyears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A trademark can also get removal if\nthe trademark is not used. Therefore, a corporation not using its registered\ntrademark for a constant period of 5 years from the date when trademark was\nregistered, the corporation would lose rights over the trademark.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_you_can_remove_Non-use_Trademark\"><\/span>How you can remove Non-use Trademark?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone can apply for removal of trademark.&nbsp;This\nmeans that not just the competitors but also any other individual can apply for\nremoval of your trademark.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grounds_for_Removal_of_a_Registered_Non-use_Trademark\"><\/span>Grounds for Removal of a Registered Non-use\nTrademark<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A trademark removal can be done for any of the following reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/A-trademark-removal-can-be-done-for-any-of-the-following-reasons.png\" alt=\"Removal of a Registered Non-use Trademark\" class=\"wp-image-22689\" width=\"485\" height=\"219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/A-trademark-removal-can-be-done-for-any-of-the-following-reasons.png 1000w, https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/A-trademark-removal-can-be-done-for-any-of-the-following-reasons-300x136.png 300w, https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/A-trademark-removal-can-be-done-for-any-of-the-following-reasons-768x348.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No Bonafide Intention&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a trademark has been filed casually,\nwithout the purpose that it be supposed to be used regarding those goods or\nservices, it can lead to removal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What meets the criteria as \u201cbonafide use\u201d of a\ntrademark?&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As per the legal provisions,\nbonafide use of a trademark means \u2013 sincere and legitimate use. So, a\ncorporation using a trademark in its credentials and communications with the\npublic would amount to \u201cbonafide use\u201d. This is to judge by usual commercial\nprinciples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Non-use Trademark for Five Years<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a corporation does not use a\ntrademark for a continuous period of 5 years from the date of registration, it\ncan be removed from the registry of trademark. This phase of five years is\nstarted from the date on which the trademark was registered formally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Under_what_Circumstances_a_Trademark_would_not_be_removed\"><\/span>Under what Circumstances a Trademark would not be removed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The trademark law provides three\nsituations where it would not be removed despite non-use trademark. These are\n\u2013&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>When an applicant plans to form a company and obtain\nregistration under the Companies Act, 2013. Therefore, non-use while waiting to\nuse the trademark for that company after registration is excusable.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Title-holder of the mark intends it to use by\nanother person. Therefore, if he\/she is waiting for the trademark to get\nregistered in the name of that person, the trademark will not be removed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Special commercial circumstances \u2013 If the\nnon-use trademark is special situations prevailing and not due to the owners\u2019\nmistake. For instance, restrictions on the use of a particular trademark forced\nby any law. Some corporations may have to wait for domestic or international approvals.\nHence, in the interim period, corporation may have an excuse from using the trademark.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Partial Removal of a registered trademark<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Partial removal refers to removing\nsome element of the trademark.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>If two trademarks are similar in their\nregistration, one proprietor may apply to the registrar to remove the other\nresembling a trademark that has fallen into non-use.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On such an application by that person for\nremoval of the other trademark due to its nonuse, the trademarks tribunal can\nalso impose limitations on use of the registration of the first-mentioned\ntrademark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rectification_on_Grounds_of_Non-use_Trademark\"><\/span>Rectification on Grounds of Non-use Trademark<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rectification of a trademark is a proceeding\u00a0in which a party tries to remove a registered trademark from the register of trademarks.\u00a0Section 47\u00a0of the<strong> Trademarks Act<\/strong> has stated two scenarios concerning removal of a registered trademark, which are as follows;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>If it is established that the mark was registered with no bona fide&nbsp;intention of use on part of the proprietor. Usually, as part of trademark searches that are conducted, there are various applications filed in all the 45 classes when the trademark is in fact used for one or two classes only. This is a cynical registration and the Court has held in a variety of cases that such registrations must not be encouraged.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the mark is not used by the proprietor for a continuous period of 5 years from the date of registration and three months before applying for registration. So in effect, if the trademark is not used for a period of five years and three months, then any person might file for rectification proceedings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore in the first type of case\nif a person can prove that the applicant had no intention of using the\ntrademark, they can appeal to cancel the trademark, and in the second\nsituation, even if there was some preliminary usage, for a continuous period of\nfive years after registration of the trademark, if the mark had not been used\nan application for rectification can be filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the mark owner hasn\u2019t used the mark for more than 5 years and 3 months, they may lose their trademark rights in such modification proceedings as well as opposition proceedings. While the onus to prove non-use trademark is generally on the person who applies rectification, the obligation might be shifted to the trademark owner in the hearing. If he fails to approve usage, his mark will be liable to be removed from the register. This is what was held by the IPAB in a recent case where the trademark owner was asked to provide evidence of usage. The owner provided a document listing registrations in various countries as usage rejected by the IPAB. The trademark was ordered to be removed as the evidence of usage of trademark was not sufficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/importance-of-notarization-of-trademark-assignment\/\">What is the Importance of Notarization of Trademark Assignment?<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The pandemic has toughened the belief that there are qualms surrounding us at all stages, levels and aspects of life. &nbsp;In the business world as well, corporations may have been shut down, cease to operate or forced out of business. In such circumstances, what happens to the trademarks? This article answers questions on trademark falling [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":22693,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[1353],"acf":{"service_id":"18"},"authorName":"Sakshi Srivastava","authorImageUrl":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG-20180130-WA0007.jpg","authorDescription":"Sakshi has pursued B.B.A.LL.B.(IPR Hons.). She is an avid reader and is keen to gather and share her knowledge on the subjects relating to IPR, Company Law and GST. Priorly she has worked as a legal researcher and vide her articles she aims at improving the core knowledge of the subjects to the masses.","postViews":4683,"readingTime":5,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22688"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22688"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67242,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22688\/revisions\/67242"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}