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Number 9 of 1963.
TRADE MARKS ACT, 1963.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section | |
Provisions Relating to Registration
Provisions Relating to Powers and Duties of Controller and to Legal Proceedings
Procedure in cases of option to apply to Court or Controller. | |
Miscellaneous
Change of form of trade connection not to be deemed to cause deception. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1927, No. 16 | |
Partnership Act, 1890 | 1890, c. 39 |
Public Offices Fees Act, 1879 | 1879, c. 58 |
1956, No. 26 | |
1954, No. 36 | |
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 1851, c. 93 |
Number 9 of 1963.
TRADE MARKS ACT, 1963.
PART I.
Preliminary and General.
Short title and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Trade Marks Act, 1963.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may by order appoint.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“the Act of 1927” means the Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act, 1927;
“assignment” means assignment by act of the parties concerned;
“the Controller” means the Controller of Industrial and Commercial Property appointed under the Act of 1927;
“the Court” means the High Court;
“the Journal” means the Official Journal of Industrial and Commercial Property;
“limitations” means any limitations of the exclusive right to the use of a trade mark given by the registration of a person as proprietor thereof, including limitations of that right as to mode of use, as to use in relation to goods to be sold (or otherwise traded in) in any place within the State, or as to use in relation to goods to be exported to any market outside the State;
“mark” includes a device, brand, heading, label, ticket, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, or any combination thereof;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Industry and Commerce;
“the Office” means the Industrial and Commercial Property Registration Office established under the Act of 1927;
“partnership” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1 of the Partnership Act, 1890;
“permitted use” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 36 of this Act;
“prescribed” means, in relation to proceedings before the Court, prescribed by rules of court, and, in other cases, prescribed by this Act or the rules;
“the register” means the register of trade marks kept under this Act;
“registered trade mark” means a trade mark that is actually on the register;
“registered user” means a person who is for the time being registered as such under section 36 of this Act;
“the rules” means rules made by the Minister under section 3 or section 44 of this Act;
“trade mark” means, except in relation to a certification trade mark, a mark used or proposed to be used in relation to goods for the purpose of indicating, or so as to indicate, a connection in the course of trade between the goods and some person having the right either as proprietor or as registered user to use the mark, whether with or without any indication of the identity of that person, and means, in relation to a certification trade mark, a mark registered or deemed to have been registered under section 45 of this Act;
“transmission” means transmission by operation of law, devolution on the personal representative of a deceased person, and any other mode of transfer not being assignment.
(2) (a) In this Act references to the use of a mark shall be construed as references to the use of a printed or other visual representation of the mark, and references to the use of a mark in relation to goods shall be construed as references to the use thereof upon, or in physical or other relation to, goods.
(b) In any other Act references to a trade mark shall be construed as references to a trade mark under this Act.
Power of Minister to make rules.
3.—(1) The Minister may from time to time make such rules, prescribe such forms and generally do such things as he thinks expedient—
(a) for regulating the practice under this Act, including the service of documents;
(b) for classifying goods for the purposes of registration of trade marks;
(c) for making or requiring duplicates of trade marks and other documents;
(d) for securing and regulating the publishing and selling or distributing, in such manner as the Minister thinks fit, of copies of trade marks and other documents;
(e) generally, for regulating the business of the Office in relation to trade marks and all things by this Act placed under the direction or control of the Controller or of the Minister;
(f) for prescribing any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.
(2) Rules made under this Act shall, while in force, be of the same effect as if they were contained in this Act.
(3) Every rule made under this Act shall be advertised twice in the Journal, and shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and if a resolution annulling the rule is passed by either House within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the rule is laid before it, the rule shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Fees.
4.—(1) There shall be paid in respect of applications, registrations, notices, notifications, statements, counter-statements, amendments, renewals, cancellations, declarations, certificates, certified copies, entries and other matters in relation to trade marks under this Act such fees as may from time to time be prescribed by the Minister with the sanction of the Minister for Finance.
(2) All fees prescribed under this section shall be collected and accounted for in such manner as the Minister with the sanction of the Minister for Finance shall direct.
(3) The Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, shall not apply in respect of any fees payable under this Act.
Exercise of powers of Minister.
5.—All things required or authorised under this Act to be done by, to or before the Minister may be done by, to or before the secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce or any person authorised in that behalf by the Minister.
Excluded days.
6.—Whenever the last day fixed by this Act for doing anything under this Act falls on a day which is specified by the rules as an excluded day, the rules may provide that the thing may be done on the next subsequent day which is not specified by the rules as an excluded day.
Expenses.
7.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Repeal and savings.
8.—(1) The following sections of the Act of 1927, namely, sections 3 and 9 (in so far as they refer to trade marks), 80 to 123, and (in so far as they refer to trade marks) 124, 125, 127 to 138, and 140 to 153, are hereby repealed.
(2) Nothing in this Act shall affect any order, rule, regulation or requirement made, table of fees or certificate issued, notice, decision, determination, direction or approval given, application made, thing done or trade mark or mark registered under the Act of 1927; and every such order, rule, regulation, requirement, table of fees, certificate, notice, decision, determination, direction, approval, application, thing, trade mark or mark, shall, if in force at the commencement of this Act, continue in force and shall, so far as it could have been made, issued, given, done or registered under this Act, have effect as if made, issued, given or done under the corresponding section of this Act.
(3) Any document referring to any enactment repealed by this Act shall be construed as referring to the corresponding section of this Act.
PART II.
Provisions Relating to Registration.
The register of trade marks.
9.—(1) There shall continue to be kept at the Office for the purposes of this Act a book called the register of trade marks, wherein shall be entered all registered trade marks with the names, addresses and descriptions of their proprietors, notifications of assignments and transmissions, the names, addresses and descriptions of all registered users, disclaimers, conditions, limitations, and such other matters relating to registered trade marks as may be prescribed.
(2) The register shall continue to consist of two parts called respectively Part A and Part B.
(3) The register shall at all convenient times be open to the inspection of the public, subject to such regulations as may be prescribed.
(4) The register shall be kept under the control and management of the Controller.
(5) The register may, in lieu of being kept in the form of a book, be kept in such other form of record as may from time to time be approved by the Minister.
No action for infringement of unregistered trade mark.
10.—No person shall be entitled to institute any proceeding to prevent, or to recover damages for, the infringement of an unregistered trade mark, but nothing in this Act shall be deemed to affect rights of action against any person for passing off goods as the goods of another person or the remedies in respect thereof.
Registration to be in respect of particular goods.
11.—A trade mark must be registered in respect of particular goods or classes of goods, and any question arising as to the class within which any goods fall shall be decided by the Controller.
Right given by registration in Part A and infringement thereof.
12.—(1) Subject to this section, and to sections 15 and 16 of this Act, the registration (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) of a person in Part A of the register as proprietor of a trade mark (other than a certification trade mark) in respect of any goods shall, if valid, give or be deemed to have given to that person the exclusive right to the use of the trade mark in relation to those goods and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing words, that right shall be deemed to be infringed by any person who, not being the proprietor of the trade mark or a registered user thereof using by way of the permitted use, uses a mark identical with it or so nearly resembling it as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion, in the course of trade, in relation to any goods in respect of which it is registered, and in such manner as to render the use of the mark likely to be taken either—
(a) as being use as a trade mark; or
(b) in a case in which the use is use upon the goods or in physical relation thereto or in an advertising circular or other advertisement issued to the public, as importing a reference to some person having the right either as proprietor or as registered user to use the trade mark or to goods with which such a person as aforesaid is connected in the course of trade.
(2) The right to the use of a trade mark given by registration as aforesaid shall be subject to any conditions or limitations entered on the register, and shall not be deemed to be infringed by the use of any such mark as aforesaid in any mode, in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in in any place, in relation to goods to be exported to any market, or in any other circumstances, to which, having regard to any such limitations, the registration does not extend.
(3) The right to the use of a trade mark given by registration as aforesaid shall not be deemed to be infringed by the use of any such mark as aforesaid by any person—
(a) in relation to goods connected in the course of trade with the proprietor or a registered user of the trade mark if, as to those goods or a bulk of which they form part, the proprietor or the registered user conforming to the permitted use has applied the trade mark and has not subsequently removed or obliterated it, or has at any time expressly or impliedly consented to the use of the trade mark; or
(b) in relation to goods adapted to form part of, or to be accessory to, other goods in relation to which the trade mark has been used without infringement of the right given as aforesaid or might for the time being be so used, if the use of the mark is reasonably necessary in order to indicate that the goods are so adapted and neither the purpose nor the effect of the use of the mark is to indicate otherwise than in accordance with the fact a connection in the course of trade between any person and the goods.
(4) The use of a registered trade mark, being one of two or more registered trade marks that are identical or nearly resemble each other, in exercise of the right to the use of that trade mark given by registration as aforesaid, shall not be deemed to be an infringement of the right so given to the use of any other of those trade marks.
Right given by registration in Part B and infringement thereof.
13.—(1) Except as provided by subsection (2) of this section, the registration (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) of a person in Part B of the register as proprietor of a trade mark in respect of any goods shall, if valid, give or be deemed to have given to that person the like right in relation to those goods as if the registration had been in Part A of the register, and the provisions of section 12 of this Act shall have effect in like manner in relation to a trade mark registered in Part B of the register as they have effect in relation to a trade mark registered in Part A of the register.
(2) In any action for infringement of the right to the use of a trade mark given by registration as aforesaid in Part B of the register, otherwise than by an act that is deemed to be an infringement by virtue of section 14 of this Act, no injunction or other relief shall be granted to the plaintiff if the defendant establishes to the satisfaction of the Court that the use of which the plaintiff complains is not likely to deceive or cause confusion or to be taken as indicating a connection in the course of trade between the goods and some person having the right either as proprietor or as registered user to use the trade mark.
Infringement by breach of certain restrictions.
14.—(1) Where, by a contract in writing made with the proprietor or a registered user of a registered trade mark, a purchaser or owner of goods enters into an obligation to the effect that he will not do, in relation to the goods, an act to which this section applies, any person who, being the owner for the time being of the goods and having notice of the obligation, does that act, or authorises it to be done, in relation to the goods, in the course of trade or with a view to any dealing therewith in the course of trade, shall be deemed thereby to infringe the right to the use of the trade mark given by the registration thereof, unless that person became the owner of the goods by purchase for money or money's worth in good faith before receiving notice of the obligation or by virtue of a title derived through another who so became the owner thereof.
(2) The acts to which this section applies are—
(a) the application of the trade mark upon the goods after they have suffered alteration in any manner specified in the contract as respects their state or condition, get-up or packing;
(b) in a case in which the trade mark is upon the goods, the alteration, part removal or part obliteration thereof;
(c) in a case in which the trade mark is upon the goods, and there is also thereon other matter, being matter indicating a connection in the course of trade between the proprietor or registered user and the goods, the removal or obliteration, whether wholly or partly, of the trade mark unless that other matter is wholly removed or obliterated;
(d) in a case in which the trade mark is upon the goods, the application of any other trade mark to the goods;
(e) in a case in which the trade mark is upon the goods, the addition to the goods of any other matter in writing that is likely to injure the reputation of the trade mark.
(3) In this section references in relation to any goods to the proprietor, to a registered user, and to the registration, of a trade mark shall be construed, respectively, as references to the proprietor in whose name the trade mark is registered, to a registered user who is registered, and to the registration of the trade mark, in respect of those goods, and “upon” includes in relation to any goods a reference to physical relation thereto.
Saving for vested rights.
15.—Nothing in this Act shall entitle the proprietor or a registered user of a registered trade mark to interfere with or restrain the use by any person of a trade mark identical with or nearly resembling it in relation to goods in relation to which that person or a predecessor in title of his has continuously used that trade mark from a date anterior—
(a) to the use of the first-mentioned trade mark in relation to those goods by the proprietor or a predecessor in title of his; or
(b) to the registration of the first-mentioned trade mark in respect of those goods in the name of the proprietor or a predecessor in title of his;
whichever is the earlier, or to object (on such use being proved) to that person being put on the register for that identical or nearly resembling trade mark in respect of those goods under subsection (2) of section 20 of this Act.
Saving for use of name, address or description of goods.
16.—No registration of a trade mark shall interfere with—
(a) any bona fide use by a person of his own name or of the name of his place of business, or of the name, or of the name of the place of business, of any of his predecessors in business; or
(b) the use by any person of any bona fide description of the character or quality of his goods, not being a description that would be likely to be taken as importing any such reference as is mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 12, or in paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 45, of this Act.
Distinctiveness requisite for registration in Part A.
17.—(1) In order for a trade mark (other than a certification trade mark) to be registrable in Part A of the register, it must contain or consist of at least one of the following essential particulars:—
(a) the name of a company, individual, or firm, represented in a special or particular manner;
(b) the signature of the applicant for registration or some predecessor in his business;
(c) an invented word or invented words;
(d) a word or words having no direct reference to the character or quality of the goods, and not being according to its ordinary signification a geographical name or a surname;
(e) any other distinctive mark, but a name, signature, or word or words, other than such as fall within the descriptions in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this subsection, shall not be registrable under this paragraph except upon evidence of its distinctiveness.
(2) For the purposes of this section “distinctive” means adapted, in relation to the goods in respect of which a trade mark is registered or proposed to be registered, to distinguish goods with which the proprietor of the trade mark is or may be connected in the course of trade from goods in the case of which no such connection subsists, either generally or, where the trade mark is registered or proposed to be registered subject to limitations, in relation to use within the extent of the registration.
(3) In determining whether a trade mark is adapted to distinguish as aforesaid the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may have regard to the extent to which—
(a) the trade mark is inherently adapted to distinguish as aforesaid; and
(b) by reason of the use of the trade mark or of any other circumstances, the trade mark is in fact adapted to distinguish as aforesaid.
Capability of distinguishing requisite for registration in Part B.
18.—(1) In order for a trade mark to be registrable in Part B of the register it must be capable, in relation to the goods in respect of which it is registered or proposed to be registered, of distinguishing goods with which the proprietor of the trade mark is or may be connected in the course of trade from goods in the case of which no such connection subsists, either generally or, where the trade mark is registered or proposed to be registered subject to limitations, in relation to use within the extent of the registration.
(2) In determining whether a trade mark is capable of distinguishing as aforesaid the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may have regard to the extent to which—
(a) the trade mark is inherently capable of distinguishing as aforesaid; and
(b) by reason of the use of the trade mark or of any other circumstances, the trade mark is in fact capable of distinguishing as aforesaid.
(3) A trade mark may be registered in Part B notwithstanding any registration in Part A in the name of the same proprietor of the same trade mark or any part or parts thereof.
Prohibition of registration of deceptive and certain other matter.
19.—It shall not be lawful to register as a trade mark or part of a trade mark any matter the use of which would, by reason of its being likely to deceive or cause confusion or otherwise, be disentitled to protection in a court of law, or would be contrary to law or morality, or any scandalous design.
Prohibition of registration of identical and resembling trade marks.
20.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no trade mark shall be registered in respect of any goods or description of goods that is identical with a trade mark belonging to a different proprietor and already on the register in respect of the same goods or description of goods, or that so nearly resembles such a trade mark as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion.
(2) In case of honest concurrent use, or of other special circumstances which in the opinion of the Court or the Controller make it proper so to do, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may permit the registration of trade marks that are identical or nearly resemble each other in respect of the same goods or description of goods by more than one proprietor subject to such conditions and limitations, if any, as the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may think it right to impose.
(3) Where separate applications are made by different persons to be registered as proprietors respectively of trade marks that are identical or nearly resemble each other, in respect of the same goods or description of goods, the Controller may refuse to register any of them until their rights have been determined by the Court, or have been settled by agreement in a manner approved by him or by the Court on an appeal, as the case may be:
Provided that where separate applications by different persons to be registered as proprietors respectively of trade marks that are identical or nearly resemble each other are made on different dates, the Controller may refuse to proceed with the second or later of those applications until the first application shall have been determined, and that the trade mark the subject of the first application shall, if that trade mark is thereupon registered, be deemed to be a trade mark already on the register under subsection (1) of this section in relation to the trade mark the subject of the second or later application.
Registration in Part A to be conclusive as to validity after seven years.
21.—(1) In all legal proceedings relating to a trade mark registered in Part A of the register (including applications under section 40 of this Act) the original registration in Part A of the register of the trade mark shall, after the expiration of seven years from the date of that registration, be taken to be valid in all respects, unless—
(a) that registration was obtained by fraud, or
(b) the trade mark offends against section 19 of this Act.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of section 13 of this Act shall be construed as making applicable to a trade mark, as being a trade mark registered in Part B of the register, the foregoing provisions of this section relating to a trade mark registered in Part A of the register.
Registration subject to disclaimer.
22.—If a trade mark—
(a) contains any part not separately registered by the proprietor as a trade mark; or
(b) contains matter common to the trade or otherwise of a non-distinctive character;
the Court or the Controller (as the case may be), in deciding whether the trade mark shall be entered or shall remain on the register, may require as a condition of its being on the register—
(i) that the proprietor shall disclaim any right to the exclusive use of any part of the trade mark, or to the exclusive use of all or any portion of any such matter as aforesaid, to the exclusive use of which the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) holds him not to be entitled; or
(ii) that the proprietor shall make such other disclaimer as the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may consider necessary for the purpose of defining his rights under the registration:
Provided that no disclaimer on the register shall affect any rights of the proprietor of a trade mark except such as arise out of the registration of the trade mark in respect of which the disclaimer is made.
Word trade mark used as name of article or substance.
23.—(1) The registration of a trade mark shall not be deemed to have become invalid by reason only of any use, after the date of the registration, of a word or words which the trade mark contains, or of which it consists, as the name or description of an article or substance:
Provided that if it is proved either—
(a) that there is a well-known and established use of the word or words as the name or description of the article or substance by a person or persons carrying on a trade therein, not being use in relation to goods connected in the course of trade with the proprietor or a registered user of the trade mark or (in the case of a certification trade mark) goods certified by the proprietor; or
(b) that the article or substance was formerly manufactured under a patent (being a patent in force on, or granted after, the 1st day of October, 1927), that a period of two years or more after the cesser of the patent has elapsed, and that the word or words is or are the only practicable name or description of the article or substance;
the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall have effect.
(2) Where the facts mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the proviso to subsection (1) of this section are proved with respect to any word or words, then—
(a) if the trade mark consists solely of that word or those words, the registration of the trade mark, so far as regards registration in respect of the article or substance in question or of any goods of the same description, shall be deemed for the purposes of section 40 of this Act to be an entry wrongly remaining on the register;
(b) if the trade mark contains that word or those words and other matter, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be), in deciding whether the trade mark shall remain on the register, so far as regards registration in respect of the article or substance in question and of any goods of the same description, may in case of a decision in favour of its remaining on the register require as a condition thereof that the proprietor shall disclaim any right to the exclusive use in relation to that article or substance and any goods of the same description of that word or those words, so, however, that no disclaimer on the register shall affect any rights of the proprietor of a trade mark except such as arise out of the registration of the trade mark in respect of which the disclaimer is made; and
(c) for the purposes of any other legal proceedings relating to the trade mark—
(i) if the trade mark consists solely of that word or those words, all rights of the proprietor, whether under the common law or by registration, to the exclusive use of the trade mark in relation to the article or substance in question or to any goods of the same description, or
(ii) if the trade mark contains that word or those words and other matter, all such rights of the proprietor to the exclusive use of that word or those words in such relation as aforesaid,
shall be deemed to have ceased on the date at which the use mentioned in paragraph (a) of the proviso to subsection (1) of this section first became well known and established, or at the expiration of the period of two years mentioned in paragraph (b) of that proviso.
(3) No word which is the commonly used and accepted name of any single chemical element or single chemical compound, as distinguished from a mixture, shall be registered as a trade mark in respect of a chemical substance or preparation, and any such registration in force at the commencement of this Act or thereafter shall, notwithstanding section 21 of this Act, be deemed for the purposes of section 40 of this Act to be an entry made in the register without sufficient cause, or an entry wrongly remaining on the register, as the circumstances may require:
Provided that this subsection shall not have effect in relation to a word which is used to denote only a brand or make of the element or compound as made by the proprietor or a registered user of the trade mark, as distinguished from the element or compound as made by others and in association with a suitable name or description open to the public use.
Effect of limitation as to colour and of absence thereof.
24.—(1) A trade mark may be limited in whole or in part to one or more specified colours, and in any such case the fact that it is so limited shall be taken into consideration by the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) when deciding on the distinctive character of the trade mark.
(2) If and so far as a trade mark is registered without limitation of colour, it shall be deemed to be registered for all colours.
Application for registration.
25.—(1) Any person claiming to be the proprietor of a trade mark used or proposed to be used by him who is desirous of registering it must apply in writing to the Controller in the prescribed manner for registration either in Part A or in Part B of the register.
(2) Subject to this Act, the Controller may refuse the application, or may accept it absolutely or subject to such amendments, modifications, conditions or limitations, if any, as he may think right.
(3) In the case of an application for registration of a trade mark (other than a certification trade mark) in Part A of the register, the Controller may, if the applicant is willing, instead of refusing the application, treat it as an application for registration in Part B and deal with the application accordingly.
(4) In the case of a refusal or conditional acceptance, the Controller shall, if required by the applicant within the prescribed time, state in writing the grounds of his decision and the materials used by him in arriving thereat.
(5) An applicant desiring to appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section shall apply to the Controller under subsection (4) of this section for the statement in writing therein referred to, and on the appeal the Court shall, if required, hear the applicant and the Controller, and shall make an order determining whether, and subject to what amendments, modifications, conditions or limitations, if any, the application is to be accepted.
(6) Except by leave of the Court no appeal against a decision of the Controller under this section shall be made save within a period of two months from the date of dispatch to the applicant of the statement in writing referred to in subsection (4) of this section or within such further period not exceeding three months as the Controller may allow (upon request received before the expiration of the said period of two months).
(7) Appeals under section 57 of this Act against decisions of the Controller under this section shall be heard on the materials stated as aforesaid by the Controller, and no further grounds of objection to the acceptance of the application shall be allowed to be taken by the Controller, other than those so stated as aforesaid by him, except by leave of the Court.
(8) The Controller or the Court (as the case may be) may at any time, whether before or after acceptance, correct any error in or in connection with the application, or may permit the applicant to amend his application upon such terms as the Controller or the Court (as the case may be) may think fit.
Opposition to registration.
26.—(1) When an application for registration of a trade mark has been accepted, whether absolutely or subject to conditions or limitations, the Controller shall, as soon as may be after acceptance, cause the application as accepted to be advertised in the prescribed manner, and the advertisement shall set forth all conditions and limitations subject to which the application has been accepted:
Provided that the Controller may cause an application to be advertised before acceptance in any case where it appears to him that it is expedient by reason of any exceptional circumstances so to do, and where an application has been so advertised the Controller may, if he thinks fit, advertise it again when it has been accepted but shall not be bound so to do.
(2) Any person may, within the prescribed time from the date of the advertisement of an application, give notice to the Controller of opposition to the registration.
(3) The notice shall be given in writing in the prescribed manner, and shall include a statement of the grounds of opposition.
(4) The Controller shall send a copy of the notice to the applicant, and within the prescribed time after receipt thereof the applicant shall send to the Controller, in the prescribed manner, a counter-statement of the grounds on which he relies for his application, and, if he does not do so, he shall be deemed to have abandoned his application.
(5) If the applicant sends such a counter-statement as aforesaid, the Controller shall furnish a copy thereof to the persons giving notice of opposition, and shall, after hearing the parties, if so required, and considering the evidence, decide whether, and subject to what conditions or limitations, if any, registration is to be permitted and shall notify the applicant and the opponent accordingly.
(6) The applicant or the opponent may, within the prescribed time after the date of notification of the decision of the Controller, apply to the Controller for a written statement of the grounds of his decision.
(7) A person desiring to appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section shall apply to the Controller under subsection (6) of this section for the written statement therein referred to, and on the appeal the Court shall, if required, hear the parties and the Controller and shall make an order determining whether, and subject to what conditions or limitations, if any, registration is to be permitted.
(8) Except by leave of the Court, no appeal against a decision of the Controller under this section shall be made save within a period of two months from the date of dispatch to the applicant of the statement in writing referred to in subsection (6) of this section or within such further period not exceeding three months as the Controller may allow (upon request received before the expiration of the said period of two months).
(9) On the hearing of an appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section any party may, either in the manner prescribed or by special leave of the Court, bring forward further material for the consideration of the Court.
(10) (a) On an appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section no further grounds of objection to the registration of a trade mark shall be allowed to be taken by the opponent or the Controller, other than those so stated as aforesaid by the opponent, except by leave of the Court.
(b) Where any further grounds of objection are taken, the applicant shall be entitled to withdraw his application without payment of the costs of the opponent on giving notice as prescribed.
(11) On an appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section the Court may, after hearing the Controller, permit the trade mark proposed to be registered to be modified in any manner not substantially affecting the identity thereof, but in any such case the trade mark as so modified shall be advertised in the prescribed manner before being registered.
(12) If a person giving notice of opposition or an applicant sending a counter-statement after receipt of a copy of such notice, or an appellant, neither resides nor carries on business in the State, the Court (in the case of an appeal) or the Controller (in any other case) may require him to give security for costs of the proceedings and, in default of such security being duly given, may treat the opposition or application, or the appeal, as the case may be, as abandoned.
Registration.
27.—(1) When an application for registration of a trade mark in Part A or in Part B of the register has been accepted, and either—
(a) the application has not been opposed and the time for notice of opposition has expired, or
(b) the application has been opposed and the opposition has been decided in favour of the applicant,
the Controller shall, unless the application has been accepted in error, register the trade mark in Part A or Part B, as the case may be, and the trade mark, when registered, shall be registered as of the date of the application for registration, and that date shall be deemed for the purposes of this Act to be the date of registration:
Provided that the foregoing provisions of this subsection, relating to the date as of which a trade mark shall be registered and to the date to be deemed to be the date of registration, shall, as respects a trade mark registered under this Act with the benefit of section 70 of this Act, have effect subject to that section.
(2) On the registration of a trade mark the Controller shall issue to the applicant a certificate in the prescribed form of the registration thereof sealed with the official seal of the Controller.
(3) Where registration of a trade mark is not completed within twelve months from the date of the application by reason of default on the part of the applicant, the Controller may, after giving notice of the non-completion to the applicant in writing in the prescribed manner, treat the application as abandoned unless it is completed within the time specified in that behalf in the notice.
Duration and renewal of registration.
28.—(1) The registration of a trade mark shall be for a period of seven years, but may be renewed from time to time in accordance with this section:
Provided that, in relation to a registration as of a date before the commencement of this Act, this subsection shall have effect with the substitution of a period of fourteen years for the said period of seven years.
(2) The Controller shall, on application made by the registered proprietor of a trade mark in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period, renew the registration of the trade mark for a period of fourteen years from the date of expiration of the original registration or of the last renewal of registration, as the case may be, which date is in this section called “the expiration of the last registration”.
(3) At the prescribed time before the expiration of the last registration of a trade mark, the Controller shall send notice in the prescribed manner to the registered proprietor of the date of expiration and the conditions as to payment of fees and otherwise upon which a renewal of registration may be obtained, and, if at the expiration of the time prescribed in that behalf those conditions have not been duly complied with, the Controller may remove the trade mark from the register, subject to such conditions, if any, as to its restoration to the register as may be prescribed.
(4) Where a trade mark has been removed from the register for non-payment of the fee for renewal, it shall, nevertheless, for the purpose of any application for the registration of a trade mark during one year next after the date of the removal, be deemed to be a trade mark that is already on the register:
Provided that the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall not have effect where the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) is satisfied either—
(a) that there has been no bona fide trade use of the trade mark that has been removed during the two years immediately preceding its removal; or
(b) that no deception or confusion would be likely to arise from the use of the trade mark that is the subject of the application for registration by reason of any previous use of the trade mark that has been removed.
Registration of parts of trade marks and of trade marks as a series.
29.—(1) (a) Where the proprietor of a trade mark claims to be entitled to the exclusive use of any part thereof separately, he may apply to register the whole and any such part as separate trade marks.
(b) Each such separate trade mark must satisfy all the conditions of an independent trade mark and shall, subject to subsection (3) of section 31 and subsection (2) of section 38 of this Act, have all the incidents of an independent trade mark.
(2) Where a person claiming to be the proprietor of several trade marks, in respect of the same goods or description of goods, which, while resembling each other in the material particulars thereof, yet differ in respect of—
(a) statements of the goods in relation to which they are respectively used or proposed to be used; or
(b) statements of number, price, quality or names of places; or
(c) other matter of a non-distinctive character which does not substantially affect the identity of the trade mark; or
(d) colour;
seeks to register those trade marks, they may be registered as a series in one registration.
Powers of and restrictions on assignment and transmission.
30.—(1) Notwithstanding any rule of law or equity to the contrary, and subject to this section, a registered trade mark shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, assignable and transmissible either in connection with the goodwill of a business or not.
(2) Subject to this section, a registered trade mark shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, assignable and transmissible in respect either of all the goods in respect of which it is registered, or was registered, as the case may be, or of some (but not all) of those goods.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall have effect in the case of an unregistered trade mark used in relation to any goods as they have effect in the case of a registered trade mark registered in respect of any goods, if at the time of the assignment or transmission of the unregistered trade mark it is or was used in the same business as a registered trade mark, and if it is or was assigned or transmitted at the same time and to the same person as that registered trade mark and in respect of goods all of which are goods in relation to which the unregistered trade mark is or was used in that business and in respect of which that registered trade mark is or was assigned or transmitted.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this section, a trade mark shall not be, or be deemed to have been, assignable or transmissible in a case in which as a result of an assignment or transmission there would in the circumstances subsist, or have subsisted, whether under the common law or by registration, exclusive rights in more than one of the persons concerned to the use, in relation to the same goods or description of goods, of trade marks nearly resembling each other or of identical trade marks, if, having regard to the similarity of the goods and of the trade marks, the use of the trade marks in exercise of those rights would be, or have been, likely to deceive or cause confusion:
Provided that, where a trade mark is, or has been, assigned or transmitted in such a case as aforesaid, the assignment or transmission shall not be deemed to be, or to have been, invalid under this subsection if the exclusive rights subsisting as a result thereof in the persons concerned respectively are, or were, having regard to limitations imposed thereon, such as not to be exercisable by two or more of those persons in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, within the State (otherwise than for export therefrom) or in relation to goods to be exported to the same market outside the State.
(5) The proprietor of a registered trade mark who proposes to assign it in respect of any goods in respect of which it is registered may submit to the Controller in the prescribed manner a statement of case setting out the circumstances, and the Controller may issue to him a certificate stating whether, having regard to the similarity of the goods and of the trade marks referred to in the case, the proposed assignment of the first-mentioned trade mark would or would not be invalid under subsection (4) of this section, and a certificate so issued shall, unless it is shown that the certificate was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, be conclusive as to the validity or invalidity under subsection (4) of this section of the assignment in so far as such validity or invalidity depends upon the facts set out in the case, but, as regards a certificate in favour of validity, only if application for the registration under section 33 of this Act of the title of the person becoming entitled is made within six months from the date on which the certificate is issued.
(6) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1) to (3) of this section, a trade mark shall not, on or after the commencement of this Act, be assignable or transmissible in a case in which as a result of an assignment or transmission thereof there would in the circumstances subsist, whether under the common law or by registration, an exclusive right in one of the persons concerned to the use of the trade mark limited to use in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, in a place or places in the State, and an exclusive right in another of those persons to the use of a trade mark nearly resembling the first-mentioned trade mark or of an identical trade mark in relation to the same goods or description of goods limited to use in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, in another place or other places in the State:
Provided that, on application in the prescribed manner by the proprietor of a trade mark who proposes to assign it, or of a person who claims that a trade mark has been transmitted to him or to a predecessor in title of his on or after the commencement of this Act, in any such case, the Controller, if he is satisfied that in all the circumstances the use of the trade mark in exercise of the said rights would not be contrary to the public interest, may approve the assignment or transmission, and an assignment or transmission so approved shall not be deemed to be, or to have been, invalid under this subsection or under subsection (4) of this section, so, however, that in the case of a registered trade mark this provision shall not have effect unless application for the registration under section 33 of this Act of the title of the person becoming entitled is made within six months from the date on which the approval is given or, in the case of a transmission, was made before that date.
(7) Where an assignment in respect of any goods of a trade mark that is at the time of the assignment used in a business in those goods is made, on or after the commencement of this Act, otherwise than in connection with the goodwill of that business, the assignment shall not take effect until, in pursuance of an application made by the assignee in the prescribed manner to the Controller within a period of six months from the date on which the assignment is made (or within such extended period, if any, as the Controller may allow) a notice of the assignment is published in the Journal.
Certain trade marks to be associated so as to be assignable and transmissible as a whole only.
31.—(1) Trade marks that are registered as, or that are deemed by virtue of this Act to be, associated trade marks shall be assignable and transmissible only as a whole and not separately, but they shall for all other purposes be deemed to have been registered as separate trade marks.
(2) Where a trade mark that is registered, or is the subject of an application for registration, in respect of any goods is identical with another trade mark that is registered, or is the subject of an application for registration, in the name of the same proprietor in respect of the same goods or description of goods, or so nearly resembles it as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion if used by a person other than the proprietor, the Controller may at any time require that the trade marks shall be entered on the register as associated trade marks.
(3) Where a trade mark and any part or parts thereof are, by virtue of subsection (1) of section 29 of this Act, registered as separate trade marks in the name of the same proprietor, they shall be deemed to be, and shall be registered as, associated trade marks.
(4) All trade marks that are, by virtue of subsection (2) of section 29 of this Act, registered as a series in one registration shall be deemed to be, and shall be registered as, associated trade marks.
(5) On application made in the prescribed manner by the registered proprietor of two or more trade marks registered as associated trade marks, the Controller may dissolve the association as respects any of them if he is satisfied that there would be no likelihood of deception or confusion being caused if that trade mark were used by another person in relation to any of the goods in respect of which it is registered, and may amend the register accordingly.
Power of registered proprietor to assign and give receipts.
32.—Subject to this Act, the person for the time being entered in the register as proprietor of a trade mark shall, subject to any rights appearing from the register to be vested in any other person, have power to assign the trade mark, and to give effectual receipts for any consideration for an assignment thereof.
Registration of assignments and transmissions.
33.—(1) Where a person becomes entitled by assignment or transmission to a registered trade mark, he shall make application in the prescribed manner to the Controller to register his title, and the Controller shall, on receipt of the application and on proof of title to his satisfaction, register him as the proprietor of the trade mark in respect of the goods in respect of which the assignment or transmission has effect, and shall cause particulars of the assignment or transmission to be entered on the register.
(2) Except for the purposes of an appeal under section 57 of this Act against a decision of the Controller under this section or of an application under section 40 of this Act, a document or instrument in respect of which no entry has been made in the register in accordance with subsection (1) of this section shall not be admitted in evidence in any court of law in proof of the title to a trade mark unless that court otherwise directs.
Removal from the register and imposition of limitations on ground of non-use.
34.—(1) Subject to section 35 of this Act, a registered trade mark may be taken off the register in respect of any of the goods in respect of which it is registered on application by any person aggrieved to the Court or, at the option of the applicant and subject to section 59 of this Act, to the Controller, on the ground either—
(a) that the trade mark was registered without any bona fide intention on the part of the applicant for registration that it should be used in relation to those goods by him, and that there has in fact been no bona fide use of the trade mark in relation to those goods by any proprietor thereof for the time being up to the date one month before the date of the application; or
(b) that up to the date one month before the date of the application a continuous period of five years or longer elapsed during which the trade mark was a registered trade mark and during which there was no bona fide use thereof in relation to those goods by any proprietor thereof for the time being:
Provided that (except where the applicant has been permitted under subsection (2) of section 20 of this Act to register an identical or nearly resembling trade mark in respect of the goods in question or where the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) is of opinion that he might properly be permitted so to register such a trade mark) the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may refuse an application made under paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection in relation to any goods, if it is shown that there has been, before the relevant date or during the relevant period, as the case may be, bona fide use of the trade mark by any proprietor thereof for the time being in relation to goods of the same description, being goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered.
(2) Where in relation to any goods in respect of which a trade mark is registered—
(a) the matters referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section are shown so far as regards non-use of the trade mark in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, in a particular place in the State (otherwise than for export from the State), or in relation to goods to be exported to a particular market outside the State; and
(b) a person has been permitted under subsection (2) of section 20 of this Act to register an identical or nearly resembling trade mark in respect of those goods under a registration extending to use in relation to goods to be sold, or otherwise traded in, in that place (otherwise than for export from the State), or in relation to goods to be exported to that market, or the Court or the Controller is of opinion that he might properly be permitted so to register such a trade mark;
on application by that person to the Court, or, at the option of the applicant and subject to section 59 of this Act, to the Controller, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may impose on the registration of the first-mentioned trade mark such limitations as the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) thinks proper for securing that that registration shall cease to extend to such use as last aforesaid.
(3) An applicant shall not be entitled to rely for the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1), or for the purposes of subsection (2), of this section on any non-use of a trade mark that is shown to have been due to special circumstances in the trade and not to any intention not to use or to abandon the trade mark in relation to the goods to which the application relates.
Defensive trade marks.
35.—(1) Where a trade mark consisting of an invented word or invented words has become so well known as respects any goods in respect of which it is registered and in relation to which it has been used that the use thereof in relation to other goods would be likely to be taken as indicating a connection in the course of trade between those goods and a person entitled to use the trade mark in relation to the first-mentioned goods, then, notwithstanding that the proprietor registered in respect of the first-mentioned goods does not use or propose to use the trade mark in relation to those other goods and notwithstanding anything in section 34 of this Act, the trade mark may, on the application in the prescribed manner of the proprietor registered in respect of the first-mentioned goods, be registered in his name in respect of those other goods as a defensive trade mark and, while so registered, shall not be liable to be taken off the register in respect of those goods under section 34 of this Act.
(2) The registered proprietor of a trade mark may apply for the registration thereof in respect of any goods as a defensive trade mark notwithstanding that it is already registered in his name in respect of those goods otherwise than as a defensive trade mark, or may apply for the registration thereof in respect of any goods otherwise than as a defensive trade mark notwithstanding that it is already registered in his name in respect of those goods as a defensive trade mark, in lieu in each case of the existing registration.
(3) A trade mark registered as a defensive trade mark and that trade mark as otherwise registered in the name of the same proprietor shall, notwithstanding that the respective registrations are in respect of different goods, be deemed to be, and shall be registered as, associated trade marks.
(4) On application by any person aggrieved to the Court or, at the option of the applicant and subject to section 59 of this Act, to the Controller, the registration of a trade mark as a defensive trade mark may be cancelled on the ground that the requirements of subsection (1) of this section are no longer satisfied in respect of any goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered in the name of the same proprietor otherwise than as a defensive trade mark, or may be cancelled as respects any goods in respect of which it is registered as a defensive trade mark on the ground that there is no longer any likelihood that the use of the trade mark in relation to those goods would be taken as giving the indication mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.
(5) The Controller may at any time cancel the registration as a defensive trade mark of a trade mark of which there is no longer any registration in the name of the same proprietor otherwise than as a defensive trade mark.
(6) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section, this Act shall apply in respect of the registration of trade marks as defensive trade marks and of trade marks so registered as they apply in other cases.
Registered users.
36.—(1) (a) Subject to this section, a person other than the proprietor of a trade mark may be registered as a registered user thereof in respect of all or any of the goods in respect of which it is registered (otherwise than as a defensive trade mark) and either with or without conditions or restrictions, provided that there subsists a prescribed relationship between the proprietor and the proposed registered user.
(b) The use of a trade mark by a registered user thereof in relation to goods with which he is connected in the course of trade and in respect of which for the time being the trade mark remains registered and he is registered as a registered user, being use such as to comply with any conditions or restrictions to which his registration is subject, is in this Act referred to as the permitted use thereof.
(2) The permitted use of a trade mark shall be deemed to be use by the proprietor thereof, and shall be deemed not to be use by a person other than the proprietor for the purposes of section 34 of this Act and for any other purposes for which such use is material under this Act or at common law.
(3) (a) Subject to any agreement subsisting between the parties, a registered user of a trade mark shall be entitled to call upon the proprietor thereof to take proceedings to prevent infringement thereof, and, if the proprietor refuses or neglects to do so within two months after being so called upon, the registered user may institute proceedings for infringement in his own name as if he were the proprietor, making the proprietor a defendant.
(b) A proprietor so added as defendant shall not be liable for any costs unless he enters an appearance and takes part in the proceedings.
(4) Where it is proposed that a person should be registered as a registered user of a trade mark, the proprietor and the proposed registered user must apply in writing to the Controller in the prescribed manner and must furnish him with such documents, information or evidence as may be required under the rules or by the Controller.
(5) When the requirements of subsection (4) of this section have been complied with, if the Controller, after considering the information furnished to him under that subsection, is satisfied that in all the circumstances the use of the trade mark in relation to the proposed goods or any of them by the proposed registered user subject to any conditions or restrictions which the Controller thinks proper would not be contrary to the public interest, the Controller may register the proposed registered user as a registered user in respect of the goods as to which he is so satisfied subject as aforesaid.
(6) The Controller shall refuse an application under subsection (4) of this section if it appears to him that the grant thereof would tend to facilitate trafficking in a trade mark.
(7) Without prejudice to section 40 of this Act, the registration of a person as a registered user—
(a) may be varied by the Controller as regards the goods in respect of which, or any conditions or restrictions subject to which, it has effect, on the application in writing in the prescribed manner of the registered proprietor of the trade mark to which the registration relates;
(b) may be cancelled by the Controller on the application in writing in the prescribed manner of the registered proprietor or of the registered user or of any other registered user of the trade mark; or
(c) may be cancelled by the Controller on the application in writing in the prescribed manner of any person on any of the following grounds, that is to say—
(i) that the registered user has used the trade mark otherwise than by way of the permitted use, or in such a way as to cause, or to be likely to cause, deception or confusion;
(ii) that the proprietor or the registered user misrepresented, or failed to disclose, some fact material to the application for the registration, or that the circumstances have materially changed since the date of the registration;
(iii) that the registration ought not to have been effected having regard to rights vested in the applicant by virtue of a contract in the performance of which he is interested.
(8) Provision shall be made by the rules for the notification of the registration of a person as a registered user to any other registered user of the trade mark, and for the notification of an application under subsection (7) of this section to the registered proprietor and each registered user (not being the applicant) of the trade mark, and for giving to the applicant on such an application, and to all persons to whom such an application is notified and who intervene in the proceedings in accordance with the rules, an opportunity of being heard.
(9) The Controller may at any time cancel the registration of a person as a registered user of a trade mark in respect of any goods in respect of which the trade mark is no longer registered.
(10) Nothing in this section shall confer on a registered user of a trade mark any assignable or transmissible right to the use thereof.
(11) Any person who is registered under this Act as a registered user of a trade mark shall be deemed to have been so registered as of the date of the application for his registration as a registered user.
Proposed use of trade mark by corporation to be constituted.
37.—(1) No application for the registration of a trade mark in respect of any goods shall be refused, nor shall permission for such registration be withheld, on the ground only that it appears that the applicant does not use or propose to use the trade mark—
(a) if the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) is satisfied that a body corporate is about to be constituted, and that the applicant intends to assign the trade mark to the corporation with a view to the use thereof in relation to those goods by the corporation; or
(b) if the application is accompanied by an application for the registration of a person as a registered user of the trade mark, and the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) is satisfied that the proprietor intends it to be used by that person in relation to those goods and the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) is also satisfied that that person will be registered as a registered user thereof immediately after the registration of the trade mark.
(2) Section 34 of this Act shall have effect, in relation to a trade mark registered under the power conferred by subsection (1) of this section as if for the reference, in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 34 of this Act, to intention on the part of an applicant for registration that a trade mark should be used by him there were substituted a reference to intention on his part that it should be used by the corporation or registered user concerned.
(3) The Controller or (in the case of an appeal) the Court may, as a condition of the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (1) of this section in favour of an applicant who relies on intention to assign to a corporation as aforesaid, require him to give security for the costs of any proceedings before the Controller or the Court (as the case may be), and in default of such security being duly given may treat the application as abandoned.
(4) Where a trade mark is registered in respect of any goods under the power conferred by subsection (1) of this section in the name of an applicant who relies on intention to assign to a corporation as aforesaid, then, unless within such period as may be prescribed, or within such further period not exceeding six months as the Controller may on application being made to him in the prescribed manner allow, the corporation has been registered as the proprietor of the trade mark in respect of those goods, the registration shall cease to have effect in respect thereof at the expiration of that period, and the Controller shall amend the register accordingly.
Use of one of associated or substantially identical trade marks equivalent to use of another.
38.—(1) Where under this Act use of a registered trade mark is required to be proved for any purpose, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may accept use of an associated registered trade mark, or of the trade mark with additions or alterations not substantially affecting its identity, as an equivalent for the use required to be proved.
(2) The use of the whole of a registered trade mark shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be also a use of any registered trade mark, being a part thereof, registered in the name of the same proprietor by virtue of subsection (1) of section 29 of this Act.
Use of trade mark for export trade.
39.—The application in the State of a trade mark to goods to be exported from the State, and any other act done in the State in relation to goods to be so exported which, if done in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in within the State, would constitute use of a trade mark therein, shall be deemed to constitute use of the trade mark in relation to those goods for any purpose for which such use is material under this Act or at common law.
General power to rectify entries in register.
40.—(1) Any person aggrieved by the non-insertion in or omission from the register of any entry, or by any entry made in the register without sufficient cause, or by any entry wrongly remaining on the register, or by any error or defect in any entry in the register, may apply in the prescribed manner to the Court or, at the option of the applicant and subject to section 59 of this Act, to the Controller, and the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may make such order for making, expunging or varying the entry as the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may think fit.
(2) The Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may in any proceeding under this section decide any question that it may be necessary or expedient to decide in connection with the rectification of the register.
(3) In case of fraud in the registration, assignment or transmission of a registered trade mark, or in any other case in which he considers it to be necessary in the public interest, the Controller may himself apply to the Court under this section.
(4) Any order of the Court rectifying the register shall direct that notice of the rectification shall be served in the prescribed manner on the Controller, and the Controller shall on receipt of the notice rectify the register accordingly.
(5) The power to rectify the register conferred by this section shall include power to remove a registration in Part A of the register to Part B.
Power to expunge or vary registration for breach of condition.
41.—On application by any person aggrieved to the Court or, at the option of the applicant and subject to section 59 of this Act, to the Controller or on application by the Controller to the Court, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may make such order as the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may think fit for expunging or varying the registration of a trade mark on the ground of any contravention of, or failure to observe, a condition entered on the register in relation thereto.
Correction of register.
42.—(1) The Controller may, on request made in the prescribed manner by the registered proprietor—
(a) correct any error in the name, address or description of the registered proprietor of a trade mark;
(b) enter any change in the name, address or description of the person who is registered as proprietor of a trade mark;
(c) cancel the entry of a trade mark on the register;
(d) amend the specification of the goods in respect of which a trade mark is registered provided that the amendment does not in any way extend the rights given by the existing registration of the trade mark; or
(e) enter a disclaimer or memorandum relating to a trade mark which does not in any way extend the rights given by the existing registration of the trade mark.
(2) The Controller may, on request made in the prescribed manner by a registered user of a trade mark, correct any error, or enter any change, in the name, address or description of the registered user.
(3) The Controller may, of his own motion, after having given the prescribed notice, correct any error made by him in any entry on the register.
Alteration of registered trade mark.
43.—(1) The registered proprietor of a trade mark may apply in the prescribed manner to the Controller for leave to add to or alter the trade mark in any manner not substantially affecting the identity thereof, and the Controller may refuse leave or may grant it on such terms and subject to such limitations as he may think fit.
(2) The Controller may cause an application under this section to be advertised in the prescribed manner in any case where it appears to him that it is expedient so to do and, where he does so, if within the prescribed time from the date of the advertisement any person gives notice to the Controller in the prescribed manner of opposition to the application, the Controller shall, after hearing the parties if so required, decide the matter.
(3) Where leave as aforesaid is granted, the trade mark as altered shall be advertised in the prescribed manner, unless it has already been advertised, in the form to which it has been altered, in an advertisement under subsection (2) of this section.
Adaptation of entries in register to amended or substituted classification of goods.
44.—(1) The Minister may from time to time make such rules, prescribe such forms and generally do such things as he thinks expedient, for empowering the Controller to amend the register, whether by making or expunging or varying entries therein, so far as may be requisite for the purpose of adapting the designation therein of the goods or classes of goods in respect of which trade marks are registered to any amended or substituted classification that may be prescribed.
(2) The Controller shall not, in exercise of any power conferred on him for the purpose aforesaid, make any amendment of the register that would have the effect of adding any goods or classes of goods to those in respect of which a trade mark is registered (whether in one or more classes) immediately before the amendment is to be made, or of antedating the registration of a trade mark in respect of any goods:
Provided that this subsection shall not have effect in relation to goods as to which the Controller is satisfied that compliance with this subsection in relation thereto would involve undue complexity and that the addition or antedating, as the case may be, would not affect any substantial quantity of goods and would not substantially prejudice the rights of any person.
(3) A proposal for the amendment of the register for the purpose aforesaid shall be notified to the registered proprietor of the trade mark affected, shall be advertised with any modifications, and may be opposed before the Controller by any person aggrieved on the ground that the proposed amendment contravenes subsection (2) of this section.
Certification trade marks.
45.—(1) A mark adapted in relation to any goods to distinguish in the course of trade goods certified by any person in respect of origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality, accuracy or other characteristic, from goods not so certified shall be registrable as a certification trade mark in Part A of the register in respect of those goods in the name, as proprietor thereof, of that person:
Provided that a mark shall not be so registrable in the name of a person who carries on a trade in goods of the kind certified.
(2) In determining whether a mark is adapted to distinguish as aforesaid, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) may have regard to the extent to which—
(a) the mark is inherently adapted to distinguish as aforesaid in relation to the goods in question; and
(b) by reason of the use of the mark or of any other circumstances, the mark is in fact adapted to distinguish as aforesaid in relation to the goods in question.
(3) Subject to subsections (4) to (6) of this section, and of sections 15 and 16 of this Act, the registration of a person as proprietor of a certification trade mark in respect of any goods shall, if valid, give to that person the exclusive right to the use of the trade mark in relation to those goods, and, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing words, that right shall be deemed to be infringed by any person who, not being the proprietor of the trade mark or a person authorised by him under the regulations in that behalf using it in accordance therewith, uses a mark identical with it or so nearly resembling it as to be likely to deceive or cause confusion, in the course of trade, in relation to any goods in respect of which it is registered, and in such manner as to render the use of the mark likely to be taken either—
(a) as being use as a trade mark; or
(b) in a case in which the use is use upon the goods or in physical relation thereto or in an advertising circular or other advertisement issued to the public, as importing a reference to some person having the right either as proprietor or by his authorisation under the relevant regulations to use the trade mark or to goods certified by the proprietor.
(4) The right to the use of a certification trade mark given by registration as aforesaid shall be subject to any conditions or limitations entered on the register, and shall not be deemed to be infringed by the use of any such mark as aforesaid in any mode, in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in in any place, in relation to goods to be exported to any market, or in any other circumstances, to which, having regard to any such limitations, the registration does not extend.
(5) The right to the use of a certification trade mark given by registration as aforesaid shall not be deemed to be infringed by the use of any such mark as aforesaid by any person—
(a) in relation to goods certified by the proprietor of the trade mark if, as to those goods or a bulk of which they form part, the proprietor or another in accordance with his authorisation under the relevant regulations has applied the trade mark and has not subsequently removed or obliterated it, or the proprietor has at any time expressly or impliedly consented to the use of the trade mark; or
(b) in relation to goods adapted to form part of, or to be accessory to, other goods in relation to which the trade mark has been used without infringement of the right given as aforesaid or might for the time being be so used, if the use of the mark is reasonably necessary in order to indicate that the goods are so adapted and neither the purpose nor the effect of the use of the mark is to indicate otherwise than in accordance with the fact that the goods are certified by the proprietor:
Provided that paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not have effect in the case of use consisting of the application of any such mark as aforesaid to any goods, notwithstanding that they are such goods as are mentioned in that paragraph, if such application is contrary to the relevant regulations.
(6) Where a certification trade mark is one of two or more registered trade marks that are identical or nearly resemble each other, the use of any of those trade marks in exercise of the right to the use of that trade mark given by registration shall not be deemed to be an infringement of the right so given to the use of any other of those trade marks.
(7) (a) There shall be deposited at the Office in respect of every trade mark registered under this section regulations approved by the Minister for governing the use thereof, which shall include provisions as to the cases in which the proprietor is to certify goods and to authorise the use of the trade mark, and may contain any other provisions that the Minister may require or permit to be inserted therein (including provisions conferring a right of appeal to the Controller against any refusal of the proprietor to certify goods or to authorise the use of the trade mark in accordance with the regulations).
(b) Regulations deposited under this subsection shall be open to inspection in like manner as the register.
(8) A certification trade mark shall not be assignable or transmissible otherwise than with the consent of the Minister.
(9) The provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the registration of a mark under this section and to marks so registered.
Registration of marks by Ministers.
46.—(1) A Minister of State may, subject to this Act, procure the registration of a trade mark or of a certification trade mark and a Minister by whom such registration is procured shall be, and shall be registered as, the proprietor thereof for all purposes under this Act.
(2) A Minister of State may procure the registration in any register maintained in any place outside the State of a trade mark (whether registered or not registered under subsection (1) of this section) if and so far as and subject to such conditions as such registration is permitted by the law regulating such register and in any such case may procure himself to be entered in such register as the proprietor of such trade mark.
Misuse of trade marks indicative of Irish origin.
47.—It shall be lawful for the Minister to take in any place outside the State such lawful steps, whether by way of action or prosecution at law or otherwise, as he shall think proper to prevent, restrain, or to secure punishment for the registration, use, or application in relation to or in respect of goods not grown, produced, or manufactured in the State of any trade mark or other mark or description indicating or suggesting or likely to lead to the belief that the goods in respect of which or to which such trade mark, mark, or description is used or applied were grown, produced or manufactured in the State.
PART III.
Provisions Relating to Powers and Duties of Controller and to Legal Proceedings.
Preliminary advice by Controller as to distinctiveness.
48.—(1) The power to give to a person who proposes to apply for the registration of a trade mark in Part A or Part B of the register advice as to whether the trade mark appears to the Controller prima facie to be inherently adapted to distinguish, or capable of distinguishing, as the case may be, shall be a function of the Controller under this Act.
(2) Any such person who is desirous of obtaining such advice must make application to the Controller therefor in the prescribed manner.
(3) If on an application for the registration of a trade mark as to which the Controller has given advice as aforesaid in the affirmative, made within three months after the advice is given, the Controller, after further investigation or consideration, gives notice to the applicant of objection on the ground that the trade mark is not adapted to distinguish, or capable of distinguishing, as the case may be, the applicant shall be entitled, on giving notice of withdrawal of the application within the prescribed period, to have repaid to him any fee paid on the filing of the application.
Controller may consult Attorney General.
49.—The Controller may, in any case of doubt or difficulty in the administration of this Act, apply to the Attorney General for directions in the matter.
Hearing before exercise of Controller's discretion.
50.—Where any discretionary or other power is given to the Controller by this Act or the rules, he shall not exercise that power adversely to the applicant for registration or the registered proprietor of the trade mark in question without (if duly required so to do within the prescribed time) giving to the applicant or registered proprietor an opportunity of being heard.
Power of Controller to award costs.
51.—In all proceedings before the Controller under this Act, the Controller shall have power to award to any party such costs as he may consider reasonable, and to direct how and by what parties they are to be paid, and any such order may, by leave of the Court, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment or order of the Court to the same effect.
Registration to be prima facie evidence of validity.
52.—In all legal proceedings relating to a registered trade mark (including applications under section 40 of this Act) the fact that a person is registered as proprietor of the trade mark shall be prima facie evidence of the validity of the original registration of the trade mark and of all subsequent assignments and transmissions thereof.
Certificate of validity.
53.—In any legal proceeding in which the validity of the registration of a registered trade mark comes into question and is decided in favour of the proprietor of the trade mark, the Court may certify to that effect, and if it so certifies then in any subsequent legal proceeding in which the validity of the registration comes into question the proprietor of the trade mark on obtaining a final order or judgment in his favour shall have his full costs, charges and expenses as between solicitor and client, unless in the subsequent proceeding the Court certifies that he ought not to have them.
Costs of the Controller in Court proceedings.
54.—In any proceedings before the Court under this Act the Controller shall be neither awarded costs nor ordered to pay the costs of any other party.
Trade usage and other matters to be considered.
55.—In any action or proceeding relating to a trade mark or trade name, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) shall admit evidence of the usages of the trade concerned and of any relevant trade mark or trade name or get-up legitimately used by other persons.
Controller's appearance in proceedings.
56.—(1) The Controller shall be given notice in writing (by the plaintiff, appellant or applicant, as the case may be) of any legal proceeding in which the relief sought would affect the register (including an appeal from any order or decision of the Controller and an application under section 25 or 26 of this Act to extend the time for making an appeal against a decision of the Controller under either of those sections) and of the decision of the Court respecting any such legal proceeding, and shall have the right to appear and be heard, and shall appear if so directed by the Court, in any such legal proceeding.
(2) Unless otherwise directed by the Court, the Controller in lieu of appearing and being heard may submit to the Court a statement in writing signed by him, giving particulars of the proceedings before him in relation to the matter in issue or of the grounds of any decision given by him affecting it or of the practice of the Office in like cases or of such other matters relevant to the issues, and within his knowledge as Controller, as he thinks fit, and the statement shall be deemed to form part of the evidence in the proceeding.
Appeal to the Court.
57.—(1) An appeal shall lie to the Court from any order or decision of the Controller under any provision of this Act (not being a decision of the Controller under section 11 or subsection (7) of section 69 of this Act) or from a correction of an error in the register by the Controller under subsection (3) of section 42 of this Act, and the Court may make such order confirming, annulling or varying the order or decision or correction of the Controller as it thinks fit.
(2) In any appeal from a decision of the Controller to the Court under this Act, the Court shall have and exercise the same discretionary powers as under this Act are conferred upon the Controller.
(3) Except by leave of the Court, no appeal (other than an appeal under section 25 or 26 of this Act) from an order or decision of the Controller or from a correction of an error in the register by the Controller under subsection (3) of section 42 of this Act shall be entertained of which notice to the Court is not given within one month from the date of the order, decision or correction appealed against or within such further period not exceeding three months as the Controller may allow (upon request received before the expiration of the said period of one month).
(4) Subject to subsection (5) of this section, a decision of the Court under this section shall be final and not appealable.
(5) By leave of the Court, an appeal from a decision of the Court under this section shall lie to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.
Court's power to review Controller's decision.
58.—The Court, in dealing with any question of the rectification of the register (including all applications under section 40 of this Act), shall have power to review any decision of the Controller relating to the entry in question or the correction sought to be made.
Procedure in cases of option to apply to Court or Controller.
59.—Where under this Act an applicant has an option to make an application either to the Court or to the Controller—
(a) if an action concerning the trade mark in question is pending, the application must be made to the Court;
(b) if in any other case the application is made to the Controller, he may, at any stage of the proceedings, refer the application to the Court, or he may, after hearing the parties, determine the question between them, subject to appeal to the Court.
Mode of giving evidence.
60.—(1) In any proceeding under this Act before the Controller, the evidence shall be given by statutory declaration in the absence of directions to the contrary, but, in any case in which the Controller thinks it right so to do, the Controller may take evidence orally in lieu of or in addition to evidence by declaration.
(2) Any such statutory declaration may in the case of appeal be used before the Court in lieu of evidence by affidavit, but if so used shall have all the incidents and consequences of evidence by affidavit.
(3) In case any part of the evidence is taken orally the Controller may do all or any of the following things:—
(a) summon witnesses to attend before him,
(b) examine on oath (which he is hereby authorised to administer), or permit the examination on oath of, the witnesses attending before him,
(c) require any such witness to produce to the Controller any document in such witness's power or control.
(4) A witness before the Controller shall be entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if he were a witness before the Court.
(5) A summons shall be signed by the Controller.
(6) If any person—
(a) on being duly summoned as a witness before the Controller makes default in attending, or
(b) being in attendance as a witness refuses to take an oath legally required by the Controller to be taken, or to produce any document in his power or control legally required by the Controller to be produced by him, or to answer any question to which the Controller may legally require an answer, or
(c) does any other thing which would, if the Controller were a court of law, having power to commit for contempt of court, be contempt of such court,
the Controller may certify the offence of that person under his official seal to the Court and the Court may, after such inquiry as it thinks proper to make, punish or take steps for the punishment of that person in like manner as if he had been guilty of contempt of the Court.
Evidence of entries in register.
61.—(1) A copy of any entry in the register, purporting to be certified by, and sealed with the official seal of, the Controller, shall be admitted in evidence in any court of law, and in all proceedings, without further proof or production of the original.
(2) Any person requiring such a certified copy as aforesaid shall be entitled to obtain it on payment of the prescribed fee.
Evidence of things done by Controller.
62.—A certificate purporting to be under the official seal of the Controller as to any entry, matter or thing that he is authorised by this Act or the rules to make or do shall be prima facie evidence of the entry having been made, and of the contents thereof, and of the matter or thing having been done or not done.
PART IV.
Miscellaneous.
Falsification of entries in register.
63.—A person who makes or causes to be made a false entry in the register, or a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of an entry in the register, or who produces or tenders or causes to be produced or tendered in evidence any such writing, knowing the entry or writing to be false, shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Fine for falsely representing a trade mark as registered.
64.—(1) Any person who makes a representation—
(a) with respect to a mark not being a registered trade mark, to the effect that it is a registered trade mark; or
(b) with respect to a part of a registered trade mark not being a part separately registered as a trade mark, to the effect that it is so registered; or
(c) to the effect that a registered trade mark is registered in respect of any goods in respect of which it is not registered; or
(d) to the effect that the registration of a trade mark gives an exclusive right to the use thereof in any circumstances in which, having regard to limitations entered on the register, the registration does not give that right;
shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding five pounds for every day on which the offence continues.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the use in the State in relation to a trade mark of the word “registered”, or of any other word referring whether expressly or impliedly to registration, or of a prescribed symbol shall be deemed to import a reference to registration in the register, except—
(a) where that word or that symbol is used in physical association with words delineated in characters at least as large as those in which that word or that symbol is delineated and indicating that the reference is to registration as a trade mark under the law of a place outside the State, being a place under the law of which the registration referred to is in fact in force;
(b) where that word (being a word other than the word “registered”) or that symbol is of itself such as to indicate that the reference is to such registration as last aforesaid; or
(c) where that word or that symbol is used in relation to a mark registered as a trade mark under the law of a place outside the State and in relation to goods to be exported to that place.
Unauthorised user of State badges.
65.—Any person who without lawful authority uses in connection with any business, trade, calling or profession any badge, device, emblem, or flag reserved by law for the use of, or commonly used by, the State, the Defence Forces, any officer of the State or any Department of State (or any badge, device, emblem, or flag so closely resembling the same as to be likely to deceive) in such manner as to be likely to lead to the belief that he is duly authorised to use such badge, device, emblem, or flag, shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds (and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding five pounds for every day on which the offence continues) or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.
Change of form of trade connection not to be deemed to cause deception.
66.—The use of a registered trade mark in relation to goods between which and the person using it any form of connection in the course of trade subsists shall not be deemed to be likely to cause deception or confusion on the ground only that the trade mark has been, or is, used in relation to goods between which and that person or a predecessor in title of his a different form of connection in the course of trade subsisted or subsists.
Jointly owned trade marks.
67.—(1) Where the relations between two or more persons interested in a trade mark are such that no one of them is entitled as between himself and the other or others of them to use it except—
(a) on behalf of both or all of them, or
(b) in relation to an article with which both or all of them are connected in the course of trade,
those persons may be registered as joint proprietors of the trade mark, and this Act shall have effect in relation to any rights to the use of the trade mark vested in those persons as if those rights had been vested in a single person:
Provided that the rights of any person who is so registered shall be deemed to be infringed by any other of the said persons who uses the trade mark in physical or other relation to goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered under this section, but with which both or all of the said persons are not and have not been connected in the course of trade.
(2) Subject to subsection (1) of this section, nothing in this Act shall authorise the registration of two or more persons who use a trade mark independently, or propose so to use it, as joint proprietors thereof.
Trusts and equities.
68.—(1) There shall not be entered in the register any notice of any trust express, implied or constructive, nor shall any such notice be receivable by the Controller.
(2) Subject to this Act, equities in respect of a trade mark may be enforced in like manner as in respect of any other personal property.
Recognition and registration of trade mark agents.
69.—(1) Whenever under this Act any act has to be done by or to any person in connection with a trade mark or any procedure relating to a trade mark or the registration thereof, the act (if not excepted by the rules) may, under and in accordance with rules made under this section or, in particular cases, with the consent of the Minister, be done by or to an agent of that person duly authorised in the prescribed manner and, if acting for gain, registered in the register kept under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) There shall be kept at the Office a register which shall be called the register of trade mark agents, and no person shall, either alone or in partnership with any other person, practise, describe himself, hold himself out, or permit himself to be described or held out, as a trade mark agent, unless he is registered in the register of trade mark agents, and a partnership shall not so practise, describe itself, hold itself out, or permit itself so to be described or held out, unless all the partners are so registered.
(3) Any person who—
(a) resides in the State,
(b) has a place of business in the State,
(c) is not an alien (within the meaning of section 2 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956),
(d) possesses the prescribed educational and professional qualifications, and
(e) complies with the prescribed conditions,
shall be eligible to be registered in the register of trade mark agents, and a partnership shall be so eligible if every partner thereof is registered in accordance with this section, and a person or partnership so eligible shall on application in the prescribed form and manner and on payment of the prescribed fee, be so registered.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section any person who has been in continuous practice as a trade mark agent in the State for a period of five years before the commencement of this Act and makes application (in the prescribed form and manner and upon payment of the prescribed fee) for registration within twelve months from the commencement of this Act shall be eligible to be registered in the register of trade mark agents.
(5) Any person who at any time after the expiration of three months from the commencement of this Act contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding, in the case of a first offence, twenty pounds and, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, one hundred pounds.
(6) Any person registered in the register of trade mark agents who—
(a) ceases to be eligible to be so registered, or
(b) applies to be removed from the register,
may be removed by the Controller from the register of trade mark agents, but no person shall be so removed (except on his own application) without being given an opportunity of being heard.
(7) (a) Where a person registered in the register of trade mark agents is found by the Controller, after due inquiry by the Controller (including the hearing by the Controller of representations, if any, by the person), to have been guilty of conduct disgraceful to that person in a professional respect, the Controller may, if he sees fit, decide that the name of that person should be erased from the register of trade mark agents.
(b) On making a decision under this subsection, the Controller shall forthwith send by post to the person to whom the decision relates, at his address as stated in the register of trade mark agents, a notice in writing stating the decision, the date thereof and the reason therefor.
(c) A person to whom a decision of the Controller under this subsection relates may, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, on giving notice to the Controller in the prescribed manner apply to the Court for cancellation of the decision, and if he so applies—
(i) the Court, on the hearing of the application, may either—
(I) cancel the decision, or
(II) confirm the decision and direct the Controller to erase the name of such person from the register of trade mark agents,
(ii) if at any time the Controller satisfies the Court that such person has delayed unduly in proceeding with the application, the Court shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, confirm the decision and direct the Controller to erase the name of such person from the register,
(iii) the Court may, subject to section 54 of this Act, direct how the costs of the application are to be borne.
(d) Where a person to whom a decision of the Controller under this subsection relates does not, within the period of fourteen days beginning on the date of the decision, apply to the Court for cancellation of the decision, the Controller may apply ex parte to the Court for confirmation of the decision and, if the Controller so applies, the Court, on the hearing of the application, shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, confirm the decision and direct the Controller to erase the name of such person from the register of trade mark agents.
(e) The decision of the Court on an application under this subsection shall be final, save that, by leave of the Court, an appeal, by the Controller or the person concerned, from the decision shall lie to the Supreme Court on a specified question of law.
(f) On erasing the name of a person from the register of trade mark agents under this subsection, the Controller shall forthwith send by post to such person, at his address as stated in the register of trade mark agents, notice in writing of the erasure.
(g) A person whose name has been erased from the register of trade mark agents under this subsection may at any time be restored to the register by special direction of the Controller but not otherwise, and when a person is so restored to the register, the Controller may attach to the restoration such conditions (including the payment of a fee not exceeding the fee which would be payable by such person if he was then being registered for the first time) as the Controller thinks fit.
(8) A person (in this subsection referred to as an agent) duly authorised by any person under subsection (1) of this section to act as his agent may (subject to any provision to the contrary in any agreement between the agent and that person), on giving notice to the Controller and that person, cease to act as agent for that person.
(9) The Minister may by order make rules under this section for the management of the register of trade mark agents, and may by such rules prescribe any matter or thing referred to in this section as prescribed, and in particular may so prescribe the educational and professional qualifications and the conditions for eligibility for registration in the register of trade mark agents, and the maximum fees which may be charged by any person registered in the register of trade mark agents for such services in connection with the registration of trade marks as may be specified in such rules.
(10) (a) A person who is registered in the register of trade mark agents shall not be guilty of an offence under section 58 of the Solicitors Act, 1954, by reason only of the preparation by him for use in proceedings under this Act before the Controller or the Court of any document other than a deed.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (5) of this section, it shall not be an offence under this section for the legal personal representative of a deceased trade mark agent to carry on business or practise in the name of that deceased trade mark agent for a period not exceeding three years from the death of that trade mark agent, or for such further period (if any) as the Court allows, if the legal personal representative is himself a trade mark agent or employs a trade mark agent to manage the business or practice on his behalf.
(11) Notwithstanding subsection (3) of this section, the Minister may, with a view to the fulfilment by the Government on behalf of the State of any international agreement to which the State is a party, by order declare that a citizen of a particular state (being a state which is also a party to that international agreement) shall, if he otherwise complies with that subsection, be eligible to be registered in the register of trade mark agents.
(12) Notwithstanding subsection (4) of section 10 of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under this section may be instituted within twelve months from the date of the offence.
International agreements.
70.—(1) Where any person has applied, in a foreign state which is a party to any international agreement for the mutual protection of trade marks to which the State is a party, for protection of a trade mark of which that person is the proprietor, that person or his legal representative or assignee shall be entitled to registration under this Act of that trade mark in priority to other applicants; and the registration shall have the same date as the date of the application in that foreign state:
Provided that—
(a) the application in the State is made within the prescribed period, and
(b) nothing in this section shall entitle the proprietor of a trade mark to recover damages for any infringement occurring prior to the date which, but for subsection (1) of section 27 of this Act, would have been the date of registration of that trade mark.
(2) The registration under this Act of a trade mark to which this section applies shall not be invalidated by reason only of the use of that trade mark in the State during the period prescribed under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section as that within which the application for such registration may be made.
(3) An application for the registration under this Act of a trade mark to which this section applies shall be made in the manner specified in section 25 of or, in the case of a certification trade mark in the manner specified in the First Schedule to this Act.
(4) Any person who by an application which—
(a) in accordance with the law of any foreign state is equivalent to an application duly made in that foreign state or
(b) in accordance with the terms of any international agreement subsisting between any two or more foreign states is equivalent to an application duly made in one of those foreign states,
has applied for protection of a trade mark of which he is the proprietor shall for the purpose of this section be deemed to have so applied in that foreign state.
(5) This section shall apply only in the case of those foreign states with respect to which the Government, by order, declares it to be applicable and so long only in the case of each foreign state as the order continues in force with respect to that foreign state.
(6) In this section “foreign state” includes any territory for the foreign relations of which any state (being a state which is a party to any international agreement for the mutual protection of trade marks to which the State is a party) considers itself responsible.
Offences by bodies corporate or unincorporated bodies.
71.—Where an offence under section 63, 64, 65, or 69 of this Act—
(a) is committed by a body corporate or a partnership or by a person purporting to act on behalf of a body corporate or a partnership, and
(b) is proved to have been so committed with the consent or approval of, or to have been facilitated by any default on the part of, any person being, in the case of a body corporate, a director thereof, or, in the case of a partnership, a partner thereof,
that person shall also be guilty of the offence.
Transitional provisions.
72.—The transitional provisions set out in the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the matters therein mentioned respectively.
FIRST SCHEDULE.
Certification Trade Marks.
1. (1) An application for the registration of a mark under section 45 of this Act must be made to the Controller in writing in the prescribed manner by the person proposed to be registered as the proprietor thereof.
(2) The provisions of subsection (2) and of subsections (4) to (8) of section 25 of this Act shall have effect in relation to an application under the said section 45 as they have effect in relation to an application under subsection (1) of the said section 25, except that for references therein to acceptance of an application there shall be substituted references to authorisation to proceed with the application.
(3) In dealing under the said provisions with an application under the said section 45, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) shall have regard to the like considerations so far as relevant, as if the application were an application under the said section 25 of this Act and to any other considerations (not being matters within the competence of the Minister under subparagraph (5) of this paragraph) relevant to applications under the said section 45, including the desirability of securing that a certification trade mark shall comprise some indication that it is such a trade mark.
(4) An applicant for the registration of a mark under the said section 45 shall transmit to the Controller draft regulations for governing the use thereof at such time before the decision of the Controller on the application as he may require in order to enable him to consider the draft, and the Controller shall report thereon to the Minister.
(5) When authorisation to proceed with an application has been given, the Minister shall consider the application with regard to the following matters, that is to say:—
(a) whether the applicant is competent to certify the goods in respect of which the mark is to be registered;
(b) whether the draft regulations are satisfactory; and
(c) whether in all the circumstances the registration applied for would be to the public advantage;
and may either—
(i) direct that the application shall not be accepted; or
(ii) direct the Controller to accept the application, and approve the regulations, either without modification and unconditionally or subject to any conditions or limitations, or to any amendments or modifications of the application or of the regulations, which he thinks requisite having regard to any of the matters aforesaid;
but, except in the case of a direction for acceptance and approval without modification and unconditionally, the Minister shall not decide the matter without giving to the applicant an opportunity of being heard:
Provided that the Minister may, at the request of the applicant made with the concurrence of the Controller, consider the application with regard to any of the matters aforesaid before authorisation to proceed with the application has been given, so however that the Minister shall be at liberty to reconsider any matter on which he has given a decision under this proviso if any amendment or modification is thereafter made in the application or in the draft regulations.
2. (1) When an application has been accepted, the Controller shall, as soon as may be after such acceptance, cause the application as accepted to be advertised in the prescribed manner, and the provisions of subsections (2) to (12) of section 26 of this Act shall have effect in relation to the registration of the mark as if the application had been an application under section 25 of this Act:
Provided that, in deciding under the said provisions, the Court or the Controller (as the case may be) shall have regard only to the considerations referred to in subparagraph (3) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, and a decision under the said provisions in favour of the applicant shall be conditional on the determination in his favour by the Minister under subparagraph (2) of this paragraph of any opposition relating to any of the matters referred to in subparagraph (5) of the said paragraph 1.
(2) When notice of opposition is given relating to any of the matters referred to in subparagraph (5) of paragraph 1 of this Schedule, the Minister shall, after hearing the parties, if so required, and considering any evidence, decide whether, and subject to what conditions or limitations, or amendments or modifications of the application or of the regulations, if any, registration is, having regard to those matters, to be permitted.
3. (1) The regulations deposited in respect of a certification trade mark may, on the application of the registered proprietor, be altered by the Controller with the consent of the Minister.
(2) The Minister may cause an application for his consent to be advertised in any case where it appears to him that it is expedient so to do, and, where the Minister causes an application to be advertised, if within the prescribed time from the date of the advertisement any person gives notice to him of opposition to the application, he shall not decide the matter without giving the parties an opportunity of being heard.
4. (1) The Minister may, on the application in the prescribed manner of any person aggrieved or on the application of the Controller, make such order as he thinks fit for expunging or varying any entry in the register relating to a certification trade mark, or for varying the deposited regulations, on the ground—
(a) that the proprietor is no longer competent, in the case of any of the goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered, to certify those goods;
(b) that the proprietor has failed to observe a provision of the deposited regulations to be observed on his part;
(c) that it is no longer to the public advantage that the trade mark should be registered; or
(d) that it is requisite for the public advantage that, if the trade mark remains registered, the regulations should be varied;
and neither the Court nor the Controller shall have any jurisdiction to make an order under section 40 of this Act on any of those grounds.
(2) The Controller shall rectify the register and the deposited regulations in such manner as may be requisite for giving effect to an order made under subparagraph (1) of this paragraph.
5. Notwithstanding anything in section 51 of this Act, the Controller shall not have any jurisdiction to award costs to or against any party on an appeal to him against a refusal of the proprietor of a certification trade mark to certify goods or to authorise the use of the trade mark.
6. The following provisions of this Act shall not have effect in relation to a certification trade mark, that is to say, section 12, section 14, section 17, sections 25 and 26 (except as expressly applied by this Schedule), subsections (4) to (7) of section 30, sections 34 to 37, section 66, and any provisions the operation of which is limited by the terms thereof to registration in Part B of the register.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
Transitional Provisions.
Preservation for three years of rights under section 82 (2) of Act of 1927.
1. Notwithstanding subsection (1) of section 17 of this Act and the repeal of subsection (2) of section 82 of the Act of 1927, any special or distinctive word or words, letter, numeral, or combination of letters or numerals used as a trade mark by the applicant or his predecessors in business before the 13th day of August, 1875, which has continued to be used (either in its original form or with additions or alterations not substantially affecting the identity of the same) down to the date of the application shall, in the period ending on the day which is three years after the commencement of this Act, be registrable as a trade mark in Part A of the register under this Act.
Assignments and transmissions before the commencement of this Act giving exclusive rights in different places in the State.
2. The validity of an assignment or transmission of a trade mark effected or claimed to have been effected before the commencement of this Act, in any such case as is mentioned in subsection (6) of section 30 of this Act, shall be determined as if the provisions contained in subsections (1) to (5) of that section had not been enacted:
Provided that, on application made in the prescribed manner within three years from the commencement of this Act, by a person who claims that an assignment or transmission of a registered trade mark to him or to a predecessor in title of his has been so effected, the Controller shall have the like jurisdiction as under the proviso to subsection (6) of the said section 30, and an assignment or transmission approved by him shall not be deemed to have been invalid on the ground of the subsistence of such rights as are mentioned in the said subsection (6) or on the ground that the assignment or transmission was effected otherwise than in connection with the goodwill of a business or was effected in respect of some (but not all) of the goods in respect of which the trade mark was registered, if application for the registration under section 33 of this Act of the title of the person becoming entitled is made within six months from the date on which the approval is given, or was made before that date.
Saving as to retrospective provisions relating to assignments and transmissions.
3. The retrospective provisions contained in section 30 of this Act, and in paragraph 2 of this Schedule shall have effect without prejudice to any determination of the Controller or the Court that was made before the commencement of this Act, or to the determination of any appeal from a determination so made, or to any title acquired for valuable consideration before the commencement of this Act.
Association of trade marks assignable or transmissible as a whole.
4. Where immediately before the commencement of this Act a trade mark was registered in Part B of the register subject to a condition rendering it assignable or transmissible only as a whole with another trade mark registered in the name of the same proprietor or with two or more other trade marks so registered, and not separately, the trade marks shall be deemed to be associated trade marks, and the entries in the register relating thereto may be amended accordingly.
Previous use of a trade mark by person becoming registered user on application made within three years of appointed day.
5. Where a person is registered as a registered user of a trade mark on an application made within three years from the commencement of this Act, subsection (2) of section 36 of this Act shall have effect in relation to any previous use (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) of the trade mark by that person, being use in relation to the goods in respect of which he is registered and, where he is registered subject to conditions or restrictions, being use such as to comply substantially therewith, as if such previous use had been permitted use.
Use of trade mark for export trade before appointed day.
6. Section 39 of this Act shall be deemed to have had effect in relation to an act done before the commencement of this Act as it has effect in relation to an act done after the commencement of this Act, without prejudice, however, to any determination of the Controller or the Court which was made before the commencement of this Act or to the determination of any appeal from a determination so made.
Trade marks registered under section 123 of the Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act, 1927 to be deemed to have been registered under section 45 of this Act.
7. Section 45 of this Act shall have effect, in relation to a trade mark that immediately before the appointed day was on the register by virtue of section 123 of the Act of 1927, as if the said section 45 had been in force at the date of the registration of the trade mark and it had been registered under that section, subject however to the following modifications, that is to say:—
(a) the proviso to subsection (1) of the said section 45 shall not apply;
(b) in a case in which regulations for governing the use of the trade mark are deposited at the Office at the commencement of this Act, those regulations shall be deemed to have been deposited under the said section 45;
(c) in a case in which no such regulations are deposited at the commencement of this Act, the proprietor shall be at liberty, or may be required by the Minister as a condition of the continuance of the registration, to deposit at any time thereafter such regulations as the Minister may permit or require; and
(d) in a case in which no such regulations are for the time being deposited, the said section 45 shall have effect as if references therein, and in the First Schedule to this Act, to the regulations had been omitted.
Uimhir 9 de 1963.
ACHT NA dTRÁDMHARCANNA, 1963.
[An tiontú oifigiúil.]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach agus Ginearálta.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar Acht na dTrádmharcanna, 1963, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé dáta a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
Léiriú.
1890, c. 39.
2.—(1) San Acht seo, mura n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1927” an tAcht Maoine Tionnscail agus Tráchtála (Cosaint), 1927;
ciallaíonn “sannadh” sannadh trí ghníomh na bpáirtithe lena mbaineann;
ciallaíonn “an Ceannasaí” an Ceannasaí Maoine Tionscail agus Tráchtála a ceapadh faoi Acht 1927;
ciallaíonn “an Chúirt” an Ard-Chúirt;
ciallaíonn “an tIrisleabhar” an tIrisleabhar Oifigiúil um Maoin Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
ciallaíonn “teorainneacha” aon teorainneacha leis an gceart eisiatach chun úsáide trádmhairc a tugadh trí dhuine a chlárú mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc sin, lena n-áirítear teorainneacha leis an gceart sin maidir le modh úsáide, maidir le húsáid i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuiltear chun iad a dhíol (nó chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile) in aon áit sa Stát, nó maidir le húsáid i ndáil le hearraí atáthar chun a onnmhairiú go dtí aon mhargadh lasmuigh den Stát;
folaíonn “marc” samhlán, branda, mírcheann, lipéad, ticéad, ainm, síniú, focal, litir, uimhir, nó aon chónasc díobh sin;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Tionscail agus Tráchtála;
ciallaíonn “an Oifig” an Oifig Chláraitheachta Maoine Tionscail agus Tráchtála a bunaíodh faoi Acht 1927;
tá le “comhpháirtíocht” an bhrí a shanntar do “partnership” le halt 1 den Partnership Act, 1890;
tá le “úsáid cheadaithe” an bhrí a shanntar dó le mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 36 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “forordaithe”, maidir le himeachtaí os comhair na Cúirte, forordaithe le rialacha cúirte, agus, i gcásanna eile, forordaithe leis an Acht seo nó leis na rialacha;
ciallaíonn “an clár” clár na dtrádmharcanna a choimeádtar faoin Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “trádmharc cláraithe” trádmharc atá iarbhír ar an gclár;
ciallaíonn “úsáidire cláraithe” duine atá de thuras na huaire cláraithe mar úsáidire cláraithe faoi alt 36 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “na rialacha” rialacha arna ndéanamh ag an Aire faoi alt 3 nó alt 44 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “trádmharc”, ach amháin maidir le trádmharc deimhniúcháin, marc a úsáidtear nó a bheartaítear a úsáid i ndáil le hearraí chun go dtaispeántar nó ar mhodh go dtaispeánfar baint i gcúrsa trádála idir na hearraí agus duine éigin ag a bhfuil an ceart mar dhílseánach nó mar úsáidire cláraithe an marc a úsáid, i dteannta nó d'éagmais aon taispeánadh ar chéannacht an duine sin, agus ciallaíonn sé, maidir le trádmhac deimoniúcháin, marc a cláraíodh nó a mheastar a cláraíodh faoi alt 45 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “tarchur” tarchur trí oibriú an dlí, cineachadh ar ionadaí pearsanta éagaigh, agus aon mhodh aistrithe eile nach sannadh
(2) (a) San Acht seo déanfar tagairtí do mharc a úsáid a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí do shamhail chlóite nó aon dearc-shamhail eile den mharc a úsáid, agus déanfar tagairtí do mharc a úsáid i ndáil le hearraí a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don mharc sin a úsáid ar earraí nó i ndáil thadhlach nó i ndáil eile leis na hearraí sin.
(b) In aon Acht eile déanfar tagairtí do thrádmharc a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí do thrádmharc faoin Acht seo.
Cumhacht an Aire chun rialacha a dhéanamh.
3.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham cibé rialacha a dhéanamh, cibé foirmeacha a fhorordú agus, i gcoitinne, cibé nithe is fóirsteanach leis a dhéanamh—
(a) i dtaobh an cleachtas faoin Acht seo, lena n-áirítear seirbheáil doiciméad, a rialáil;
(b) i dtaobh earraí a aicmiú le haghaidh trádmharcanna a chlárú;
(c) i dtaobh trádmharcanna agus doiciméid eile a dhéanamh nó a cheangal dúbláidí díobh a chur ar fáil;
(d) i dtaobh foilsiú agus díol nó dáileadh cóipeanna de thrádmharcanna agus de dhoiciméid eile a áirithiú agus a rialáil i cibé slí is cuí leis an Aire;
(e) i gcoitinne, i dtaobh rialáil a dhéanamh ar ghnó na hOifige maidir le trádmharcanna agus gach ní a chuirtear leis an Acht seo faoi stiúradh nó faoi urláimh an Cheannasaí nó an Aire;
(f) i dtaobh aon ní a fhorordú dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní atá forordaithe nó le forordú.
(2) An fad a bheidh rialacha a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo i bhfeidhm, beidh an éifeacht chéanna acu ionann is dá mbeadh siad san Acht seo.
(3) Fógrófar dhá uair san Irisleabhar gach riail a dhéanfar faoin Acht seo, agus leagfar í faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a déanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an riail a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú na rialach, beidh an riail ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin fúithi.
Táillí.
1879, c. 58.
4.—(1) Déanfar cibé táillí a fhorordóidh an tAire ó am go ham le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais a íoc maidir le hiarratais, cláruithe, fógraí, faisnéisí, ráitis, frithráitis, leasuithe, athnuachana, cealuithe, dearbhuithe, deimhnithe, cóipeanna deimhnithe, taifid agus nithe eile i ndáil le trádmharcanna faoin Acht seo.
(2) Déanfar na táillí go léir a fhorordófar faoin alt seo a bhailiú, agus tabharfar cuntas iontu, i cibé slí a ordóidh an tAire le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Ní bhainfidh an Public Offices Fees Act, 1879, le haon táillí is iníoctha faoin Acht seo.
Feidhmiú cumhachtaí an Aire.
5.—Gach ní a cheanglaítear nó a údaraítear faoin Acht seo a dhéanamh ag an Aire nó leis nó os a chomhair, féadfaidh Rúnaí na Roinne Tionscail agus Tráchtála nó aon duine a bheidh údaraithe chuige sin ag an Aire é a dhéanamh nó féadfar é a dhéanamh leis nó os a chomhair.
Laethanta eiscthe.
6.—Aon uair a thitfidh an lá deireanach a bheidh ceaptha faoin Acht seo chun aon ní a dhéanamh faoin Acht seo ar lá a mbeidh sé sonraithe leis na rialacha gur lá eiscthe é, féadfar a fhoráil sna rialacha go bhféadfar an ní sin a dhéanamh an chéad lá ina dhiaidh sin nach mbeidh sé sonraithe leis na rialacha gur lá eiscthe é.
Caiteachais.
7.—Déanfar na caiteachais faoina rachaidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Aisghairm agus cosaint.
8.—(1) Aisghairtear leis seo na hailt seo a leanas d'Acht 1927, eadhon, ailt 3 agus 9 (a mhéid a bhaineann siad le trádmharcanna), 80 go 123, agus (a mhéid a bhaineann siad le trádmharcanna) 124, 125, 127 go 138, agus 140 go 153.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san Acht seo difear d'aon ordú, riail, rialachán nó ceanglas a rinneadh, d'aon tábla táillí nó deimhniú a eisíodh, d'aon fhógra, breith, cinneadh, ordú ná ceadú a tugadh, d'aon iarratas nó ní a rinneadh ná d'aon trádmharc nó marc a cláraíodh faoi Acht 1927; agus gach ordú, riail, rialachán, ceanglas, tábla táillí, deimhniú, fógra, breith, cinneadh, ordú, ceadú, iarratas, ní, trádmharc nó marc den sórt sin leanfaidh sé, má bhíonn sé i bhfeidhm ar dháta thosach feidhme an Achta seo, de bheith i bhfeidhm agus, a mhéid a fhéadfaí é a dhéanamh, a eisiúint, a thabhairt nó a chlárú faoin Acht seo, beidh éifeacht aige nó aici ionann is dá mba faoin alt comhréire den Acht seo a rinneadh, a eisíodh nó a tugadh é nó í.
(3) Déanfar aon doiciméad ina bhfuil tagairt d'aon achtachán a aisghairtear leis an Acht seo a fhorléiriú mar dhoiciméad a dhéanann tagairt don alt comhréire den Acht seo.
CUID II.
Forálacha Maidir le Clárú.
Clár na dtrádmharcanna.
9.—(1) Chun críocha an Achta seo, leanfar de leabhar dá ngairtear clár na dtrádmharcanna a choimeád san oifig ina dtaifeadfar na trádmharcanna cláraithe go léir maraon le hainmneacha, seolta, agus tuairiscí a ndílseánach, fógraí maidir le sannta agus tarchuir, ainmneacha, seolta agus tuairiscí gach úsáidire chláraithe, séanta, coinníollacha, teorainneacha agus cibé nithe eile a bheidh forordaithe maidir le trádmharcanna.
(2) Leanfaidh an clár de bheith ina dhá chuid dá ngairfear faoi seach Cuid A agus Cuid B.
(3) Beidh an clár ar oscailt gach tráth caothúil lena iniúchadh ag an bpobal, faoi réir cibé rialacháin a bheidh forordaithe.
(4) Coimeádfar an clár faoi urláimh agus faoi bhainistí an Cheannasaí.
(5) In ionad an clár a choimeád i bhfoirm leabhair, féadfar é a choimeád i cibé foirm taifid eile a cheadóidh an tAire ó am go ham.
Ní thionscnófar caingean mar gheall ar thrádmharc neamhchláraithe a shárú.
10.—Ní bheidh aon duine i dteideal aon imeachtaí a thionscnamh chun cosc a chur le sárú trádmhairc neamhchláraithe ná chun damáistí a ghnóthú mar gheall ar an sárú sin, ach measfar nach ndéanann aon ní san Acht seo difear do chearta caingne in aghaidh aon duine mar gheall ar earraí a thairiscint i leith is gur earraí duine eile iad ná do na leigheasanna i leith an chéanna.
Ní foláir clárú i leith earraí áirithe.
11.—Ní foláir trádmharc a chlárú i leith earraí áirithe nó aicmí áirithe earraí, agus is é an Ceannasaí a chinnfidh aon cheist a éireoidh maidir leis an aicme ar di aon earraí áirithe.
An ceart a thugann clárú i gCuid A agus sárú an chirt sin.
12.—(1) Faoi réir an ailt seo, agus ailt 15 agus 16 den Acht seo, tabharfaidh, nó measfar gur thug, clárú (cibé acu roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis) duine i gCuid A den chlár mar dhílseánach trádmhairc (seachas trádmharc deimhniúcháin) i leith aon earraí, ach an clárú sin a bheith bailí, ceart eisiatach don duine chun úsáide an trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí sin agus, gan dochar go ghinearáltacht na bhfocal sin roimhe seo, measfar an ceart sin a bheith sáraithe ag aon duine nach é dílseánach an trádmhairc é nó úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc agus é á úsáid de réir na húsáide ceadaithe a úsáidfidh marc comhionann leis nó chomh garchosúil sin leis gur dócha dó a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill i gcúrsa trádála, i ndáil le haon earraí a mbeidh sé cláraithe ina leith, agus i slí gur dhóigh go measfaí gurb éard úsáid an mhairc sin—
(a) úsáid mar thrádmharc; nó
(b) i gcás inarb éard í an úsáid sin úsáid ar na hearraí nó i ndáil tadhlach leo nó i gciorclán fógraíochta nó fógrán eile arna eisiúint chun an phobail, úsáid lena ngabhann tagairt do dhuine éigin ag a bhfuil an ceart mar dhílseánach nó mar úsáidire cláraithe an trádmharc a úsáid nó d'earraí lena bhfuil baint i gcúrsa trádála ag duine den sórt sin a dúradh.
(2) Beidh an ceart chun trádmharc a úsáid a tugadh trí chlárú mar a dúradh faoi réir aon choinníollacha nó teorainneacha a bheidh taifeadta ar an gclár, agus ní mheasfar gur sárú ar an gceart sin aon mharc den sórt sin a úsáid mar a dúradh ar aon mhodh, i ndáil le hearraí a bheifear chun a dhíol nó chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile in aon áit, i ndáil le hearraí a bheifear chun a onnmhairiú go dtí aon mhargadh, nó in aon chúinsí eile, nach dtagann, ag féachaint d'aon teorainneacha den sórt sin, faoi réim an chláraithe sin.
(3) Ní mheasfar gur sárú ar an gceart chun úsaide trádmharc a tugadh trí chlárú mar a dúradh aon mharc den sórt sin mar a dúradh a úsáid ag aon duine—
(a) i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuil baint acu i gcúrsa trádála le dílseánach an trádmhairc nó le duine is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc, más rud é, maidir leis na hearraí sin nó le last ar cuid de iad, go ndearna an dílseánach nó an t-úsáidire cláraithe, agus é ag cloí leis an úsáid cheadaithe, an trádmharc a chur agus nár bhain sé anuas nó nár scrios sé é dá éis sin nó gur thoiligh sé go sainráite nó go hintuigthe aon tráth leis an trádmharc a úsáid; nó
(b) i ndáil le hearraí a bheidh oiriúnaithe chun bheith ina gcuid d'earraí eile, nó chun bheith ag gabháil le hearraí eile, ar úsáideadh an trádmharc i ndáil leo gan an ceart sin a tugadh mar a dúradh a shárú nó a bhféadfaí é a úsáid amhlaidh i ndáil leo de thuras na huaire, más gá le réasún an marc a úsáid lena thaispeáint go bhfuil na hearraí oiriúnaithe amhlaidh agus nach é is cuspóir ná is éifeacht d'úsáid an mhairc ach amháin baint i gcúrsa trádála idir aon duine agus na hearraí a thaispeáint de réir an fhíorais.
(4) Má úsáidtear trádmharc cláraithe ar trádmharc é de dhá thrádmharc chláraithe nó níos mó atá comhionann nó garchosúil le chéile, i bhfeidhmiú an chirt chun úsáide an trádmhairc a tugadh trí chlárú mar a dúradh, ní mheasfar gur sárú é ar an gceart a tugadh amhlaidh chun úsáide aon chinn eile de na trádmharcanna sin.
An ceart a thugann clárú i gCuid B agus sárú an chirt sin.
13.—(1) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear le fo-alt (2) den alt seo, tabharfaidh nó measfar gur thug clárú (cibé acu roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis) duine i gCuid B den Chlár mar dhílseánach trádmhairc i leith aon earraí, ach an clárú sin a bheith bailí, an ceart céanna i ndáil leis na hearraí sin don duine sin, ionann is dá mba i gCuid A den chlár a rinneadh an clárú, agus beidh éifeacht ag forálacha alt 12 den Acht seo sa tslí chéanna maidir le trádmharc arna chlárú i gCuid B den chlár díreach mar tá éifeacht acu maidir le trádmharc arna chlárú i gCuid A den chlár.
(2) In aon chaingean i dtaobh sárú an chirt chun úsáide trádmhairc a tugadh trí chlárú mar a dúradh i gCuid B den chlár, ar shlí eile seachas trí ghníomh a meastar gur sárú é de bhua alt 14 den Acht seo, ní dheonófar aon urghaire ná faoiseamh eile don ghearánaí má shuíonn an cosantóir chun sástachta na cúirte nach dócha don úsáid faoina bhfuil an gearánaí ag gearán a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill nó go measfaí go dtaispeánann sí baint i gcúrsa trádála idir na hearraí agus duine éigin ag a bhfuil an ceart mar dhílseánach nó mar úsáidire cláraithe an trádmharc a úsáid.
Ceart a shárú trí shriantachtaí áirithe a shárú.
14.—(1) I gcás ina rachaidh ceannaitheoir nó úinéir earraí, trí chonradh i scríbhinn arna dhéanamh le dílseánach nó úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc chláraithe, faoi oibleagáid arb éifeacht di nach ndéanfaidh sé, i ndáil leis na hearraí, gníomh lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, measfar tríd sin an ceart cun an trádmharc a úsáid a tugadh trí chlárú an chéanna a bheith sáraithe ag aon duine, arb é úinéir na n-earraí sin é de thuras na huaire agus fógra i dtaobh na hoibleagáide aige, a dhéanfaidh an gníomh, nó a údaróidh an gníomh a dhéanamh, i ndáil leis na hearraí, i gcúrsa trádála nó d'fhonn aon déileáil a dhéanamh leo i gcúrsa trádála, mura dtáinig an duine sin chun bheith ina úinéir ar na hearraí trína gceannach de mheon mhacánta ar airgead nó ar luach airgid sula bhfuair sé fógra i dtaobh na hoibleagáide nó de bhua teideal a gabhadh trí dhuine eile a tháinig amhlaidh chun bheith ina úinéir ar na hearraí.
(2) Is iad na gníomhartha lena mbaineann an t-alt seo—
(a) an trádmharc a chur ar na hearraí tar éis athrú a bheith déanta orthu in aon mhodh a bheidh sonraithe sa chonradh maidir lena staid nó a riocht, a ngléasadh nó a bpacáil;
(b) i gcás ina mbeidh an trádmharc ar na hearraí, an trádmharc sin a athrú, nó cuid de a bhaint de na hearraí nó cuid de a scriosadh;
(c) i gcás ina mbeidh an trádmharc ar na hearraí, agus go mbeidh orthu freisin ábhar eile is ábhar a thaispeánann baint i gcúrsa trádála idir an dílseánach nó an t-úsáidire cláraithe agus na hearraí, an trádmharc a bhaint de na hearraí nó a scriosadh, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, mura ndéanfar an t-ábhar eile sin a bhaint de na hearraí nó a scriosadh, go hiomlán;
(d) i gcás ina mbeidh an trádmharc ar na hearraí, aon trádmharc eile a chur ar na hearraí;
(e) i gcás ina mbeidh an trádmharc ar na hearraí, aon ábhar eile i scríbhinn ar dócha dó díobháil a dhéanamh do cháil an trádmhairc a chur ar na hearraí.
(3) San alt seo déanfar tagairtí i ndáil le haon earraí do dhílseánach, d'úsáidire cláraithe, agus do chlárú, trádmhairc a fhorléiriú, faoi seach, mar thagairtí don dílseánach a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina ainm, d'úsáidire cláraithe atá cláraithe, agus do chlárú an trádmhairc, i leith na n-earraí sin, agus folaíonn “ar” i ndáil le haon earraí, tagairt do dháil thadhlach maidir leo.
Cosaint do chearta dílsithe.
15.—Ní thabharfaidh aon ní san Acht seo teideal do dhílseánach ná d'úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc chláraithe aon duine a bhac nó a shrianadh ó úsáid a dhéanamh de thrádmharc comhionann leis nó garchosúil leis i ndáil le hearraí a ndearna an duine sin nó réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid an trádmharc sin a úsáid i ndáil leo go leanúnach—
(a) ó dháta sular úsáideadh an trádmharc céadluaite i ndáil leis na hearraí sin ag an dílseánach nó ag réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid; nó
(b) ó dháta sular cláraíodh an trádmharc céadluaite i leith na n-earraí sin in ainm an dílseánaigh nó réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid;
cibé acu is túisce, ná cur in aghaidh (ar an úsáid sin a bheith cruthaithe) an duine sin a chur ar an gclár don trádmharc comh ionann nó garchosúil sin i leith na n-earraí sin faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 20 den Acht seo.
Cosaint le haghaidh ainm, seoladh nó tuairisc earraí a úsáid.
16.—Ní dhéanfaidh clárú trádmhairc difear—
(a) d'aon úsáid bona fide ag duine ar a ainm féin nó ainm a áit gnó, nó ainm, nó ainm áit gnó aon duine dá réamhtheachtaithe i ngnó, ná
(b) d'úsáid ag aon duine ar aon tuairisc bona fide ar ghné nó cáilíocht a earraí, nach tuairisc í ar dócha go measfaí uaithi go ngabhann aon tagairt léi d'aon sórt dá luaitear i mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 12, nó i mír (b) d'fho-alt (3) d'alt 45, den Acht seo.
Idirdhealaitheacht riachtanach chun clárú i gCuid A.
17.—(1) Chun trádmharc (seachas trádmharc deimhniúcháin) a bheith inchláraithe i gCuid A den chlár, ní mór gurb éard a bheidh ann nó go mbeidh ann sonra amháin ar a laghad de na sonraí riachtanacha seo a leanas:—
(a) ainm cuideachta, pearsa nó gnólachta, arna léiriú ar mhodh speisialta nó ar mhodh áirithe;
(b) síniú an duine atá ag iarraidh clárú nó síniú réamhtheachtaí éigin ina ghnó;
(c) focal cumtha nó focail chumtha;
(d) focal nó focail nach bhfuil aon tagairt díreach iontu do ghné nó do cháilíocht na n-earraí agus nach ainm ná seoladh geografach de réir a ghnáth-chéille;
(e) ní bheidh aon mharc idirdhealaitheach eile, ach amháin ainm, síniú nó focal nó focail seachas iad sin atá sua tuairiscí i míreanna (a), (b), (c) agus (d) den fho-alt seo, inchláraithe faoin mír seo ach amháin ar fhianaise i dtaobh a idirdhealaitheachta.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo ciallaíonn “idirdhealaitheach” oiriúnaithe, i ndáil leis na hearraí a bhfuil trádmharc cláraithe nó a mbeartaítear trádmharc a chlárú ina leith, chun earraí a bhfuil baint, nó a bhféadfadh baint a bheith, ag dílseánach an trádmhairc leo i gcúrsa trádála a idirdhealú ó earraí nach bhfuil aon bhaint den sórt sin ar substaineadh maidir leo, i gcoitinne nó, i gcás ina bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe, nó ina mbeartaítear é a chlárú, faoi réir teorainneacha, i ndáil le húsáid laistigh de réim an chláraithe.
(3) Nuair a bheifear a chinneadh an bhfuil trádmharc oiriúnaithe chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) aird a thabhairt—
(a) ar a mhéid atá an trádmharc oiriúnaithe go bunúsach chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh, agus
(b) mar gheall ar úsáid an trádmhairc nó aon imthoscaí eile, ar a mhéid atá an trádmharc oiriúnaithe iarbhír chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh.
Inniúlacht ar idirdhealú a dhéanamh riachtanach chun clárú i gCuid B.
18.—(1) Ionas go mbeidh trádmharc inchláraithe i gCuid B den chlár caithfidh sé a bheith inniúil, i ndáil leis na hearraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe, nó a mbeartaítear é a chlárú, ina leith, earraí a bhfuil baint nó a bhféadfadh baint a bheith ag dílseánach an trádmhairc leo i gcúrsa trádála a idirdhealú ó earraí nach bhfuil aon bhaint den sórt sin ar substaineadh maidir leo, i gcoitinne nó i gcás ina bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe, nó ina mbeartaítear é a chlárú, faoi réir teorainneacha i ndáil le húsáid laistigh de réim an chláraithe.
(2) Nuair a bheifear a chinneadh an bhfuil trádmharc inniúil ar idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) aird a thabhairt—
(a) ar a mhéid atá an trádmharc inniúil go bunúsach ar idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh; agus
(b) mar gheall ar úsáid an trádmhairc nó aon imthoscaí eile, ar a mhéid atá an trádmharc inniúil iarbhír ar idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh.
(3) Féadfar trádmharc a chlárú i gCuid B d'ainneoin aon chlárú i gCuid A in ainm dílseánaigh chéanna an trádmhairc chéanna nó aon choda nó codanna den trádmharc sin.
Toirmeasc ar ábhar meabhlaireachta agus ábhar áirithe eile a chlárú.
19.—Ní dleathach aon ábhar a chlárú mar thrádmharc nó mar chuid de thrádmharc is ábhar a mbeadh a úsáid, mar gheall ar gur dócha dó meabhlaireacht a dhéanamh, nó mearbhall a chur, ar dhaoine nó eile, ó theideal cosanta i gcúirt dlí, nó contrártha don dlí nó don mhoráltacht, ná aon deara scannalach.
Toirmeasc ar thrádmharcanna comhionanna agus cosúla a chlárú.
20.—(1) Faoi réir fo-alt (2) den alt seo, ní chlárófar aon trádmharc i leith aon earraí nó tuairisc earraí atá comhionann le trádmharc le dílseánach eile agus atá ar an gclár cheana féin i leith na n-earraí céanna nó an tuairisc chéanna earraí, nó atá chomh garchosúil sin le trádmharc den sórt sin gur dócha dó a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill.
(2) I gcás úsáid ionraic chomhthráthach, nó imthoscaí speisialta eile a fhágann i dtuairim na Cúirte nó an Cheannasaí gur cuí é a dhéanamh, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) clárú trádmharcanna atá comhionann nó garchosúil le chéile i leith na n-earraí céanna nó an tuairisc chéanna earraí ag níos mó ná dílseánach amháin a cheadú faoi réir cibé coinníollacha agus teorainneacha, más ann, a mheasfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) is ceart a fhorchur.
(3) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh daoine éagsúla iarratais ar leithligh ar a gclárú mar dhílseánaigh faoi seach ar thrádmharcanna atá comhionann nó garchosúil le chéile, i leith na n-earraí céanna nó an tuairisc chéanna earraí, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí diúltú aon duine acu a chlárú go dtí go ndéanfar a gcearta a chinneadh ag an gCúirt, nó a shocrú trí chomhaontú i slí a cheadóidh seisean nó an Chúirt ar achomharc, de réir mar a bheidh:
Ar choinníoll, má dhéanann daoine éagsúla iarratais ar leithligh ar dhátaí éagsúla ar a gclárú mar dhílseánaigh faoi seach ar thrádmharcanna atá comhionann nó garchosúil le chéile, go bhféadfaidh an Ceannasaí diúltú dul ar aghaidh leis an dara ceann nó an ceann is deireanaí de na hiarratais sin go dtí go gcinnfear an chéad iarratas agus go measfar gurb éard é an trádmharc is ábhar don chéad iarratas, má dhéantar an trádmharc a chlárú air sin, trádmharc atá ar an gclár cheana féin faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo i ndáil leis an trádmharc is ábhar don dara iarratas nó don iarratas is deireanaí.
Clárú i gCuid A a bheith ina chruthú dochloíte maidir le bailíocht tar éis seacht mbliana.
21.—(1) I ngach imeacht dlíthiúil a bhainfidh le trádmharc a bheidh cláraithe i gCuid A den chlár (lena n-áirítear iarratais faoi alt 40 den Acht seo), measfar clárú bunaidh an trádmhairc i gCuid A den chlár a bheith bailí ar gach slí tar éis seacht mbliana a bheith caite ó dháta an chláraithe sin, mura rud é—
(a) gur trí chalaois a fuarthas an clárú sin, nó
(b) go gciontaíonn an trádmharc in aghaidh alt 19 den Acht seo.
(2) Ní dhéanfar aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 13 den Acht seo a fhorléiriú mar ní a thugann na forálacha sin roimhe seo den alt seo a bhaineann le trádmharc atá cláraithe i gCuid A den chlár a bheith inchurtha chun feidhme maidir le trádmharc mar thrádmharc atá cláraithe i gCuid B den chlár.
Clárú faoi réir séanadh.
22.—Má bhíonn i dtrádmharc—
(a) aon pháirt nár chláraigh an dílseánach go leithleach mar thrádmharc; nó
(b) ábhar a bhaineann leis an trádáil i gcoitinne nó ábhar de chineál neamb-idirdhealaitheach;
féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh), agus í nó é ag cinneadh a dtaifeadfar nó a bhfágfar an trádmharc ar an gclár, a cheangal mar choinníoll chun é a bheith ar an gclár—
(i) go séanfaidh an dílseánach aon cheart chun úsáide eisiataí aon pháirte den trádmharc, nó chun úsáide eisiataí gach coda nó aon choda d'aon ábhar den sórt sin a dúradh, i gcás inarb é cinneadh na Cúirte nó an Cheannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) nach bhfuil teideal aige chun úsáide eisiataí an chéanna; nó
(ii) go ndéanfaidh an dílseánach cibé séanadh eile a mheasfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) is gá chun a chearta faoin gclárú a shonrú:
Ar choinníoll nach ndéanfaidh aon séanadh a bheidh ar an gclár difear d'aon chearta de chuid dílseánaigh trádmhairc ach amháin iad sin a éireoidh as clárú an trádmhairc a mbeidh an séanadh déanta ina leith.
Focal trádmhairc a úsáidtear mar ainm earra nó substainte.
23.—(1) Ní measfar clárú trádmhairc a theacht chun bheith neamhbhailí de bhíthin amháin focal nó focail atá sa trádmharc nó arb é an trádmharc sin é nó iad a úsáid in aon slí tar éis dáta an chláraithe mar ainm nó tuairisc an earra nó na substainte:
Ar choinníoll má chruthaítear—
(a) go bhfuil úsáid seanaitheanta agus bunaithe ann maidir le húsáid an fhocail nó na bhfocal mar ainm nó tuairisc an earra nó na substainte ag duine nó daoine a sheolann trádáil leis an gcéanna, agus nach úsáid i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuil baint acu i gcúrsa trádála le dílseánach an trádmhairc nó le duine is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc ná (i gcás trádmharc deimhniúcháin) le hearraí arna ndeimhniú ag an dílseánach; nó
(b) gur monaraíodh an t-earra nó an tsubstaint roimhe sin faoi phaitinn (ba phaitinn a bhí i bhfeidhm an lú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1927, nó a deonaíodh ina dhiaidh sin), go bhfuil tréimhse dhá bhliain nó níos mó caite ó scoir an phaitinn, agus gurb é an focal sin nó gurb iad na focail sin an t-aon ainm nó tuairisc phraiticiúil ar an earra nó ar an tsubstaint;
beidh éifeacht ag forálacha fo-alt (2) den alt seo.
(2) I gcás ina ndéanfar na fíorais a luaitear i mír (a) nó (b) den choinníoll a ghabhann le fo-alt (1) den alt seo a chruthú maidir le haon fhocal nó focail, ansin—
(a) más é amháin a bheidh sa trádmharc an focal nó na focail sin, measfar chun críocha alt 40 den Acht seo gur taifead atá fanta go mícheart ar an gclár clárú an trádmhairc a mhéid a bhainfidh le clárú i leith an earra nó na substainte lena mbainfidh nó le haon earraí den tuairisc chéanna;
(b) má bhíonn an focal nó na focail sin agus ábhar eile sa trádmharc, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh), agus í nó é ag cinneadh an bhfanfaidh an trádmharc ar an gclár, a mhéid a bhainfidh le clárú i leith an earra nó na substainte a bheidh i gceist agus le clárú i leith aon earraí den tuairisc chéanna, a cheangal, i gcás cinneadh i bhfabhar é a fhágáil ar an gclár, mar choinníoll a rachaidh leis sin go séanfaidh an dílseánach aon cheart chun úsáide eisiataí an fhocail nó na bhfocal sin i ndáil leis an earra nó an tsubstaint sin agus aon earraí den tuairisc chéanna, i slí, áfach, nach ndéanfaidh aon séanadh ar an gclár difear d'aon chearta le dílseánach trádmhairc ach amháin iad sin a éireoidh as clárú an trádmhairc a bhfuil an séanadh déanta ina leith; agus
(c) chun críocha aon imeachtaí dlíthiúla eile a bhainfidh leis an trádmharc, measfar—
(i) más é amháin a bheidh sa trádmharc an focal nó na focail sin, cearta uile an dílseánaigh, cibé acu faoin dlí coitian é nó trí chlárú, chun úsáide eisiataí an trádmhairc i ndáil leis an earra nó an tsubstaint lena mbainfidh nó i ndáil le haon earraí den tuairisc chéanna, nó
(ii) má bhíonn an focal nó na focail sin agus ábhar eile sa trádmharc, gach ceart den sórt sin leis an dílseánach chun úsáide eisiataí an fhocail nó na bhfocal sin i ndáil mar a dúradh,
do scor ar an dáta a tháinig an úsáid a luaitear i mír (a) den choinníoll atá ag gabháil le fo-alt (1) den alt seo chun bheith seanaitheanta agus bunaithe ar dtús, nó ar bheith caite don tréimhse dhá bhliain a luaitear i mír (b) den choinníoll sin.
(3) Ní dhéanfar aon fhocal arb é a thugtar agus lena nglactar de ghnáth mar ainm ar aon dúil shingil cheimiciúil nó ar chumasc singil ceimiciúil, ar leith ó mheascán, a chlárú mar thrádmharc i leith substainte nó ullmhóide ceimiciúla, agus aon chlárú den sórt sin a bheidh i bhfeidhm i dtosach feidhme an Achta seo nó ina dhiaidh sin, measfar, chun críocha alt 40 den Acht seo agus d'ainneoin alt 21 den Acht seo, gur taifead é a rinneadh sa chlár gan leorchúis, nó gur taifead é atá fanta go mícheart ar an gclár, de réir mar is gá sna himthoscaí:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh éifeacht ag an bhfo-alt seo i ndáil le focal a úsáidtear chun comharthú, agus gan ach comharthú, a dhéanamh ar bhranda nó déanamh den dúil nó den chumasc arna dhéanamh ag dílseánach an trádmhairc nó ag duine is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc, ar leith ón dúil nó ón gcumasc arna dhéanamh ag daoine eile agus maraon le hainm nó tuairisc oiriúnach atá faoi réir a úsáidte ag an bpobal.
Eifeacht teorannaithe maidir le dath nó easpa datha.
24.—(1) Féadfaidh dath sonraithe amháin nó níos mó a bheith de theorainn datha le trádmharc go huile nó go páirteach, agus in aon chás den sórt sin cuirfidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) san áireamh go bhfuil teorainn den sórt sin leis nuair a bheidh gné idirdhealaitheach an trádmhairc á cinneadh.
(2) Más rud é go mbeidh agus sa mhéid go mbeidh trádmharc cláraithe gan teorainn datha, measfar é bheith cláraithe i leith gach datha.
Iarratas ar chlárú.
25.—(1) Aon duine a éilíonn gurb é féin dílseánach trádmhairc a d'úsáid sé nó a bheartaíonn sé a úsáid agus ar mian leis an trádmharc a chlárú, ní mór dó iarratas i scríbhinn a chur go dtí an Ceannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe ag iarraidh clárú i gCuid A nó i gCuid B den chlár.
(2) Faoi réir an Achta seo, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí diúltú don iarratas, nó glacadh leis go huilíoch nó faoi réir cibé leasuithe, modhnuithe, coinníollacha nó teorainneacha, más ann, a mheasfaidh sé a bheith ceart.
(3) I gcás iarratas ar thrádmharc (seachas trádmharc deimhniúcháin) a chlárú i gCuid A den chlár, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, má bhíonn an t-iarratasóir toilteanach, in ionad diúltú don iarratas, féachaint air mar iarratas ar chlárú i gCuid B agus déileáil leis an iarratas dá réir sin.
(4) I gcás diúltú nó glacadh coinníollach, sonróidh an Ceannasaí i scríbhinn, má éilíonn an t-iarratasóir air é laistigh den am forordaithe, forais a chinnte agus na hábhair a d'úsáid sé chun teacht ar an gcinneadh sin.
(5) Déanfaidh aon iarratasóir ar mian leis achomharc a dhéanamh faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo iarratas chun an Cheannasaí faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo ag iarraidh an ráitis i scríbhinn dá dtagraítear ann, agus ar an achomharc tabharfaidh an Chúirt, má éilítear uirthi é, éisteacht don iarratasóir agus don Cheannasaí, agus déanfaidh sí ordú á chinneadh an nglacfar leis an iarratas agus cad iad na leasuithe, na modhnuithe, na coinníollacha nó na teorainneacha, más ann, ar faoina réir a ghlacfar leis an iarratas.
(6) Ach amháin le cead na Cúirte ní dhéanfar aon achomharc in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo ach amháin laistigh de thréimhse dhá mhí ón dáta a cuireadh chun an iarratasóra an ráiteas i scríbhinn dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (4) den alt seo nó laistigh de cibé tréimhse breise nach faide ná trí mhí a cheadóidh an Ceannasaí (ar iarraidh chuige sin a fháil roimh dheireadh na tréimhse dhá mhí sin).
(7) Déanfar achomhairc faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinnte ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo a éisteacht ar na hábhair a shonróidh an Ceannasaí mar a dúradh, agus ní lámhalfar don Cheannasaí aon fhorais agóide eile a shuíomh in aghaidh glacadh leis an iarratas, seachas na forais sin a shonróidh sé amhlaidh mar a dúradh, ach amháin le cead na Cúirte.
(8) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí nó an Chúirt (de réir mar a bheidh) aon uair, sula nglacfar leis an iarratas nó dá éis sin, aon earráid san iarratas nó i ndáil leis a cheartú, nó féadfaidh a cheadú don iarratasóir a iarratas a leasú ar cibé téarmaí is cuí leis an gCeannasaí nó leis an gCúirt (de réir mar a bheidh).
Freasúra in aghaidh clárú.
26.—(1) Nuair a bheidh glactha le hiarratas ar thrádmharc a chlárú, go huilíoch nó faoi réir coinníollacha nó teorainneacha, cuirfidh an Ceannasaí faoi deara, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an ghlactha, an t-iarratas mar glacadh leis a fhógairt sa tslí fhorordaithe, agus beidh na coinníollacha agus na teorainneacha go léir ar faoina réir a glacadh leis an iarratas leagtha amach san fhógra:
Ar choinníoll go bhféadfaidh an Ceannasaí a chur faoi deara iarratas a fhógairt sula nglacfar leis in aon chás ina bhfeicfear dó gurb oiriúnach sin a dhéanamh mar gheall ar aon imthoscaí eisceachtúla, agus, i gcás ina mbeifear tar éis iarratas a fhógairt amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, más cuí leis, é a fhógairt arís nuair a bheidh glactha leis ach ní bheidh d'iallach air déanamh amhlaidh.
(2) Féadfaidh aon duine, laistigh den am forordaithe ó dháta iarratas a fhógairt, fógra a thabhairt don Cheannasaí go bhfuil sé i bhfreasúra leis an gclárú.
(3) Is i scríbhinn sa tslí fhorordaithe a thabharar an fógra agus beidh ráiteas ann ag insint foras an fhreasúra.
(4) Cuirfidh an Ceannasaí cóip den fhógra chun an iarratasóra agus, laistigh den am forordaithe tar éis í a fháil, cuirfidh an t-iarratasóir chuig an gCeannasaí, sa tslí fhorordaithe, frithráiteas ag insint na bhforas ar a bhfuil a sheasamh maidir lena iarratas, agus, mura ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh, measfar a iarratas a bheith tréigthe aige.
(5) Má chuireann an t-iarratasóir frithráiteas den sórt sin a dúradh chuig an gCeannasaí, tabharfaidh an Ceannasaí cóip de do na daoine a thabharfaidh fógra freasúra agus, tar éis éisteacht leis na páirtithe, má iarrtar sin air, agus an fhianaise a bhreithniú, cinnfidh sé cé acu a cheadófar nó nach gceadófar an clárú agus, má cheadaítear, na coinníollacha nó na teorainneacha, más ann, ar faoina réir a cheadófar é agus tabharfaidh sé fógra don iarratasóir agus don fhreasúróir dá réir sin.
(6) Féadfaidh an t-iarratasóir nó an freasúróir, laistigh den am forordaithe tar éis an dáta a dhéanfar cinneadh an Cheannasaí a fhógairt, iarratas a dhéanamh chun an Cheannasaí ag iarraidh ráitis scríofa air ag insint na bhforas a bhí lena chinneadh.
(7) Aon duine ar mian leis achomharc a dhéanamh faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo déanfaidh sé an ráiteas scríofa dá bhfuil tagairt i bhfo-alt (6) den alt seo a iarraidh ar an gCeannasaí faoin fho-alt sin (6) agus ar an achomharc éistfidh an Chúirt, má iarrtar sin, leis na páirtithe agus déanfaidh an Ceannasaí ordú ag cinneadh cé acu a cheadófar nó nach gceadófar an clárú agus, má cheadaítear, na gcoinníollacha nó na dteorainneacha ar faoina réir a cheadófar é.
(8) Ach amháin le cead na Cúirte, ní dhéanfar aon achomharc in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo ach amháin laistigh de thréimhse dhá mhí ón dáta a cuireadh chun an iarratasóra an ráiteas i scríbhinn dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (6) den alt seo nó laistigh de cibé tréimhse bhreise nach faide ná trí mhí a cheadóidh an Ceannasaí (ar iarraidh chuige fháil roimh dheireadh na tréimhse dhá mhí sin).
(9) Ar achomharc faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo a bheith á éisteacht, féadfaidh aon pháirtí, sa tslí fhorordaithe nó le cead speisialta ón gCúirt, tuilleadh ábhair a thabhairt ar aird lena bhreithniú ag an gCúirt.
(10) (a) Ar achomharc faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo ní lamhálfar, ach amháin le cead na Cúirte, don fhreasúróir ná don Cheannasaí aon fhoras agóide eile a shuíomh in aghaidh clárú trádmhairc, seachas iad sin a bheidh luaite mar a dúradh ag an bhfreasúróir.
(b) I gcás ina suífear aon fhorais agóide eile, beidh an t-iarratasóir i dteideal a iarratas a tharraingt siar gan costais an fhreasúróra a íoc ar fhógra a thabhairt sa tslí fhorordaithe.
(11) Ar achomharc faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCeannasaí faoin alt seo féadfaidh an Chúirt, tar éis éisteacht leis an gCeannasaí, a cheadú go ndéanfar an trádmharc a bheartaítear a chlárú a mhodhnú in aon slí nach ndéanfaidh difear substaintiúil dá chéannacht, ach in aon chás den sórt sin déanfar an trádmharc arna mhodhnú amhlaidh a fhógairt sa tslí fhorordaithe sula gclárófar é.
(12) Más rud é i gcás duine a thabharfaidh fógra freasúra nó iarratasóir a sheolfaidh frithráiteas tar éis cóip d'fhógra den sórt sin a fháil, nó achomharcóir nach gcónaíonn sé agus nach seolann sé gnó sa Stát, féadfaidh an Chúirt (i gcás achomhairc) nó an Ceannasaí (in aon chás eile) a cheangal air urrús i leith costas na n-imeachtaí a thabhairt agus, má mhainnítear urrús den sórt sin a thabhairt go cuí, féadfar déileáil leis an bhfreasúra nó leis an iarratas nó leis an achomharc, de réir mar a bheidh, mar fhreasúra, iarratas nó achomharc tréigthe.
Clárú.
27.—(1) Nuair a bheidh glactha le hiarratas ag iarraidh trádmharc a chlárú i gCuid A nó i gCuid B den chlár agus—
(a) nach mbeidh freasúra déanta in aghaidh an iarratais agus go mbeidh an t-am chun fógra freasúra a thabhairt caite, nó
(b) go mbeidh freasúra déanta in aghaidh an iarratais agus go mbeidh cinneadh i dtaobh an fhreasúra déanta i bhfabhar an iarratasóra,
déanfaidh an Ceannasaí, mura d'earráid a bheidh glactha leis an iarratas, an trádmharc a chlárú i gCuid A nó i gCuid B, de réir mar a bheidh, agus, nuair a chlárófar an trádmharc, is faoi dháta an iarratais ar chlárú a chlárófar é agus measfar chun críocha an Achta seo gurb é an dáta sin dáta an chláraithe:
Ar choinníoll go mbeidh éifeacht faoi réir alt 70 den Acht seo maidir le trádmharc arna chlárú faoin Acht seo maille le sochar an ailt sin ag na forálacha sin roimhe seo den fho-alt seo a bhaineann leis an dáta ar faoi a chlárófar trádmharc agus leis an dáta a measfar gurb é dáta an chláraithe é.
(2) Ar thrádmharc a chlárú eiseoidh an Ceannasaí chun an iarratasóra deimhniú san fhoirm fhorordaithe ar chlárú an trádmhairc agus é séalaithe le séala oifigiúil an Cheannasaí.
(3) I gcás nach ndéanfar, mar gheall ar mhainneachtain an iarratasóra, clárú trádmhairc a chríochnú laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta an iarratais, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, tar éis fógra a thabhairt i scríbhinn sa tslí fhorordaithe don iarratasóir i dtaobh é a bheith gan chríochnú, déileáil leis an iarratas mar iarratas tréigthe mura gcríochnófar é laistigh den am a bheidh sonraithe chuige sin san fhógra.
Ré agus athnuachan clárú.
28.—(1) Mairfidh clárú trádmhairc go ceann tréimhse seacht mbliana, ach féadfar é a athnuachan ó am go ham de réir an ailt seo:
Ar choinníoll go mbeidh, i ndáil le clárú faoi dháta roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, éifeacht ag an bhfo-alt seo trí thréimhse ceithre bliana déag a chur in ionad na tréimhse seacht mbliana sin.
(2) Déanfaidh an Ceannasaí, ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe a fháil laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe ó dhílseánach cláraithe trádmhairc, clárú an trádmhairc a athnuachan go ceann tréimhse ceithre bliana déag ó dháta éagtha an chláraithe bhunaidh nó dáta na hathnuachana deiridh, cibé acu é, dáta ar a dtugtar “dul in éag don chlárú deiridh” san alt seo,
(3) Ag an am forordaithe roimh dhul in éag don chlárú deiridh ar thrádmharc, cuirfidh an Ceannasaí fógra sa tslí fhorordaithe chuig an dílseánach cláraithe i dtaobh dáta an éagtha agus na gcoinníollacha maidir le híoc táillí agus eile ar a bhféadfar athnuachan clárú a fháil, agus, más rud é, ar bheith caite don am a bheidh forordaithe chuige sin, nach mbeidh na coinníollacha comhlíonta go cuí, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí an trádmharc a bhaint den chlár, faoi réir cibé coinníollacha, más ann, maidir lena athchur ar an gclár, a fhorordófar.
(4) I gcás ina mbeifear tar éis trádmharc a bhaint den chlár mar gheall ar an táille athnuachana a bheith gan íoc, measfar, mar sin féin, chun críche aon iarratais ar thrádmharc a chlárú i rith bliana amháin díreach tar éis an dáta a baineadh den chlár é, gur trádmharc é atá ar an gclár cheana féin:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh éifeacht ag na forálacha sin roimhe seo den fho-alt seo i gcás inar deimhin leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh)—
(a) nach ndearnadh aon úsáid trádála bona fide den trádmharc a baineadh den chlár i rith an dá bhliain díreach roimh é bhaint de; nó
(b) nach dóigh aon mheabhlaireacht ná mearbhall a theacht trí úsáid an trádmhairc is ábhar don iarratas ar chlárú de bhíthin aon úsáid roimhe sin den trádmharc a baineadh den chlár.
Clárú codanna de thrádmharcanna agus trádmharcanna mar shraitheanna.
29.—(1) (a) I gcás ina n-éileoidh dílseánach trádmhairc go bhfuil teideal aige chun úsáide eisiataí aon choda ar leithligh den trádmharc, féadfaidh sé a iarraidh go gclárófar an t-iomlán agus aon chuid den sórt sin mar thrádmharcanna ar leithligh.
(b) Caithfidh gach trádmharc ar leithligh mar sin na coinníollacha go léir a chomhlíonadh a bhaineann le trádmharc neamhspleách agus, faoi réir fo-alt (3) d'alt 31 agus fo-alt (2) d'alt 38 den Acht seo, beidh aige na comhleanúntais go léir a bhaineann le trádmharc neamhspleách.
(2) I gcás duine a bheidh á éileamh gurb é féin dílseánach trádmharcanna éagsúla, i leith na n-earraí céanna nó an tuairisc chéanna earraí, atá cosúil le chéile ina sonraí ábhartha, ach atá éagsúil maidir le—
(a) ráitis ag lua na n-earraí a n-úsáidtear nó a mbeartaítear iad a úsáid faoi seach i ndáil leo; nó
(b) ráitis ag lua uimhir, praghas, cáilíocht nó ainmneacha áiteanna; nó
(c) ábhar eile de ghné neamh-idirdhealaitheach nach ndéanann difear substaintiúil do chéannacht an trádmhairc; nó
(d) dath;
agus a iarrfaidh go gclárófar na trádmharcanna, féadfar iad a chlárú mar shraith i gclárú amháin.
Cumhachtaí sannta agus tarchuir agus sriantachtaí le sannadh agus tarchur.
30.—(1) D'ainneoin aon riail dlí nó cothromais contrártha dó sin, agus faoi réir an ailt seo, beidh trádmharc cláraithe, agus measfar é a bheith riamh, insannta agus intarchurtha i ndáil le deáthoil gnó nó a mhalairt.
(2) Faoi réir an ailt seo, beidh trádmharc cláraithe, agus measfar é bheith riamh, insannta agus intarchurtha i leith na n-earraí go léir a bhfuil sé cláraithe nó a raibh sé cláraithe ina leith, de réir mar a bheidh, nó i leith coda de na hearraí sin (ach ní hiad go léir).
(3) Beidh éifeacht ag fo-ailt (1) agus (2) den alt seo i gcás trádmharc neamhchláraithe a úsáidtear i ndáil le haon earraí amhail mar tá éifeacht acu i gcás trádmharc cláraithe atá cláraithe i leith aon earraí, má dhéantar nó má rinneadh, tráth an trádmharc neamhchláraithe a shannadh nó a tharchur, a úsáid sa ghnó céanna mar thrádmharc cláraithe, agus má dhéantar nó má rinneadh é féin agus an trádmharc cláraithe sin a shannadh nó a tharchur an tráth céanna agus chun an duine chéanna agus i leith earraí arb earraí iad go léir a n-úsáidfear nó ar úsáideadh an trádmharc neamhchláraithe sa ghnó sin i ndáil leo agus a ndéanfar nó a ndearnadh an trádmharc cláraithe sin a shannadh nó a tharchur ina leith.
(4) D'ainneoin aon ní i bhfo-ailt (1), (2) agus (3) den alt seo, ní bheidh, ná ní mheasfar go raibh, trádmharc insannta ná intarchurtha i gcás ina mbeadh de thoradh sannta nó tarchurtha cearta eisiatacha ar substaineadh, faoin dlí coitian nó trí chlárú, i níos mó ná aon duine amháin de na daoine iomchuí chun úsáid a dhéanamh i ndáil leis na hearraí céanna nó leis an tuairisc chéanna earraí de thrádmharcanna garchosúla nó comhionanna, más rud é, agus ag féachaint do chomhchosúlacht na n-earraí agus na dtrádmharcanna, gur dóigh nó gur dhóigh meabhlaireacht nó mearbhall a theacht de bharr na trádmharcanna a úsáid i bhfeidhmiú na gceartanna sin:
Ar choinníoll, má dhéantar nó má rinneadh trádmharc a shannadh nó a tharchur i gcás mar a dúradh, nach measfar an sannadh nó an tarchur a bheith neamhbhailí faoin bhfo-alt seo más amhlaidh do na ceartanna a bhí nó a bheidh ar substaineadh dá thoradh sin sna daoine iomchuí faoi seach, agus ag féachaint do na teorainneacha a forchuireadh ar na cearta sin, gur cearta nó gur chearta iad nach infheidhmithe nó nárbh infheidhmithe ag beirt duine nó níos mó i ndáil le hearraí atáthar nó a bhíothas chun a dhíol nó a bhfuiltear nó a rabhthas chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile laistigh den Stát (seachas iad a onnmhairiú as an Stát) nó i ndáil le hearraí atáthar nó a bhíothas chun a onnmhairiú go dtí an margadh céanna lasmuigh den Stát.
(5) Féadfaidh dílseánach trádmhairc chláraithe a bheartóidh an trádmharc sin a shannadh i leith aon earraí a bhfuil an trádmharc sin cláraithe ina leith sonrú cáis ag sonrú na n-imthoscaí a chur faoi bhráid an Cheannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe, agus féadfaidh an Ceannasaí deimhniú a eisiúint chuige á rá cé acu a bheadh nó nach mbeadh, ag féachaint do chomhchosúlacht na n-earraí agus na dtrádmharcanna dá mbeidh tagairt sa sonrú cáis, an sannadh a bheidh beartaithe a dhéanamh ar an trádmharc céadluaite neamhbhailí faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo, agus beidh deimhniú a eiseofar amhlaidh, mura suífear gur trí chalaois nó mífhaisnéis a fuarthas an deimhniú, ina dheimhniú dochloíte ar bhailíocht nó neamhbhailíocht an tsannta faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo a mhéid a bhraithfidh an bhailíocht nó an neamhbhailíocht sin ar na fíorais a bheidh leagtha amach sa sonrú cáis, ach, maidir le deimhniú i bhfabhar bailíochta, is coinníoll go mbeidh sin amhlaidh go ndéanfar iarratas, laistigh de shé mhí ón dáta a eiseofar an deimhniú, á iarraidh go gclárófar faoi alt 33 den Acht seo teideal an duine a thiocfaidh chun bheith i dteideal.
(6) D'ainneoin aon ní i bhfo-ailt (1) go (3) den alt seo, ní bheidh trádmharc insannta ná intarchurtha ar dháta tosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis i gcás ina mbeadh, de thoradh a shannta nó a tharchurtha, ceart eisiatach ar substaineadh, faoin dlí coitiann nó trí chlárú, i nduine amháin de na daoine iomchuí chun úsáid a dhéanamh den trádmharc faoi theorainn a úsáidte i ndáil le hearraí atáthar chun a dhíol nó a bhfuiltear chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile, in áit nó in áiteanna sa Stát agus ceart eisiatach ar substaineadh i nduine eile de na daoine sin chun úsáid a dhéanamh de thrádmharc atá garchosúil leis an trádmharc céadluaite nó de thrádmharc comhionann leis i ndáil leis na hearraí céanna nó leis an tuairisc chéanna earraí faoi theorainn a úsáidte i ndáil le hearraí atáthar chun a dhíol nó a bhfuiltear chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo, in áit nó in áiteanna eile sa Stát:
Ar choinníoll go bhféadfaidh an Ceannasaí, ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe ó dhílseánach trádmhairc a bheartaíonn an trád mharc sin a shannadh, nó ó dhuine a éilíonn go ndearnadh trádmharc a tharchur chuige nó chuig réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid ar thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis, in aon chás den sórt sin, go bhféadfaidh sé, más deimhin leis nach mbeadh, sna himthoscaí go léir, úsáid an trádmhairc i bhfeidhmiú na gceartanna sin contrártha do leas an phobail, an sannadh nó an tarchur a cheadú, agus ní mheasfar go bhfuil nó go raibh sannadh nó tarchur a cheadófar amhlaidh neamhbhailí faoin bhfo-alt seo nó faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo, ar mhodh, áfach, nach mbeidh éifeacht i gcás trádmhairc chláraithe ag an bhforáil seo mura ndéanfar iarratas, laistigh de shé mhí ón dáta a thabharfar an ceadú, ar theideal an duine a thiocfaidh i dteideal a chlárú faoi alt 33 den Acht seo nó, i gcás tarchuir, mura ndearnadh iarratas den sórt sin roimh an dáta sin.
(7) I gcás ina ndéanfar sannadh i leith aon earraí ar thrádmharc a bheidh á úsáid tráth an tsannta i ngnó leis na hearraí sin, ar dháta tosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis, ar shlí seachas i ndáil le deáthoil an ghnó sin, ní bheidh éifeacht ag an sannadh sin go dtí go ndéanfar, de bhun iarratais arna dhéanamh ag an sannaí sa tslí fhorordaithe chun an Cheannasaí laistigh de thréimhse sé mhí ón dáta a ndéanfar an sannadh (nó laistigh de cibé tréimhse is faide ná sin a cheadóidh, má cheadaíonn, an Ceannasaí), fógra faoin sannadh a fhoilsiú san Irisleabhar.
Trádmharcanna áirithe le comhghabháil ionas gur mar thrádmharc iomlán a bheidh siad insannta nó intarchurtha.
31.—(1) Aon trádmharcanna atá cláraithe, nó a meastar de bhua an Achta seo a bheith cláraithe, mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha is mar thrádmharc iomlán agus ní mar thrádmharcanna ar leithligh a bheidh siad insannta nó intarchurtha, ach measfar chun gach críche eile iad a bheith cláraithe mar thrádmharcanna ar leithligh.
(2) I gcás trádmharc atá cláraithe, nó is ábhar d'iarratas ar chlárú, i leith aon earraí a bheith comhionann le trádmharc eile atá cláraithe, nó is ábhar d'iarratas ar chlárú, in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna i leith na n-earraí céanna nó an tuairisc chéanna earraí nó a bheith chomh garchosúil leis gur dócha dó a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill má úsáideann duine seachas an dílseánach é, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí tráth ar bith a chur faoi deara go dtaifeadfar na trádmharcanna sa chlár mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha.
(3) I gcás trádmharc agus aon chuid nó codanna de a bheith, de bhua fo-alt (1) d'alt 29 den Acht seo, cláraithe mar thrádmharcanna ar leithligh in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna, measfar go bhfuil siad, agus beidh siad, cláraithe mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha.
(4) Na trádmharcanna go léir atá, de bhua fo-alt (2) d'alt 29 den Acht seo, cláraithe mar shraith i gclárú amháin, measfar go bhfuil siad, agus beidh siad, cláraithe mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha.
(5) Ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe ó dhuine is dílseánach cláraithe dhá thrádmharc nó níos mó a cláraíodh mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí an chomhghabháil a chur ar ceal maidir le haon cheann acu más deimhin leis nach dócha go mbeadh aon mheabhlaireacht ná mearbhall dá n-úsáidfeadh duine eile an trádmharc sin i ndáil le haon chuid de na hearraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith, agus féadfaidh sé an clár a leasú dá réir sin.
Cumhacht ag dílseánach cláraithe sannadh a dhéanamh agus admhálacha a thabhairt.
32.—Faoi réir an Achta seo, beidh ag an duine a bheidh de thuras na huaire taifeadtha sa chlár mar dhílseánach trádmhairc cumhacht, faoi réir aon chearta a dhealróidh ón gclár a bheith dílsithe d'aon duine eile, chun an trádmharc a shannadh agus chun admhálacha éifeachtúla a thabhairt ar aon chomaoin i leith aon sannadh ar an trádmharc sin.
Sannta agus tarchurtha a chlárú.
33.—(1) I gcás ina dtiocfaidh duine chun teideal a bheith aige chun trádmhairc chláraithe trí shannadh nó tarchur, iarrfaidh sé sa tslí fhorordaithe ar an gCeannasaí a theideal a chlárú, agus déanfaidh an Ceannasaí, ar an iarratas a fháil agus ar chruthúnas teidil chun a shástachta a fháil, é a chlárú mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc i leith na n-earraí a bhfuil éifeacht ag an sannadh nó an tarchur ina leith, agus cuirfidh sé faoi deara sonraí an tsannta nó an tarchurtha a thaifeadadh sa chlár.
(2) Ach amháin chun críocha achomhairc faoi alt 57 den Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh an Cheannasaí faoin alt seo nó chun críocha iarratais faoi alt 40 den Acht seo, ní dhéanfar doiciméad ná ionstraim nach mbeidh aon taifead déanta ina leith sa chlár de réir fo-alt (1) den alt seo a ghlacadh i bhfianaise in aon chúirt dlí i gcruthúnas ar an teideal chun tradmhairc mura n-ordóidh an chúirt a mhalairt.
Trádmharc a bhaint den chlár agus teorainneacha a fhorchur mar gheall ar neamhúsáid.
34.—(1) Faoi réir alt 35 den Acht seo, féadfar trádmharc cláraithe a bhaint den chlár i leith aon chuid de na hearraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith ar iarratas chun na Cúirte ó aon duine éagóraithe nó, más rogha sin leis an iarratasóir agus faoi réir alt 59 den Acht seo, chun an Cheannasaí, ar an bhforas—
(a) gur cláraíodh an trádmharc gan é a bheith ar intinn bona fide ag iarratasóir an chláraithe go n-úsáidfeadh sé é i ndáil leis na hearraí sin agus nach ndearnadh iarbhír aon úsáid bona fide den trádmharc sin i ndáil leis na hearraí ag aon duine ba dhílseánach air de thuras na huaire suas go dtí dáta mí roimh dháta an iarratais; nó
(b) go raibh, go dtí dáta mí roimh dháta an iarratais, tréimhse comhleanúnach cúig bliana nó níos mó caite ar thrádmharc cláraithe an trádmharc lena linn agus nach ndearnadh lena linn aon úsáid bona fide den trádmharc sin i ndáil leis na hearraí sin ag aon duine ba dhílseánach ar an trádmharc de thuras na huaire:
Ar choinníoll go bhféadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) (ach amháin i gcás ina mbeidh cead tugtha don iarratasóir faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 20 den Acht seo trádmharc comhionann nó garchosúil leis a chlárú i leith na n-earraí a bheidh i gceist nó i gcás inarb é tuairim na Cúirte nó an Cheannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) go bhféadfaí a cheadú go cuí dó trádmharc den sórt sin a chlárú amhlaidh) diúltú d'iarratas a dhéanfar faoi mhír (a) nó (b) den fho-alt seo i ndáil le haon earraí, má shuítear go ndearnadh, roimh an dáta iomchuí nó i rith na tréimhse iomchuí, de réir mar a bheidh, úsáid bona fide den trádmharc ag aon duine ba dhílseánach air de thuras na huaire i ndáil le hearraí den tuairisc chéanna, arb earraí iad a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith.
(2) Más rud é, maidir le haon earraí a bhfuil trádmharc cláraithe ina leith—
(a) go suífear na hábhair dá dtagraítear i mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo a mhéid a bhaineann le neamh-úsáid an trádmhairc i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuiltear chun iad a dhíol, nó chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile, in áit áirithe sa Stát (ar shlí eile seachas chun iad a onnmhairiú as an Stát), nó i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuiltear chun iad a onnmhairiú go dtí margadh áirithe lasmuigh den Stát; agus
(b) gur ceadaíodh do dhuine faoi fho-alt (2) d'alt 20 den Acht seo trádmharc comhionann nó garchosúil leis a chlárú, i leith na n-earraí sin faoi chlárú a bhfuil réim aige maidir le húsáid i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuiltear chun iad a dhíol, nó chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile, san áit sin (ar shlí eile seachas chun iad a onnmhairiú as an Stát), nó i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuiltear chun iad a onnmhairiú go dtí an margadh sin, nó gurb é tuairim na Cúirte nó an Cheannasaí go bhféadfaí a cheadú go cuí dó an trádmharc sin a chlárú amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh), ar iarratas ón duine sin chun na Cúirte, nó, mar is rogha leis an iarratasóir agus faoi réir alt 59 den Acht seo, chun an Cheannasaí, cibé teorainneacha is cuí leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) a fhorchur ar chlárú an trádmhairc chéadluaite chun a áirithiú go scoirfidh an clárú sin de bhaint a bheith aige leis an úsáid sin is deireanaí a luaitear.
(3) Ní bheidh iarratasóir i dteideal brath, chun críocha mhír (b) d'fho-alt (1), nó chun críocha fo-alt (2) den alt seo, ar aon neamh-úsáid trádmhairc nuair a shuífear gur mar gheall ar imthosca speisialta sa trádáil a tharla sé agus nach mar gheall ar é a bheith ar intinn gan an trádmharc a úsáid nó a thréigean i ndáil le hearraí lena mbaineann an t-iarratas.
Tcádmharcanna cosanta.
35.—(1) I gcás trádmharc ar focal cumtha nó focail chumtha atá ann a theacht chun eolas chomh mór sin a bheith air i leith aon earraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith agus a ndearnadh é a úsáid i ndáil leo gur dóigh go dtaispeáinfeadh úsáid an chéanna i ndáil le hearraí eile baint i gcúrsa trádála idir na hearraí sin agus duine atá i dteideal an trádmharc a úsáid i ndáil leis na hearraí céadluaite, ansin, d'ainneoin nach ndéanann nó nach mbeartaíonn an dílseánach atá cláraithe i leith na n-earraí céadluaite an trádmharc a úsáid i ndáil leis na hearraí eile sin agus d'ainneoin aon ní atá in alt 34 den Acht seo, féadfar, ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe ón dílseánach atá cláraithe i leith na n-earraí céadluaite sin, an trádmharc a chlárú ina ainm mar thrádmharc cosanta i leith na n-earraí sin eile agus, an fad a bheidh sé cláraithe amhlaidh, ní dhlífear é a bhaint den chlár i leith na n-earraí sin faoi alt 34 den Acht seo.
(2) Féadfaidh dílseánach cláraithe trádmhairc a iarraidh go gclárófar an trádmharc i leith aon earraí mar thrádmharc cosanta d'ainneoin é bheith cláraithe cheana féin ina ainm i leith na n-earraí sin ar shlí eile seachas mar thrádmharc cosanta, nó féadfaidh sé a iarraidh go gclárófar an trádmharc sin i leith aon earraí ar shlí eile seachas mar thrádmharc cosanta d'ainneoin é bheith cláraithe cheana féin ina ainm i leith na n-earraí sin mar thrádmharc cosanta, in ionad an chláraithe atá ar substaineadh i ngach cás.
(3) Aon trádmharc atá cláraithe mar thrádmharc cosanta agus fós an trádmharc sin mar atá sé cláraithe ar shlí eile in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna measfar iad a bheith agus beidh siad, d'ainneoin gur cláruithe i leith earraí éagsúla na cláraithe faoi seach, cláraithe mar thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha.
(4) Ar iarratas ó aon duine éagóraithe chun na Cúirte nó, mar is rogha leis an iarratasóir agus faoi réir alt 59 den Acht seo, chun an Cheannasaí, féadfar clárú trádmhairc mar thrádmharc cosanta a chealú ar an bhforas nach bhfuil ceanglais fo-alt (1) den alt seo á gcomhlíonadh a thuilleadh maidir le haon earraí a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna ar shlí eile seachas mar thrádmharc cosanta, nó féadfar é a chealú i leith aon earraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith mar thrádmharc cosanta ar an bhforas nach dócha a thuilleadh go measfaí go dtugann an úsáid an trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí sin an taispeánadh a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo.
(5) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí aon uair cealú a dhéanamh ar chlárú mar thrádmharc cosanta a bheidh déanta ar thrádmharc nach bhfuil aon chlárú air a thuilleadh in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna ar shlí eile seachas mar thrádmharc cosanta.
(6) Ach amháin mar a fhoráiltear a mhalairt go sainráite san alt seo, beidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir le clárú trádmharcanna mar thrádmharcanna cosanta agus le clárú trádmharcanna a bheidh cláraithe amhlaidh díreach mar atá feidhm acu maidir le cásanna eile.
Usáidirí cláraithe.
36.—(1) (a) Faoi réir an ailt seo, féadfar duine seachas dílseánach trádmhairc a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc sin maidir le gach earra nó aon earra a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith (ar shlí seachas mar thrádmharc cosanta) agus i dteannta nó d'éagmais coinníollacha nó sriantachtaí, ar choinníoll go bhfuil caidreamh forordaithe ar substaineadh idir an dílseánach agus an duine a mholtar a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe.
(b) San Acht seo gairtear úsáid cheadaithe d'úsáid trádmhairc ag duine is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc sin maidir le hearraí a bhfuil baint aige leo i gcúrsa trádála agus a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe, agus a bhfuil seisean cláraithe mar úsáidire cláraithe, ina leith de thuras na huaire agus arb úsáid í a chomhlíonann aon choinníollacha nó sriantachtaí a bhfuil an clárú faoina réir.
(2) Measfar gurb éard é úsáid cheadaithe trádmhairc úsáid ag dílseánach an trádmhairc, agus measfar nach úsáid é ag duine seachas an dílseánach chun críocha alt 34 den Acht seo agus chun aon chríocha eile ar ní ábhartha chuige sin faoin Acht seo nó faoin dlí coitian an úsáid sin.
(3) (a) Faoi réir aon chomhaontú a bheidh ar substaineadh idir na páirtithe, beidh úsáidire cláraithe i leith trádmhairc i dteideal glaoch ar dhílseánach an chéanna chun imeachtaí a thionscnamh chun sárú an trádmhairc sin a chosc, agus, má dhiúltaíonn nó má fhaillíonn an dílseánach déanamh amhlaidh laistigh de dhá mhí tar éis glaoch air amhlaidh, féadfaidh an t-úsáidire cláraithe imeachtaí mar gheall ar shárú a thionscnamh ina ainm féin amhail is dá mba é féin an dílseánach, agus cosantóir a dhéanamh den dílseánach.
(b) Ní dhlífear aon chostais a chur ar dhílseánach a ndéanfar cosantóir mar sin de mura ndéanfaidh sé láithreas a thaifeadadh agus páirt a ghlacadh sna himeachtaí.
(4) I gcás ina molfar go ndéanfar duine a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc, ní mór don dílseánach agus don duine sin iarratas i scríbhinn a dhéanamh chun an Cheannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe agus ní mór dóibh cibé doiciméid, eolas nó fianaise a bheidh ag teastáil faoi na rialacha nó ón gCeannasaí a chur ar fáil don Cheannasaí.
(5) Más rud é, tar éis ceanglais fo-alt (4) den alt seo a bheith comhlíonta, gur deimhin leis an gCeannasaí, tar éis an t-eolas a cuireadh ar fáil dó faoin bhfo-alt sin a bhreithniú, nach mbeadh, sna himthoscaí go léir, úsáid an trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí molta nó le haon chuid acu ag an úsáidire cláraithe molta faoi réir aon choinníollacha nó sriantachtaí is cuí leis an gCeannasaí, contrártha do leas an phobail, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí an t-úsáidire cláraithe molta a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe i leith na n-earraí a bhfuil sé deimhneach amhlaidh ina dtaobh faoi réir na gcoinníollacha agus na sriantachtaí sin a dúradh.
(6) Diúltóidh an Ceannasaí glacadh le hiarratas faoi fho-alt (4) den alt seo má fheictear dó go n-éascódh sé margaíocht sa trádmharc dá ngéilltí don iarratas.
(7) Gan dochar d'alt 40 den Acht seo, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí clárú duine mar úsáidire cláraithe—
(a) a athrú maidir leis na hearraí a bhfuil éifeacht ag an gclárú sin ina leith, nó maidir le haon choinníollacha nó sriantachtaí a bhfuil éifeacht ag an gclárú sin faoina réir, ar iarratas i scríbhinn sa tslí fhorordaithe ó dhílseánach cláraithe an trádmhairc lena mbaineann an clárú;
(b) a chealú ar iarratas i scríbhinn sa tslí fhorordaithe ó dhílseánach cláraithe nó ó úsáidire cláraithe an trádmhairc nó ó aon duine is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc; nó
(c) a chealú ar iarratas i scríbhinn sa tslí fhorordaithe ó aon duine ar aon fhoras acu seo a leanas, is é sin le rá—
(i) gur úsáid an t-úsáidire cláraithe an trádmharc ar shlí seachas de réir na húsáide ceadaithe, nó ar slí a bhí, nó ar dhócha dó a bheith, ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill;
(ii) gur mhífhaisnéisigh nó nár nocht an dílseánach nó an t-úsáidire cláraithe fíoras éigin ab fhíoras ábhartha i leith leis an iarratas ar chlárú, nó gur tháinig athrú ábhartha ar na himthoscaí ó dháta an chláraithe;
(iii) nár chóir an clárú a dhéanamh ag féachaint do chearta atá dílsithe don iarratasóir de bhua conradh a bhfuil leas aige ina chomhlíonadh.
(8) Forálfar leis na rialacha go ndéanfar fógra i dtaobh duine a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe a thabhairt d'aon duine eile is úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc sin agus go dtabharfar fógra i dtaobh iarratais faoi fho-alt (7) den alt seo do dhílseánach cláraithe an trádmhairc sin agus do gach duine is úsáidire cláraithe (nach é an t-iarratasóir é) i leith an trádmhairc sin agus chun go dtabharfar don iarratasóir ar an iarratas sin a dhéanamh, agus do gach duine dá dtabharfar fógra i dtaobh an iarratais agus a dhéanfaidh idiragra sna himeachtaí de réir na rialacha, caoi ar éisteacht a fháil.
(9) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí tráth ar bith cealú a dhéanamh ar chlárú duine mar úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc i leith aon earraí nach bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith a thuilleadh.
(10) Ní thabharfaidh aon ní san alt seo d'úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc aon cheart insannta nó intarchurtha chun an trádmharc a úsáid.
(11) Aon duine a bheidh cláraithe faoin Acht seo mar úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc measfar gur faoi dháta an iarratais ar a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe a cláraíodh amhlaidh é.
Usáid a bheartaítear a dhéanamh de thrádmharc ag corparáid atáthar chun a bhunú.
37.—(1) Ní dhiúltófar d'aon iarratas ar thrádmharc a chlárú i leith aon earraí ná ní choimeádfar siar cead le haghaidh an chláraithe sin ar an bhforas amháin gur dealraitheach nach ndéanann, nó nach mbeartaíonn an t-iarratasóir an trádmharc a úsáid—
(a) más deimhin leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) go bhfuiltear ar tí comhlachas corpraithe a bhunú, agus go bhfuil ar intinn ag an iarratasóir an trádmharc a shannadh don chorporáid le hintinn an chorporáid d'úsáid an trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí sin; nó
(b) má bhíonn iarratas go gclárófar duine mar úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc ag gabháil leis an iarratas, agus gur deimhin leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) go bhfuil ar intinn ag an dílseánach go n-úsáidfidh an duine sin é i ndáil leis na hearraí sin agus gur deimhin freisin leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) go gclárófar an duine sin mar úsáidire cláraithe i leith an trádmhairc díreach tar éis an trádmharc a chlárú.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag alt 34 den Acht seo i ndáil le trádmharc a chlárófar faoin gcumhacht a thugtar le fo-alt (1) den alt seo amhail is dá gcuirfí in ionad na tagartha, atá i mír (a) d'fho-alt (1) d'alt 34 den Acht seo, do é a bheith ar intinn ag duine is iarratasóir ar chlárú go n-úsáidfeadh sé trádmharc tagairt do é a bheith ar intinn aige go ndéanfadh an chorparáid nó an t-úsáidire cláraithe iomchuí é a úsáid.
(3) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí nó (i gcás achomhairc) an Chúirt a cheangal, mar choinníoll ar a ndéanfar an chumhacht a thugtar le fo-alt (1) den alt seo a fheidhmiú i bhfabhar iarratasóra a bhraithfidh ar é a bheith ar intinn aige sannadh chun corparáide mar a dúradh, ar an iarratasóir urrús a thabhairt i leith costas aon imeachtaí os comhair an Cheannasaí nó na Cúirte (de réir mar a bheidh) agus mura dtabharfar an t-urrús sin go cuí déileáfar leis an iarratas mar iarratas tréigthe.
(4) I gcás ina gclárófar trádmharc i leith aon earraí faoin gcumhacht a thugtar le fo-alt (1) den alt seo in ainm iarratasóra a bhraitheann ar é a bheith ar intinn aige sannadh chun corparáide mar a dúradh, ansin, mura ndéanfar an chorporáid a chlárú mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc i leith na n-earraí sin laistigh de cibé tréimhse a bheidh forordaithe nó, laistigh de cibé tréimhse bhreise nach faide ná sé mhí a cheadóidh an Ceannasaí ar iarratas a dhéanamh chuige sa tslí fhorordaithe, scoirfidh an clárú d'éifeacht a bheith aige i leith na n-earraí sin ar bheith caite don tréimhse sin, agus leasóidh an Ceannasaí an clár dá réir sin.
Usáid ceann amháin de thrádmharcanna comhghabhálacha nó de thrádmharcanna atá comhionann go substaintiúil le chéile a bheith ar comhchéim le húsáid cinn eile.
38.—(1) I gcás inar gá faoin Acht seo úsáid trádmhairc chláraithe a chruthú chun aon chríche, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) glacadh le húsáid trádmhairc chomhghabhálaigh chláraithe, nó le húsáid an trádmhairc sin maille le breisithe nó athruithe nach ndéanann difear substaintiúil dá chéannacht, mar úsáid comhionann leis an úsáid is gá a chruthú.
(2) Aon úsáid a dhéanfar d'iomlán aon trádmhairc chláraithe measfar, chun críocha an Achta seo, gurb éard é freisin úsáid d'aon trádmharc cláraithe, is cuid den chéanna, atá cláraithe in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna de bhua fo-alt (1) d'alt 29 den Acht seo.
Usáid trádmhairc don trádáil onnmhairíochta.
39.—Measfar gurb ionann trádmharc a chur sa Stát ar earraí a bheifear chun a onnmhairiú as an Stát agus fós aon ghníomh eile a dhéanfar sa Stát i ndáil le hearraí a bheifear chun a onnmhairiú amhlaidh agus arbh úsáid trádmhairc sa Stát é dá mba i ndáil le hearraí a mbeifí chun iad a dhíol, nó chun trádáil ar shlí eile a dhéanamh leo, sa Stát a dhéanfaí é, measfar gurb ionann é agus úsáid trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí sin chun aon chríche arb úsáid ábhartha chuige faoin Acht seo nó faoin dlí coiteann an úsáid sin.
Cumhacht ghinearálta chun ceartú a dhéanamh ar thaifid i gclár.
40.—(1) Aon duine arb éagóir leis aon taifead áirithe bheith gan cur sa chlár nó a fhágáil as, nó aon taifead áirithe a chur sa chlár gan chúis leordhóthanach, nó aon taifead áirithe a bheidh fanta go mícheart ar an gclár, nó aon earráid nó easnamh in aon taifead sa chlár, féadfaidh sé iarratas a dhéanamh sa tslí fhorordaithe chun na Cúirte nó, de rogha an iarratasóra agus faoi réir alt 59 den Acht seo, chun an Cheannasaí, agus féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) cibé ordú is cuí leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) a dhéanamh chun an taifead a dhéanamh, a scriosadh nó a athrú.
(2) In aon imeacht faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) cinneadh a dhéanamh maidir le haon cheist is gá nó is fóirsteanach a chinneadh maidir le ceartú an chláir.
(3) I gcás calaois i gclárú, i sannadh nó i dtarchur trádmhairc chláraithe, nó in aon chás eile ina measann sé é bheith riachtanach ar mhaithe leis an bpobal, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí féin iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte faoin alt seo.
(4) Tabharfaidh aon ordú de chuid na Cúirte ag ceartú an chláir ordú go ndéanfar fógra i dtaobh an cheartaithe a sheirbheáil sa tslí fhorordaithe ar an gCeannasaí agus, ar an bhfógra a fháil, ceartóidh an Ceannasaí an clár dá réir sin.
(5) Folóidh an chumhacht a thugtar leis an alt seo chun an clár a cheartú cumhacht chun clárú atá i gCuid A den chlár a aistriú go Cuid B.
Cumhacht chun clárú a scriosadh nó a athrú mar gheall ar shárú coinníll.
41.—Ar iarratas chun na Cúirte ó aon duine éagóraithe nó, mar is rogha leis an iarratasóir agus faoi réir alt 59 den Acht seo, chun an Cheannasaí nó ar iarratas ón gCeannasaí chun na Cúirte, féadfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) cibé ordú is oiriúnach leis an gCúirt nó leis an gCeannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) a dhéanamh chun clárú trádmhairc a scriosadh nó a athrú ar an bhforas gur sáraíodh coinníoll, nó nár urramaíodh coinníoll, a bhí taifeadta sa chlár i ndáil leis an gclárú.
An clár a cheartú.
42.—(1) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe ón dílseánach cláraithe—
(a) aon earráid in ainm, seoladh nó tuairisc dílseánach cláraithe trádmhairc a cheartú,
(b) aon athrú ar ainm, seoladh nó tuairisc an duine atá cláraithe mar dhílseánach trádmhairc a thaifeadadh;
(c) taifeadadh trádmhairc sa chlár a chealú;
(d) sonraíocht na n-earraí a bhfuil trádmharc cláraithe ina leith a leasú, ar choinníoll nach ndéanfaidh an leasú méadú in aon slí ar na cearta a thugtar leis an gclárú atá ann ar an trádmharc; nó
(e) séanadh nó meabhrán maidir le trádmharc a thaifeadadh nach méadóidh in aon slí na cearta a thugtar leis an gclárú atá ann ar an trádmharc.
(2) Ar úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc á iarraidh sin sa tslí fhorordaithe, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí aon earráid a cheartú, nó aon athrú ar ainm, seoladh nó tuairisc an úsáidire chláraithe a thaifeadadh.
(3) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, uaidh féin, tar éis an fógra forordaithe a thabhairt, aon earráid a rinne sé in aon taifead sa chlár a cheartú.
Trádmharc cláraithe a athrú.
43.—(1) Féadfaidh dílseánach cláraithe trádmhairc cead a iarraidh sa tslí fhorordaithe ar an gCeannasaí chun cur leis an trádmharc nó é a athrú in aon slí nach ndéanfaidh difear substaintiúil do chéannacht an trádmhairc sin, agus féadfaidh an Ceannasaí diúltú cead a thabhairt nó cead a thabhairt ar cibé téarmaí agus faoi réir cibé teorainneacha is cuí leis.
(2) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí a chur faoi deara go bhfógrófar iarratas faoin alt seo sa tslí fhorordaithe in aon chás ina bhfeicfear dó gur foirstineach sin a dhéanamh, agus, i gcás ina ndéanfaidh sé amhlaidh, má thugann aon duine fógra don Cheannasaí, sa tslí fhorordaithe laistigh den am forordaithe ó dháta an fhógra, go bhfuil sé i bhfreasúra leis an iarratas, déanfaidh an Ceannasaí cinneadh faoin ábhar, tar éis éisteacht leis na páirtithe má éilítear sin.
(3) I gcás ina dtabharfar cead mar a dúradh, déanfar an trádmharc, arna athrú, a fhógairt sa tslí fhorordaithe, san fhoirm chun ar athraíodh é, i bhfógra faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo mura mbeidh sé fógartha cheana féin.
Taifid i gclár a chur in oiriúint d'aon aicme leasaithe nó malartaithe earraí.
44.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire ó am go ham cibé rialacha a dhéanamh, cibé foirmeacha a fhorordú agus, i gcoitinne, cibé nithe a dhéanamh is fóirsteanach leis, chun a chumasú don Cheannasaí an clár a leasú trí thaifid a chur ann nó taifid atá ann a scriosadh nó a athrú, a mhéid is gá chun an t-ainmniú atá ann ar na hearraí nó na haicmí earraí a bhfuil trádmharcanna cláraithe ina leith a chur in oiriúint d'aon aicme leasaithe nó malartaithe a fhorordófar.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh an Ceannasaí, i bhfeidhmiú aon chumhachta a thugtar dó chun na críche sin a dúradh, aon leasú ar an gclár arb éifeacht dó aon earraí nó aicmí earraí a chur de bhreis leis na hearraí a bhfuil trádmharc cláraithe ina leith (is aicme amháin nó níos mó) díreach sula mbeidh an leasú le déanamh, nó clárú trádmhairc i leith aon earraí a réamhdhátú:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh éifeacht ag an bhfo-alt seo i ndáil le hearraí ar deimhin leis an gCeannasaí ina dtaobh go mbainfeadh aimhréiteacht mhíchui le comhlíonadh an fho-ailt sin i ndáil leis na hearraí sin agus nach ndéanfadh an cur de bhreis ná an réamhdhátú, de réir mar a bheidh, difear d'aon mhór-chainníocht earraí agus nach ndéanfadh sé dochar substaintiúil do chearta aon duine.
(3) Déanfar moladh chun an clár a leasú chun na críche a dúradh a chur i bhfios do dhílseánach cláraithe an trádmhairc iomchuí agus a fhógairt fara aon mhodhnuithe agus féadfaidh aon duine a bheidh éagóraithe ar an bhforas go sáraíonn an leasú atá molta fo-alt (2) den alt seo cur ina aghaidh os comhair an Cheannasaí.
Trádmharcanna deimhniúcháin.
45.—(1) Aon mharc a bheidh curtha in oiriúint i ndáil le haon earraí chun earraí a bheidh deimhnithe ag aon duine maidir le bunadh, ábhar, modh déantóireachta, cáilíocht, cruinneas nó aon saintréith eile a idirdhealú i gcúrsa trádála ó earraí nach mbeidh deimhnithe amhlaidh beidh sé inchláraithe mar thrádmharc deimhniúcháin i gCuid A den chlár i leith na n-earraí sin in ainm an duine sin mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh marc inchláraithe amhlaidh in ainm duine a sheolann trádáil in earraí den chineál a bheidh deimhnithe.
(2) Nuair a bheidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) ag cinneadh an bhfuil marc oiriúnaithe chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh, féadfaidh sí nó sé (de réir mar a bheidh) aird a thabhairt—
(a) ar a mhéid atá an marc oiriúnach ó bhunús chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh i ndáil leis na hearraí iomchuí; agus
(b) ar a mhéid atá an marc oiriúnach iarbhír, mar gheall ar úsáid an mhairc nó aon imthoscaí eile, chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh mar a dúradh i ndáil leis na hearraí iomchuí.
(3) Faoi réir fo-ailt (4) go (6) den alt seo, agus ailt 15 agus 16 den Acht seo, tabharfaidh clárú duine mar dhílseánach trádmhairc deimhniúcháin i leith aon earraí, ach an clárú sin a bheith bailí, ceart eisiatach don duine sin chun úsáide an trádmhairc i ndáil leis na hearraí sin, agus, gan dochar do ghinearáltacht na bhfocal sin roimhe seo, measfar an ceart sin a bheith sáraithe ag aon duine, nach é dílseánach an trádmhairc agus é á úsáid dá réir sin, a bheidh tar éis úsáid a dhéanamh de thrádmharc comhionann leis nó chomh garchosúil sin leis gur dócha dó a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta nó mearbhaill, i gcúrsa trádála, i ndáil le haon earraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith, agus i slí gur dhócha go measfaí gurb éard úsáid an mhairc—
(a) úsáid mar thrádmharc; nó
(b) i gcás inarb éard í an úsáid sin úsáid ar na hearraí nó i ndáil ábhartha leo nó i gciorclán fógraíochta nó fógrán eile arna eisiúint chun an phobail, úsáid lena ngabhann tagairt do dhuine éigin ag a bhfuil an ceart mar dhílseánach nó le húdarás uaidh faoi na rialacháin iomchuí an trádmharc a úsáid nó d'earraí atá deimhnithe ag an dílseánach.
(4) Beidh an ceart chun úsáide trádmhairc deimhniúcháin arna thabhairt trí chlárú mar a dúradh faoi réir aon choinníollacha nó teorainneacha a bheidh taifeadta sa chlár, agus ní mheasfar an ceart sin a bheith sáraithe mar gheall ar aon trádmharc den sórt sin a úsáid mar a dúradh ar aon mhodh i ndáil le hearraí a mbeifear chun iad a dhíol nó chun trádáil a dhéanamh leo ar shlí eile in aon áit, i ndáil le hearraí a mbeifear chun iad a onnmhairiú go dtí aon mhargadh, nó in aon imthoscaí eile nach dtagann, ag féachaint d'aon teorainneacha den sórt sin, faoi réim an chláraithe sin.
(5) Ní mheasfar gur sárú ar an gceart chun úsáide trádmhairc dheimhniúcháin arna thabhairt trí chlárú mar a dúradh aon mharc den sórt sin a úsáid mar a dúradh ag aon duine—
(a) i ndáil le hearraí atá deimhnithe ag dílseánach ar trádmhairc más rud é, maidir leis na hearraí sin nó le last ar cuid de iad, go ndearna an dílseánach nó duine eile de réir a údaráis faoi na rialacháin iomchuí an trádmharc a chur agus nár bhain sé anuas nó nár scrios sé é dá éis sin, nó gur thoiligh an dílseánach go sainráite nó go hintuigthe aon tráth leis an trádmharc a úsáid; nó
(b) i ndáil le hearraí atá oiriúnaithe chun bheith ina gcuid d'earraí eile, nó chun bheith ag gabháil le hearraí eile, ar úsáideadh an trádmharc i ndáil leo gan an ceart sin a tugadh mar a dúradh a shárú nó a bhféadfaí é a úsáid amhlaidh de thuras na huaire más gá le réasún úsáid an mhairc chun a thaispeáint go bhfuil na hearraí oiriúnaithe amhlaidh agus nach é is cuspóir ná is éifeacht d'úsáid an mhairc ach amháin chun a thaispeáint go bhfuil de réir an fhíorais na hearraí deimhnithe ag an dílseánach:
Ar choinníoll nach mbeidh éifeacht ag mír (a) den fho-alt seo i gcás úsáide arb éard í aon mharc den sórt sin a chur ar aon earraí, d'ainneoin gurb earraí iad den sórt a luaitear sa mhír sin, má tá sé contrártha do na rialacháin iomchuí marc den sórt sin a chur ar na hearraí.
(6) I gcás inar ceann de dhá thrádmharc chláraithe nó níos mó atá comhionann nó garchosúil le chéile trádmharc deimhniúcháin, ní mheasfar úsáid aon cheann de na trádmharcanna sin i bhfeidhmiú an chirt chun úsáide an trádmhairc sin a bheidh tugtha trí chlárú do shárú an chirt a bheidh tugtha amhlaidh chun úsáide aon cheann eile de na trádmharcanna sin.
(7) (a) Taiscfear san Oifig i leith gach trádmhairc a chlárófar faoin alt seo rialacháin a bheidh ceadaithe ag an Aire chun úsáid an trádmhairc sin a rialú, agus beidh iontu forálacha maidir leis na cásanna ina ndéanfaidh an dílseánach earraí a dheimhniú agus úsáid an trádmhairc a údarú, agus féadfaidh aon fhorálacha eile a bheith iontu a cheanglóidh an tAire nó a cheadóidh sé a chur iontu (lena n-áirítear forálacha ag tabhairt ceart achomhairc chun an Cheannasaí in aghaidh aon diúltú ag an dílseánach earraí a dheimhniú nó úsáid an trádmhairc de réir na rialachán a údarú).
(b) Beidh rialacháin a thaiscfear faoin bhfo-alt seo ar oscailt chun a n-iniúchta mar a bheidh an clár.
(8) Ní bheidh trádmharc deimhniúcháin insannta ná intarchurtha ach amháin le toiliú an Aire.
(9) Beidh éifeacht ag forálacha an Chéad Sceidil a ghabhann leis an Acht seo maidir le clárú mairc faoin alt seo agus le marcanna a bheidh cláraithe amhlaidh.
Airí do chlárú marcanna.
46.—(1) Faoi réir an Achta seo, féadfaidh Aire Stáit a thabhairt go ndéanfar trádmharc nó trádmharc deimhniúcháin a chlárú agus aon Aire a thabharfaidh go ndéanfar clárú den sórt sin, clárófar é mar dhílseánach an chéanna chun gach críche faoin Acht seo.
(2) Féadfaidh Aire Stáit a thabhairt go ndéanfar trádmharc (cibé acu atá nó nach bhfuil sé cláraithe faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo) a chlárú in aon chlár a chothabháiltear lasmuigh den Stát más cead, agus a mhéid is cead, agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha ar ar cead, an clárú sin a dhéanamh faoin dlí a rialaíonn an clár sin agus in aon chás den sórt sin féadfaidh sé a thabhairt go ndéanfar é féin a thaifeadadh sa chlár sin mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc sin.
Mí-úsáid trádmharcanna a thaispeánann bunús Éireannach.
47.—Is dleathach don Aire cibé bearta dleathacha is cuí leis a dhéanamh lasmuigh den Stát, trí chaingean nó ionchúiseamh dlí nó ar shlí eile, chun cosc nó srian nó pionós a chur le haon trádmharc nó aon mharc nó tuairisc eile a chlárú, a úsáid nó a chur chun feidhme i ndáil le nó maidir le hearraí nach sa Stát a fásadh, a táirgeadh nó a monaraíodh iad, más trádmharc, marc nó tuairisc eile é a chuireann in iúl nó i dtuiscint, nó ar dócha dó a thabhairt ar dhaoine a chreidiúint, gur sa Stát a fásadh, a táirgeadh nó a monaraíodh na hearraí a mbeidh an trádmharc, an marc nó an tuairisc sin á úsáid ina leith nó curtha orthu.
CUID III.
Forálacha a Bhaineann le Cumhachtaí agus Dualgais an Cheannasaí agus le hImeachtaí Dlíthiúla.
Réamhchomhairle ón gCeannasaí maidir le hidirdhealaitheacht.
48.—(1) Is feidhm de chuid an Cheannasaí faoin Acht seo an chumhacht chun comhairle a thabhairt do dhuine a bheartaíonn iarratas a dhéanamh ar thrádmharc a chlárú i gCuid A nó i gCuid B den chlár i dtaobh an dealraitheach prima facie don Cheannasaí an trádmharc a bheith oiriúnach ó bhunús chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh nó a bheith inniúil idirdhealú a dhéanamh, cibé acu é.
(2) Ní foláir d'aon duine den sórt sin ar mian leis an chomhairle sin a fháil iarratas á hiarraidh a dhéanamh chun an Cheannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe.
(3) Má tharlaíonn, ar iarratas á iarraidh go gclárófaí trádmharc a mbeidh comhairle aontachais mar a dúradh tugtha ina leith ag an gCeannasaí agus a dhéanfar laistigh de thrí mhí tar éis an chomhairle a thabhairt, go dtabharfaidh an Ceannasaí, tar éis tuilleadh fiosrúcháin agus breithnithe, fógra don iarratasóir i dtaobh agóid a bheith ann ar an bhforas nach bhfuil an trádmharc oiriúnaithe ná inniúil chun idirdhealú a dhéanamh, cibé acu é, beidh an t-iarratasóir i dteideal, ar fhógra a thabhairt laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe go bhfuil an t-iarratas á tharraingt siar, aon táille a d'íoc sé nuair a rinne sé an t-iarratas a aisíoc leis.
Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí dul i gcomhairle leis an Ard-Aighne.
49.—In aon chás a mbeidh amhras nó deacracht ann maidir le riaradh an Achta seo, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí treoracha i dtaobh an ábhair a iarraidh ar an Ard-Aighne.
Eisteacht sula bhfeidhmeofar rogha an Cheannasaí.
50.—In aon chás ina mbeidh cumhacht lánroghnach nó aon chumhacht eile ag an gCeannasaí faoin Acht seo nó faoi na rialacha, ní fheidhmeoidh sé an chumhacht sin go dochrach don iarratasóir ar chlárú ná do dhílseánach cláraithe an trádmhairc a bheidh i gceist gan (má iarrtar sin go cuí air laistigh den am fhorordaithe) caoi ar éisteacht a thabhairt don iarratasóir nó don dílseánach cláraithe.
Cumhacht an Cheannasaí chun costais a dhámhadh.
51.—I ngach imeacht os comhair an Cheannasaí faoin Acht seo beidh cumhacht ag an gCeannasaí cibé costais a mheasann sé a bheith réasúnach a dhámhadh d'aon pháirtí agus ordú a thabhairt conas a íocfar iad, cé hiad na páirtithe a íocfaidh iad, agus, le cead na Cúirte, féadfar aon ordú den sórt sin a chur i bhfeidhm sa tslí chéanna ina gcuirfí i bhfeidhm breith nó ordú den éifeacht chéanna ón gCúirt.
Clárú a bheith ina fhianaise prima facie ar bhailíocht.
52.—I n?ach imeacht dlíthiúil a bhaineann le trádmharc cláraithe (lena n-áirítear iarratais faoi alt 40 den Acht seo) is fianaise prima facie duine a bheith cláraithe mar dhílseánach an trádmhairc ar bhailíocht chlárú bunaidh an trádmhairc agus ar bhailíocht gach sannadh agus tarchur ina dhiaidh sin ar an trádmharc.
Deimhniú bailíochta.
53.—In aon imeacht dlíthiúil ina mbeidh bailíocht chlárú trádmhairc chláraithe i gceist agus ina ndéanfar cinneadh i bhfabhar dílseánach an trádmhairc, féadfaidh an Chúirt é sin a dheimhniú, agus má dheimhníonn sí amhlaidh, ansin, in aon imeacht dlíthiúil ina dhiaidh sin ina mbeidh bailíocht an chláraithe i gceist, gheobhaidh dílseánach an trádmhairc, tar éis ordú críochnaitheach nó breithiúnas ina fhabhar a fháil, iomlán a chuid costais, muirir agus caiteachais amhail idir abhcóide agus cliant, mura ndeimhneoidh an Chúirt san imeacht ina dhiaidh sin nach ceart dó iad a fháil.
Costais an Cheannasaí in imeachtaí Cúirte.
54.—In aon imeachtaí os comhair na Cúirte faoin Acht seo ní dhámhfar costais don Cheannasaí ná ní ordófar dó costais aon pháirtí eile a íoc.
Gnáthamh trádála agus nithe eile le cur san áireamh.
55.—In aon chaingean nó imeacht i ndáil le trádmharc nó le hainm trádála, glacfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) fianaise i dtaobh gnáthaimh na trádála lena mbaineann agus i dtaobh aon trádmharc nó ainm trádála nó cóir eile a úsáideann daoine eile go dlisteanach.
Láithriú an Cheannasaí in imeachtaí.
56.—(1) Tabharfar don Cheannasaí fógra i scríbhinn (ón ngearánaí, ón achomharcóir nó ón iarratasóir, de réir mar a bheidh) i dtaobh aon imeacht dlíthiúil ina ndéanfadh an faoiseamh a bheifear a iarraidh difear don chlár (lena n-áirítear achomharc i gcoinne aon ordú nó cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí agus iarratas faoi alt 25 nó 26 den Acht seo chun síneadh a dhéanamh ar an am chun achomharc a dhéanamh in aghaidh cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí faoi cheachtar de na hailt sin) agus i dtaobh breith na Cúirte i leith aon imeachta dhlíthiúil den sórt sin, agus beidh de cheart aige láithriú agus éisteacht a fháil, agus láithreoidh sé má ordaíonn an Chúirt amhlaidh, in aon imeacht dlíthiúil den sórt sin.
(2) Ach amháin mura n-ordóidh an Chúirt a mhalairt, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, in ionad láithriú agus éisteacht a fháil, ráiteas i scríbhinn faoina láimh a chur faoi bhráid na Cúirte ag tabhairt sonraí i dtaobh na n-imeachtaí os a chomhair i ndáil leis an ábhar a bheidh i saincheist nó na bhforas ba bhonn le haon chinneadh a rinne sé a rinne difear don ábhar nó i dtaobh cleachtas na hOifige i gcásanna den sórt nó i dtaobh aon ábhair eile a bhaineann go cuí leis na saincheisteanna agus atá ar eolas aige mar Cheannasaí, de réir mar is cuí leis, agus measfar gur cuid den fhianaise san imeacht an ráiteas sin.
Achomharc chun na Cúirte.
57.—(1) Féadfar achomharc a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte in aghaidh aon ordú nó cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí faoi aon fhoráil den Acht seo (nach cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí faoi alt 11 nó fo-alt (7) d'alt 69 den Acht seo) nó in aghaidh ceartú earráide sa chlár ag an gCeannasaí faoi fho-alt (3) d'alt 42 den Acht seo, agus féadfaidh an Chúirt cibé ordú is cuí léi a dhéanamh chun ordú nó cinneadh nó ceartú an Cheannasaí a dhaingniú, a neamhniú nó a athrú.
(2) In aon achomharc chun na Cúirte faoin Acht seo in aghaidh cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí, beidh ag an gCúirt agus feidhmeoidh sí na cumhachtaí lánroghnacha céanna a thugtar don Cheannasaí faoin Acht seo.
(3) Ach amháin le cead na Cúirte, ní thabharfar aird ar aon achomharc (seachas achomharc faoi alt 25 nó 26 den Acht seo) in aghaidh ordú nó cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí nó in aghaidh ceartú earráide sa chlár ag an gCeannasaí faoi fho-alt (3) d'alt 42 den Acht seo nach dtabharfar fógra faoi don Chúirt laistigh de mhí ó dháta an ordaithe, an chinnte nó an cheartaithe a bhfuil achomharc á dhéanamh ina aghaidh nó laistigh de cibé tréimhse bhreise nach faide ná trí mhí a cheadóidh an Ceannasaí (ar iarraidh a fháil roimh dheireadh na tréimhse míosa sin).
(4) Faoi réir fo-alt (5) den alt seo, is cinneadh críochnaitheach nach inachomhairc cinneadh na Cúirte faoin alt seo.
(5) Féadfar, le cead na Cúirte, achomharc in aghaidh cinneadh de chuid na Cúirte faoin alt seo a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí ar cheist shonraithe dlí.
Cumhacht na Cúirte chun cinneadh an Cheannasaí a athbhreithniú.
58.—Beidh ag an gCúirt agus í ag déileáil le haon cheist a bhaineann le ceartú ar an gclár (lena n-áirítear gach iarratas faoi alt 40 den Acht seo) an chumhacht chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar aon chinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí maidir leis an taifead a bheidh i gceist nó leis an gceartú a mbeifear á iarraidh go ndéanfaí é.
Nós imeachta i gcásanna ina bhfuil rogha ann chun iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte nó chun an Cheannasaí.
59.—I gcás ina mbeidh de rogha ag an iarratasóir faoin Acht seo iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte nó chun an Cheannasaí—
(a) is chun na Cúirte a chaithfear an t-iarratas a dhéanamh má bhíonn caingean maidir leis an trádmharc a bheidh i gceist ar feitheamh;
(b) más chun an Cheannasaí a dhéanfar an t-iarratas, féadfaidh sé, ag aon chéim de na himeachtaí, an t-iarratas a tharchur chun na Cúirte, nó féadfaidh sé, tar éis éisteacht leis na páirtithe, cinneadh a dhéanamh ar an gceist eatarthu, faoi réir achomharc chun na Cúirte.
An modh ar a dtabharfar fianaise.
60.—(1) In aon imeacht faoin Acht seo os comhair an Cheannasaí is trí dhearbhú reachtúil a thabharfar an fhianaise sin mura n-ordaítear a mhalairt, ach, in aon chás ina measfaidh an Ceannasaí gur ceart déanamh amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí fianaise ó bhéal a ghlacadh in ionad nó i dteannta fianaise trí dhearbhú.
(2) I gcás achomhairc, féadfar aon dearbhú reachtúil den sórt sin a úsáid os comhair na Cúirte in ionad fianaise trí mhionnscríbhinn, ach, má úsáidtear amhlaidh é, bainfidh comhleanúntais agus iarmairtí uile fianaise trí mhionnscríbhinn leis.
(3) Má ghlactar aon chuid den fhianaise ó bhéal, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí gach ní nó aon ní acu seo a leanas a dhéanamh:—
(a) finnéithe a ghairm chun freastal os a chomhair;
(b) na finnéithe a bheidh ag freastal os a chomhair a cheistiú faoi mhionn (agus tugtar údarás dó leis seo daoine a chur faoi mhionn) nó cead a thabhairt iad a cheistiú faoi mhionn,
(c) a cheangal ar aon fhinné den sórt sin aon doiciméad atá faoi chumhacht nó faoi urláimh an fhinné sin a thabhairt ar aird don Cheannasaí.
(4) Beidh teideal ag finné os comhair an Cheannasaí chun na ndíolúintí agus na bpribhléidí céanna chun a mbeadh teideal aige dá mba fhinné os comhair na Cúirte é.
(5) Síneoidh an Ceannasaí aon toghairm.
(6) Má rud é—
(a) go mainneoidh duine ar bith freastal a dhéanamh tar éis é a thoghairm go cuí mar fhinné os comhair an Cheannasaí, nó
(b) go ndiúltóidh duine ar bith ar bheith i láthair dó mar fhinné mionn a thabhairt a cheanglóidh an Ceannasaí air go dlíthiúil a thabhairt nó aon doiciméad faoina chumhacht nó faoina urláimh a thabhairt ar aird a cheanglóidh an Ceannasaí air a thabhairt ar aird nó aon cheist a fhreagairt a cheanglóidh an Ceannasaí air go dlíthiúil a fhreagairt, nó
(c) go ndéanfaidh duine ar bith aon ní eile arbh éard é dá mba chúirt dlí ag a mbeadh cumhacht chimithe i gcás dísbeagtha an Ceannasaí dísbeagadh ar an gcúirt sin,
féadfaidh an Ceannasaí cion an duine sin a dheimhniú faoina shéala oifigiúil don Chúirt agus féadfaidh an Chúirt, tar éis cibé fiosrúchán is cuí léi a dhéanamh, an duine sin a phionósú nó bearta a dhéanamh chun an duine sin a phionósú ionann is dá mba i ndíspeagadh na Cúirte a bhí sé ciontach.
Fianaise i dtaobh taifid sa chlár.
61.—(1) Aon chóip d'aon taifead sa chlár a airbheartóidh a bheith sínithe ag an gCeannasaí agus séalaithe lena shéala oifigiúil glacfar i bhfianaise í in aon chúirt dlí, agus i ngach imeacht, gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais ar an taifead bunaidh ná gan an taifead bunaidh a thabhairt ar aird.
(2) Beidh aon duine a dteastóidh cóip dheimhnithe mar a dúradh uaidh i dteideal í a fháil ar an táille fhorordaithe a íoc.
Fianaise i dtaobh nithe a rinne an Ceannasaí.
62.—Beidh aon deimhniú a airbheartóidh a bheith faoi shéala oifigiúil an Cheannasaí maidir le haon taifead, ábhar nó ní a údaraítear dó leis an Acht seo nó leis na rialacha a dhéanamh ina fhianaise prima facie go ndearnadh an taifead agus fós ar lánais an taifid, agus ar an ábhar nó ní a bheith déanta nó gan a bheith déanta.
CUID IV.
Ilghnéitheach.
Taifid i gclár a fhalsú.
63.—Aon duine a dhéanfaidh nó a chuirfidh faoi deara go ndéanfar taifead bréagach i gclár, nó scríbhinn a airbheartóidh go bréagach gur cóip í de thaifead atá sa chlár, nó a dhéanfaidh nó a chuirfidh faoi deara go ndéanfar aon scríbhinn den sórt sin a thabhairt ar aird nó a thairiscint i bhfianaise, agus a fhios aige an taifead nó an scríbhinn a bheith bréagach, beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh aon téarma nach faide ná trí mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
Fíneáil mar gheall ar a thabhairt le tuiscint go bréagach trádmharc a bheith cláraithe.
64.—(1) Aon duine a thabharfaidh le tuiscint—
(a) maidir le marc nach trádmharc cláraithe, gur trádmharc cláraithe é; nó
(b) maidir le cuid de thrádmharc cláraithe nach cuid atá cláraithe ar leithligh mar thrádmharc, go bhfuil sí cláraithe amhlaidh, nó
(c) go bhfuil trádmharc cláraithe cláraithe i leith aon earraí nach bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith; nó
(d) go dtugann clárú trádmhairc ceart eisiatach chun a úsáidte in aon imthoscaí nach dtugann an clárú, ag féachaint do na teorainneacha atá taifeadta sa chlár, an ceart sin;
beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air agus, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná cúig phunt in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den chion.
(2) Chun críocha an ailt seo, measfar, maidir le húsáid an fhocail “cláraithe” sa Stát i ndáil le trádmharc, nó úsáid aon fhocail eile a dhéanann tagairt go sainráite nó go hintuigthe do chlárú, nó úsáid aon samhailchomhartha fhorordaithe, go bhfuil ag gabháil leis tagairt do chlárú sa chlár, ach amháin—
(a) i gcás ina n-úsáidtear an focal sin nó an samhailchomhartha sin i gcomhcheangal ábhartha le focail atá línithe i litreacha atá ar a laghad chomh mór leo sin ina bhfuil an focal sin nó an samhailchomhartha sin línithe agus a chuireann in iúl gur tagairt í do chlárú mar thrádmharc faoi dhlí áite lasmuigh den Stát, arb áit í a bhfuil an clárú dá dtagraítear i bhfeidhm iarbhír faoina dlí;
(b) más éard é an focal sin (ar focal é seachas an focal “cláraithe”) nó an samhailchomhartha sin focal nó samhailchomhartha a chuireann in iúl uaidh féin gur tagairt í don chlárú sin is déanaí a luaitear roimhe seo; nó
(c) i gcás ina n-úsáidtear an focal sin nó an samhailchomhartha sin i ndáil le marc atá cláraithe mar thrádmharc faoi dhlí áite lasmuigh den Stát agus i ndáil le hearraí atáthar chun a onnmhairiú go dtí an áit sin.
Usáid neamhúdaraithe de Státsuaitheantais.
65.—Aon duine a dhéanfaidh gan údarás dleathach aon suaitheantas, samhlán, feathal, nó bratach atá forcoimeádta le dlí chun úsáide ag, nó a úsáidtear go coitianta ag, an Stát, Óglaigh na hÉireann, aon oifigeach de chuid an Stáit nó aon Roinn Stáit (nó aon suaitheantas, samhlán, feathal nó bratach atá chomh garchosúil leis an gcéanna gur dóigh dó a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta) a úsáid i ndáil le haon ghnó, trádáil, slí bheatha nó gairm i slí ar dóigh go gcreidfí uaidh go bhfuil sé údaraithe go cuí chun an suaitheantas, an samhlán, an feathal nó an bhratach sin a úsáid beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt (agus, i gcás ciona leanúnaigh, fíneáil bhreise nach mó ná cúig phunt in aghaidh gach lae a leanfar den cion) a chur air nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh aon téarma nach faide ná trí mhí.
Ní mheasfar gur cúis meabhlaireachta athrú ar ghné baint trádála.
66.—Ní mheasfar gur dóigh d'úsáid trádmhairc chláraithe i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuil aon sórt baint i gcúrsa trádála idir iad agus an duine a úsáideann é a bheith ina chúis meabhlaireachta ar an bhforas amháin gur úsáideadh, nó go n-úsáidtear, an trádmharc, i ndáil le hearraí a bhfuil nó a raibh sórt eile baint i gcúrsa trádála idir iad agus an duine sin nó réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid.
Comhúinéireacht trádmharcanna.
67.—(1) I gcás inar amhlaidh don chaidreamh idir beirt duine nó níos mó a bhfuil leas acu i dtrádmharc nach bhfuil aon duine acu i dteideal amhail idir é féin agus an duine nó na daoine eile acu é úsáid ach amháin—
(a) thar ceann na beirte acu nó thar a gceann go léir, nó
(b) i ndáil le hearra a bhfuil baint i gcúrsa trádála acu beirt leis nó acu go léir leis,
féadfar na daoine sin a chlárú mar chomhúinéirí an trádmhairc, agus beidh éifeacht ag an Acht seo i ndáil le haon cheartanna chun úsáide an trádmhairc a bheidh dílsithe do na daoine sin amhail is dá mba do dhuine aonair a bheadh na ceartanna sin dílsithe:
Ar choinníoll go measfar ceartanna aon duine atá cláraithe amhlaidh a bheith sáraithe ag aon duine eile de na daoine sin a úsáídeann an trádmharc i ndáil ábhartha nó i ndáil eile le hearraí a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith faoin alt seo, ach nach bhfuil nó nach raibh baint i gcúrsa trádála ag an mbeirt duine sin nó ag na daoine sin go léir leo.
(2) Faoi réir fo-alt (1) den alt seo, ní údaróidh aon ní san Acht seo beirt duine nó níos mó a úsáideann trádmharc go neamhspleách nó a bheartaíonn é a úsáid amhlaidh a chlárú mar chomhdhílseánaigh ar an trádmharc sin.
Iontaobhais agus cothromais.
68.—(1) Ní thaifeadfar sa chlár aon fhógra i dtaobh aon iontaobhais sainráite, intuigthe nó inchiallaithe, ná ní bheidh aon fhógra den sórt sin inghlactha ag an gCeannasaí.
(2) Faoi réir an Achta seo, féadfar cothromais i leith trádmhairc a chur i bhfeidhm amhail mar dhéantar i leith aon mhaoine pearsanta eile.
Gníomhairí trádmharcanna a aithint agus a chlárú.
1851, c. 93.
69.—(1) Aon uair faoin Acht seo a bheidh aon ghníomh le déanamh ag aon duine, nó le haon duine, i ndáil le trádmharc nó aon imeacht a bhaineann le trádmharc nó le clárú an chéanna, féadfar, faoi réim agus de réir rialacha faoin alt seo nó, i gcásanna áirithe, le toiliú an Aire, an gníomh (mura mbeidh sé eiscthe faoi na rialacha) a dhéanamh ag nó le gníomhaire don duine sin a bheidh údaraithe go cuí sa tslí fhorordaithe agus, más le haghaidh sochair a bheidh sé ag gníomhú, a bheidh cláraithe sa chlár a bheidh á choimeád faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo.
(2) Coimeádfar san Oifig clár ar a dtabharfar clár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna, agus ní dhéanfaidh aon duine ina aonar nó i gcomhpháirtíocht le haon duine eile cleachtadh mar ghníomhaire trádmharcanna ná a thuairisciú ná a thabhairt le tuiscint gur gníomhaire trádmharcanna é ná a cheadú a thuairisciú nó a thabhairt le tuiscint gur gníomhaire trádmharcanna é, mura mbeidh sé cláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna, agus ní dhéanfaidh comhpháirtíocht cleachtadh mar ghníomhaire trádmharcanna ná a thuairisciú ná a thabhairt le tuiscint gur gníomhaire trádmharcanna í ná a cheadú a thuairisciú nó a thabhairt le tuiscint gur gníomhaire trádmharcanna í, mura mbeidh na comhpháirtithe go léir cláraithe amhlaidh.
(3) Aon duine—
(a) a bhfuil cónaí air sa Stát,
(b) a bhfuil áit gnó aige sa Stát,
(c) nach eachtrannach (de réir bhrí alt 2 den Acht Náisiúntachta agus Saoránachta Éireann, 1956),
(d) a bhfuil na cáilíochtaí forordaithe oideachais agus gairmiúla aige, agus
(e) a chomhlíonann na coinníollacha forordaithe,
beidh sé inchláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna, agus beidh comhpháirtíocht inchláraithe amhlaidh má bhíonn gach comhpháirtaí di cláraithe de réir an ailt seo, agus déanfar aon duine nó aon chomhpháirtíocht a bheidh inchláraithe amhlaidh a chlárú amhlaidh ar iarratas a dhéanamh san fhoirm agus sa tslí fhorordaithe agus tar éis an táille fhorordaithe a íoc.
(4) D'ainneoin aon ní atá i bhfo-alt (3) den alt seo, aon duine a bhí ag cleachtadh go comhleanúnach mar ghníomhaire trádmharcanna sa Stát ar feadh tréimhse cúig bliana roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo agus a dhéanfaidh iarratas (san fhoirm agus sa tslí fhorordaithe agus ar an táille fhorordaithe a íoc) ar chlárú laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo beidh sé inchláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna.
(5) Aon duine a sháróidh an t-alt seo aon am tar éis trí mhí a bheith caite ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná fiche punt a chur air más é an chéad chion aige é agus céad punt más é an dara cion nó aon chion dá éis sin aige é.
(6) Aon duine a bheidh cláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna—
(a) a scoirfidh de bheith inchláraithe amhlaidh, nó
(b) a dhéanfaidh iarratas ar é a bhaint den chlár,
féadfaidh an Ceannasaí é a bhaint de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna, ach ní bhainfear aon duine den chlár sin amhlaidh (ach amháin ar a iarratas féin) gan caoi éisteachta a thabhairt dó.
(7) (a) I gcás ina bhfaighidh an Ceannasaí, tar éis dó fiosrúchán a dhéanamh go cuí (lena n-áirítear an Ceannasaí d'éisteacht uiríolla, más ann, ón duine féin) go bhfuil duine atá cláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna ciontach in iompar is ábhar náire don duine sin de dhuine dá ghairm, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí, más cuí leis é, a chinneadh gur cóir ainm an duine sin a scriosadh de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna.
(b) Ar chinneadh a dhéanamh faoin bhfo-alt seo, déanfaidh an Ceannasaí fógra i scríbhinn ina luafar an cinneadh a rinneadh, dáta an chinnte sin agus an fáth a bhí leis a chur láithreach tríd an bpost chun an duine lena mbainfidh an cinneadh go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh sin i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna.
(c) Féadfaidh duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh ón gCeannasaí faoin bhfo-alt seo iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte laistigh den tréimhse ceithre lá dhéag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, ar fhógra a thabhairt don Cheannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe, chun an cinneadh a chur ar ceal, agus má dhéanann sé iarratas amhlaidh—
(i) féadfaidh an Chúirt, ar an iarratas d'éisteacht—
(I) an cinneadh a chur ar ceal, nó
(II) an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Cheannasaí ainm an duine sin a scriosadh de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna,
(ii) má dheimhníonn an Ceannasaí don Chúirt aon uair go ndearna an duine sin moill mhíchuí ag dul ar aghaidh leis na himeachtaí, déanfaidh an Chúirt, mura léir di cúis mhaith lena mhalairt, an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Cheannasaí ainm an duine sin a scriosadh den chlár,
(iii) féadfaidh an Chúirt, faoi réir alt 54 den Acht seo, a ordú conas a iomprófar costais an iarratais.
(d) I gcás nach ndéanfaidh duine lena mbainfidh cinneadh de chuid an Cheannasaí faoin bhfo-alt seo iarratas chun na Cúirte, laistigh den tréimhse ceithre lá dhéag dar tosach dáta an chinnte, á iarraidh an cinneadh a chur ar ceal, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí iarratas ex parte a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte á iarraidh an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus, má dhéanann an Ceannasaí iarratas den sórt sin, déanfaidh an Chúirt, ar an iarratas a éisteacht agus mura léir di cúis mhaith lena mhalairt, an cinneadh a dhaingniú agus a ordú don Cheannasaí ainm an duine sin a scriosadh de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna.
(e) Is breith chríochnaitheach breith na Cúirte ar iarratas faoin bhfo-alt seo, ach amháin go bhféadfaidh an Ceannasaí nó an duine lena mbainfidh, le cead na Cúirte, achomharc in aghaidh na breithe a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí ar shaincheist dlí.
(f) Ar ainm duine a scriosadh de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna faoin bhfo-alt seo, déanfaidh an Ceannasaí fógra i scríbhinn i dtaobh a ainm a bheith glanta den chlár sin a chur láithreach tríd an bpost chun an duine sin go dtí a sheoladh mar a bheidh sin i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna.
(g) Féadfar aon duine a mbeifear tar éis a ainm a scriosadh de chlár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna faoin bhfo-alt seo a chur ar ais aon tráth ar an gclár ar ordú speisialta ón gCeannasaí ach ní in aon slí eile, agus nuair a chuirfear duine ar ais amhlaidh ar an gclár, féadfaidh an Ceannasaí cibé coinníollacha is cuí leis (lena n-áirítear íoc táille nach mó ná an táille ab iníoctha ag an duine sin dá mba é sin an chéad uair aige á chlárú) a chur ag gabháil leis an gcur ar ais.
(8) Féadfaidh aon duine (dá ngairtear gníomhaire san fho-alt seo) a bheidh údaraithe go cuí ag aon duine faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo chun gníomhú mar ghníomhaire dó, féadfaidh sé (faoi réir aon fhorála dá mhalairt in aon chomhaontú idir an gníomhaire agus an duine sin), ar fhógra a thabhairt don Cheannasaí agus don duine sin, scor de ghníomhú mar ghníomhaire don duine sin.
(9) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú rialacha a dhéanamh faoin alt seo chun clár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna a bhainistí, agus féadfaidh sé leis na rialacha sin aon ábhar nó ní dá dtagraítear san alt seo mar ábhar nó ní forordaithe a fhorordú, agus féadfaidh sé go háirithe na cáilíochtaí oideachais agus gairmiúla agus na coinníollacha i dtaobh inchláraitheachta chun clárú i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna a fhorordú amhlaidh, agus fós na huastáillí a fhéadfaidh aon duine a bheidh cláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna a éileamh de bharr na seirbhísí sin, i ndáil le clárú trádmharcanna, a shonrófar sna rialacha sin.
(10) (a) Ní bheidh aon duine a bheidh cláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna ciontach i gcion faoi alt 58 den Acht Aturnaetha, 1954, de bhíthin amháin é d'ullmhú aon doiciméad seachas gníomhas lena úsáid in imeachtaí faoin Acht seo os comhair an Cheannasaí nó na Cúirte.
(b) D'ainneoin fo-alt (5) den alt seo, ní cion faoin alt seo d'ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil ghníomhaire trádmharcanna éagtha gnó a sheoladh nó cleachtadh a dhéanamh in ainm an ghníomhaire trádmharcanna éagtha sin go ceann tréimhse nach faide ná trí bliana ó bhás an ghníomhaire trádmharcanna sin, nó go ceann cibé tréimhse breise (más ann) a cheadóidh an Chúirt, más gníomhaire trádmharcanna an t-ionadaí pearsanta dlíthiúil é féin nó má bhíonn gníomhaire trádmharcanna fostaithe aige chun an gnó nó an cleachtas a bhainistí thar a cheann.
(11) D'ainneoin fo-alt (3) den alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire, d'fhonn go gcomhlíonfaidh an Rialtas thar ceann an Stáit aon chomhaontú idirnáisiúnta ar páirtí ann an Stáit, a dhearbhú le hordú go mbeidh saoránach de stát áirithe (is é sin stát is páirtí freisin sa chomhaontú idirnáisiúnta sin) inchláraithe i gclár na ngníomhairí trádmharcanna má chomhlíonann sé fairis sin an fo-alt sin.
(12) D'ainneoin fo-alt (4) d'alt 10 den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achomhairc i leith ciona faoin alt seo a thionscnamh laistigh de dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta an chiona.
Comhaontuithe idirnáisiúnta.
70.—(1) I gcás aon duine a bheith tar éis iarratas a dhéanamh, i Stát coigríche is páirtí in aon chomhaontú idirnáisiúnta le haghaidh comhchosaint trádmharcanna ar páirtí ann an Stát, ar chosaint do thrádmharc arb é an duine sin a dhílseánach, beidh an duine sin nó a ionadaí dlíthiúil nó a shannaí i dteideal go gclárófaí an trádmharc sin faoin Acht seo i dtosaíocht ar iarratasóirí eile; agus is é dáta an iarratais sa Stát coigríche sin an dáta céanna a bheidh ar an gclárú:
Ar choinníoll—
(a) go ndéanfar an t-iarratas sa Stát laistigh den tréimhse fhorordaithe, agus
(b) nach dtabharfaidh aon ní san alt seo teideal do dhílseánach trádmhairc damáistí a ghnóthú mar gheall ar aon sárú a tharlóidh roimh an dáta arbh é, mura mbeadh fo-alt (1) d'alt 27 den Acht seo, dáta cláraithe an trádmhairc sin é.
(2) Ní dhéanfar an clárú faoin Acht seo ar thrádmharc lena mbaineann an t-alt seo neamhbhailí de bhíthin amháin an trádmharc sin a úsáid sa Stát i rith na tréimhse a bhforordaítear faoi mhír (a) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo gurb í an tréimhse ar laistigh di a fhéadfar an t-iarratas ar an gclárú sin a dhéanamh.
(3) Aon iarratas ar thrádmharc lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a chlarú faoin Acht seo déanfar é sa tslí a shonraítear in alt 25 den Acht seo nó, i gcás trádmhairc deimhniúcháin, sa tslí a shonraítear sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo.
(4) Aon duine a bheidh, trí iarratas—
(a) is comhionann de réir dlí aon Stáit choigríche le hiarratas arna dhéanamh go cuí sa Stát coigríche sin, nó
(b) is comhionann, de réir téarmaí aon chomhaontaithe idirnáisiúnta atá ar substaineadh idir aon dá stát choigríche nó níos mó, le hiarratas arna dhéanamh go cuí i gceann amháin de na stáit choigríche sin,
tar éis cosaint a iarraidh do thrádmharc arb eisean a dhílseánach measfar, chun críche an ailt seo, iarratas a bheith déanta aige amhlaidh sa Stát coigríche sin.
(5) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an alt seo ach amháin i gcás na stát coigríche sin a mbeidh dearbhaithe ag an Rialtas, le hordú, é a bheith infheidhmithe ina dtaobh agus amháin an fad, i gcás gach stáit choigríche, a bheidh an t-ordú i ngníomh maidir leis an stát coigríche sin.
(6) San alt seo folaíonn “ stát coigríche ” aon chríoch a measann aon stát áirithe (ar stát é is páirtí in aon chomhaontú idirnáisiúnta le haghaidh comhchosaint trádmharcanna ar páirtí ann an Stát) é féin a bheith freagrach ina caidreamh coigríche.
Cionta ag comhlachtaí corpraithe agus ag comhlachtaí neamhohorpraithe.
71.—I gcás cion faoi alt 63, 64, 65 nó 69 den Acht seo—
(a) a dhéanamh ag comhlacht corpraithe nó comhpháirtíocht nó ag duine a airbheartaíonn a bheith ag gníomhú thar ceann comhlachta chorpraithe nó comhpháirtíochta, agus
(b) go gcruthófar go ndearnadh amhlaidh é le toiliú nó le ceadú aon duine, nó gur éascaíodh é trí mhainneachtain aon duine, arb éard é, i gcás comhlachta chorpraithe, stiúrthóir ar an gcomhlacht sin, nó, i gcás comhpháirtíochta, páirtí den chomhpháirtíocht sin,
beidh an duine sin ciontach sa chion.
Forálacha idirlinne.
72.—Beidh éifeacht ag na forálacha idirlinne atá leagtha amach sa Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo maidir leis na hábhair a luaitear ann faoi seach.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL.
Trádmharcanna Deimhniúcháin.
1. (1) Caithfear aon iarratas ar mharc a chlárú faoi alt 45 den Acht seo a dhéanamh i scríbhinn chun an Cheannasaí sa tslí fhorordaithe ag an duine a mholtar a chlárú mar dhílseánacb an mhairc sin.
(2) Beidh éifeacht ag forálacha fo-alt (2) agus fo-ailt (4) go (8) d'alt 25 den Acht seo maidir le hiarratas faoin alt sin 45 amhail mar tá éifeacht acu maidir le hiarratas faoi fho-alt (1) den alt sin 25, ach amháin go gcuirfear tagairtí d'údarás chun dul ar aghaidh leis an iarratas in ionad na dtagairtí atá iontu i dtaobh glacadh le hiarratas.
(3) Nuair a bheifear ag déileáil faoi na forálacha sin le hiarratas faoin alt sin 45, tabharfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) aird ar na dálais chéanna a mhéid is iomchuí, amhail is dá mba iarratas faoin alt sin 25 den Acht seo an t-iarratas agus ar aon dálais eile (nach ábhair ar inniúlacht an Aire faoi fhomhír (5) den mhír seo) is iomchuí maidir le hiarratais faoin alt sin 45, lena n-áirítear a inmhianaithe é a áirithiú go mbeidh taispeánadh éigin i dtrádmharc deimhniúcháin á thaispeáint gur trádmharc den sórt sin é.
(4) Cuirfidh duine a iarrfaidh go gclárófar marc áirithe faoin alt sin 45 chun an Cheannasaí dréacht-rialacháin chun úsáid an mhairc a rialú cibé tráth, sula ndéanfaidh an Ceannasaí cinneadh ar an iarratas, a theastóidh uaidh chun a chur ar a chumas an dréacht a bhreithniú, agus tabharfaidh an Ceannasaí tuarascáil orthu don Aire.
(5) Nuair a bheidh údarás chun dul ar aghaidh le hiarratas tugtha, breithneoidh an tAire an t-iarratas maidir leis na hábhair seo a leanas, is é sin le rá:—
(a) an bhfuil an t-iarratasóir inniúil chun na hearraí a dheimhniú a bhfuil an marc le clárú ina leith;
(b) an bhfuil na dréacht-rialacháin sásúil; agus
(c) arbh é, sna himthoscaí go léir, leas an phobail go ndéanfaí an clárú atáthar a iarraidh;
agus féadfaidh sé—
(i) a ordú nach nglacfar leis an iarratas; nó
(ii) a ordú don Cheannasaí glacadh leis an iarratas, agus na rialacháin a cheadú, gan mhodhnú agus go neamhchoinníollach nó faoi réir aon choinníollacha nó teorainneacha, nó aon leasuithe nó modhnuithe ar an iarratas nó ar na rialacháin, is dóigh leis is gá ag féachaint d'aon cheann de na hábhair réamhráite;
ach lasmuigh de chás ordú ag ordú glacadh agus ceadú gan mhodhnú agus go neamhchoinníollach, ní chinnfidh an tAire an t-ábhar gan caoi a thabhairt don iarratasóir ar éisteacht a fháil:
Ar choinníoll go bhféadfaidh an tAire, ar an iarratasóir á iarraidh sin le comhthoiliú an Cheannasaí, an t-iarratas a bhreithniú maidir le haon cheann de na hábhair réamhráite sula dtabharfar údarás chun dul ar aghaidh leis an iarratas, ar shlí áfach go bhféadfaidh an tAire athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar aon ábhar ar a ndearna sé cinneadh faoin gcoinníoll seo má dhéantar aon leasú nó modhnú ar an iarratas nó ar na dréacht-rialacháin dá éis sin.
2.—(1) Nuair a bheidh glactha le hiarratas, cuirfidh an Ceannasaí faoi deara, a luaithe is féidir tar éis an ghlactha sin, an t-iarratas amhail mar a bheidh glactha leis a fhógairt sa tslí fhorordaithe, agus beidh éifeacht ag forálacha fo-ailt (2) go (12) d'alt 26 den Acht seo i ndáil le clárú an mhairc amhail is dá mba iarratas faoi alt 25 den Acht seo an t-iarratas:
Ar choinníoll, nuair a bheidh cinneadh á dhéanamh faoi na forálacha sin, go dtabharfaidh an Chúirt nó an Ceannasaí (de réir mar a bheidh) aird ar na dálais dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (3) de mhír 1 den Sceideal seo agus orthu sin amháin, agus go mbeidh cinneadh faoi na forálacha sin i bhfabhar an iarratasóra faoi réir an choinníll go ndéanfaidh an tAire cinneadh ina fhabhar faoi fhomhír (2) den mhír seo maidir le haon fhreasúra a bhainfidh le haon cheann de na hábhair dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (5) den mhír sin 1.
(2) Nuair a thabharfar fógra freasúra a bhainfidh le haon cheann de na hábhair dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (5) de mhír 1 den Sceideal seo, déanfaidh an tAire, tar éis éisteacht leis na páirtithe, má iarrtar sin air agus aon fhianaise a bhreithniú, a chinneadh a ndéanfar, agus cad iad na coinníollacha nó na teorainneacha, nó na leasuithe nó na modhnuithe ar an iarratas nó ar na rialacháin, más ann, ar faoina réir a dhéanfar, ag féachaint do na hábhair sin, an clárú a cheadú.
3. (1) Féadfaidh an Ceannasaí le toiliú an Aire na rialacháin a bheidh taiscthe i leith trádmhairc deimhniúcháin a athrú ar iarratas ón dílseánach cláraithe.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire a chur faoi deara go ndéanfar iarratas ar a thoiliú a fhógairt in aon chás ina bhfeictear dó gur fóirsteanacl é sin a dhéanamh, agus, i gcás ina gcuirfidh an tAire faoi deara iarratas a fhógairt, ní dhéanfaidh sé, má dhéanann aon duine fógra i dtaobh freasúra in aghaidh an iarratais a thabhairt dó laistigh den am forordaithe ó dháta an fhógráin, an t-ábhar a chinneadh gan caoi a thabhairt do na páirtithe ar éisteacht a fháil.
4. (1) Féadfaidh an tAire, ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe ó aon duine éagóraithe nó ar iarratas ón gCeannasaí, cibé ordú is cuí leis a dhéanamh chun aon taifead sa chlár a bhainfidh le trádmharc deimhniúcháin a scriosadh nó a athrú, nó chun na rialacháin taiscthe a athrú, ar an bhforas—
(a) nach bhfuil an dílseánach inniúil a thuilleadh, i gcás aon chuid de na hearraí a bhfuil an trádmharc cláraithe ina leith, na hearraí sin a dheimhniú;
(b) gur mhainnigh an dílseánach foráil de chuid na rialachán thaiscthe a bhí le comhlíonadh aige a chomhlíonadh;
(c) nach é leas an phobail é a thuilleadh an trádmharc a bheith cláraithe, nó
(d) gur gá, mar bhuntáiste don phobal, na rialacháin a athrú má leanann an trádmharc de bheith cláraithe;
agus ní bheidh aon dlínse ag an gCúirt ná ag an gCeannasaí ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 40 den Acht seo ar aon cheann de na forais sin.
(2) Ceartóidh an Ceannasaí an clár agus na rialacháin thaiscthe i cibé slí is gá chun éifeacht a thabhairt d'ordú a dhéanfar faoi fhomhír (1) den mhír seo.
5. D'ainneoin aon ní in alt 51 den Acht seo, ní bheidh aon dlínse ag an gCeannasaí costais a dhámhachtain d'aon pháirtí nó in aghaidh aon pháirtí ar achomharc a dhéanfar chuige in aghaidh dílseánach trádmhairc deimhniúcháin do dhiúltú earraí a dheimhniú nó úsáid an trádmhairc a údarú.
6. Ní bheidh éifeacht ag na forálacha seo a leanas den Acht seo maidir le trádmharc deimhniúcháin, is é sin le rá, alt 12, alt 14, alt 17, ailt 25 agus 26 (ach amháin mar a gcuirtear sin chun feidhme go sainráite leis an Sceideal seo), fo-ailt (4) go (7) d'alt 30, ailt 34 go 37, alt 66, agus aon fhorálacha a gcuireann a dtéarmaí de theorainn leo gur i gCuid B den chlár is inchláraithe iad.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL.
Forálacha Idirlinne.
Cearta faoi alt 82(2) d'Acht 1927 a chaomhnadh go ceann trí bliana.
1. D'ainneoin fo-alt (1) d'alt 17 den Acht seo agus fo-alt 82 d'Acht 1927 a aisghairm, aon fhocal no focail, litir, uimhir nó aon chónasc de litreacha nó d'uimhreacha, speisialta nó idirdhealaitheach, a úsáideadh mar thrádmharc ag an iarratasóir nó ag a réamhtheachtaithe i ngnó roimh an 13ú lá de Lúnasa, 1875, agus ar leanadh d'é úsáid (ina bhunfhoirm nó maraon le breisithe nó athruithe air nach ndearna difear substainteach dá chéannacht) anuas go dtí dáta an iarratais, beidh sé, sa tréimhse dar críoch an lá atá trí bliana tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo, inchláraithe mar thrádmharc i gCuid A den chlár faoin Acht seo.
Sannta agus tarchurtha roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo a thugann cearta eisiatacha in áiteanna éagsúla sa Stát.
2. Déanfar bailíocht sannadh nó tarchur trádmhairc a rinneadh, nó a éilítear a rinneadh, roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, in aon chás den sórt a luaitear i bhfo-alt (6) d'alt 30 den Acht seo, a chinneadh amhail is dá mba rud é nár achtaíodh na forálacha atá i bhfo-ailt (1) go (5) den alt sin:
Ar choinníoll go mbeidh ag an gCeannasaí, ar iarratas sa tslí fhorordaithe laistigh de thrí bliana ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo ó dhuine a éilíonn go ndearnadh trádmharc cláraithe a shannadh amhlaidh dó féin nó do réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid nó a tharchur amhlaidh chuige féin nó chuig réamhtheachtaí i dteideal dá chuid, an dlínse chéanna atá aige faoin gcoinníoll a ghabhann le fo-alt (6) den alt sin 30, agus ní mheasfar sannadh nó tarchur a bheidh ceadaithe aige a bheith neamhbhailí ar an bhforas go bhfuil ceartanna den sórt a luaitear san fho-alt sin (6) ar substaineadh nó ar an bhforas go ndearnadh an sannadh nó an tarchur ar shlí eile seachas i ndáil le deá-thoil gnó nó go ndearnadh é maidir le cuid (ach ní hea an chuid go léir) de na hearraí ar cláraíodh an trádmharc ina leith, má dhéantar iarratas á iarraidh clárú a dhéanamh faoi alt 33 den Acht seo ar theideal an duine a thiocfaidh chun teideal a bheith aige laistigh de shé mhí ón dáta ar a dtabharfar an ceadú, nó má rinneadh an t-iarratas sin roimh an dáta sin.
Cosaint maidir le forálacha cúlghabhálacha a bhaineann le sannta agus tarchurtha.
3. Beidh ag na forálacha cúlghabhálacha atá in alt 30 den Acht seo agus i mír 2 den Sceideal seo éifeacht gan dochar d'aon chinneadh a rinne an Ceannasaí nó an Chúirt roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, nó do chinneadh ar achomharc in aghaidh cinneadh a rinneadh amhlaidh, nó d'aon teideal a fuarthas ar chomaoin luachmhar roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
Comhghabhálas trádmharcanna is insannta nó is intarchurtha mar aonad iomlán.
4. I gcás ina raibh, díreach roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, trádmharc cláraithe i gCuid B den chlár faoi réir coinníll a d'fhág nárbh insannta ná intarchurtha é ach mar aonad iomlán maraon le trádmharc eile a bhí cláraithe in ainm an dílseánaigh chéanna nó le dhá thrádmharc nó níos mó a bhí cláraithe amhlaidh, agus ní ar leithligh, measfar gur trádmharcanna comhghabhálacha na trádmharcanna, agus féadfar na taifid sa chlár a bhaineann leo a leasú dá réir sin.
Úsáid trádmhairc roimhe sin ag duine a thiocfaidh chun bheith ina úsáidire cláraithe ar iarratas a dhéanamh laistigh de thrí bliana ón lá ceaptha.
5. I gcás duine a chlárú mar úsáidire cláraithe trádmhairc ar iarratas a dhéanamh laistigh de thrí bliana ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo, beidh éifeacht ag fo-alt (2) d'alt 36 den Acht seo maidir le haon úsáid a rinneadh den trádmharc roimhe sin (roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis) ag an duine sin, arbh úsáid í i ndáil leis na hearraí a bhfuil sé cláraithe ina leith agus, i gcás é a chlárú faoi réir coinníollacha nó sriantachtaí, arbh úsáid í de shórt a chomhlíonann na coinníollacha agus na sriantachtaí sin go substaintiúil amhail is dá mba úsáid cheadaithe an úsáid sin roimhe sin.
Úsáid trádmhairc le haghaidh na trádála onnmhairíochta roimh an lá ceaptha.
6. Measfar éifeacht a bheith ag alt 39 den Acht seo maidir le gníomh a rinneadh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo mar atá éifeacht aige maidir le gníomh arna dhéanamh tar éis tosach feidhme an Achta seo, ach sin gan dochar, áfach, d'aon chinneadh ag an gCeannasaí nó ag an gCúirt roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó don chinneadh ar aon achomharc in aghaidh cinneadh a rinneadh amhlaidh.
Measfar go bhfuil trádmharcanna a cláraíodh faoi alt 123 den Acht Maoine Tionnscail agus Tráchtála (Cosaint), 1927 cláraithe faoi alt 45 den Acht seo.
7. Beidh éifeacht ag alt 45 den Acht seo, maidir le trádmharc a bhí díreach roimh an lá ceaptha ar an gclár de bhua alt 123 d'Acht 1927, ionann is dá mbeadh an t-alt sin 45 i ngníomh ar dháta cláraithe an trádmhairc agus gur cláraíodh é faoin alt sin, faoi réir na modhnuithe seo a leanas, áfach, is é sin le rá:—
(a) ní bheidh feidhm ag an gcoinníoll a ghabhann le fo-alt (1) den alt sin 45;
(b) i gcás rialacháin chun úsáid an trádmhairc a rialú a bheith taiscthe san Oifig i dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, measfar gur faoin alt sin 45 a taisceadh iad;
(c) i gcás nach mbeidh aon rialacháin den sórt sin taiscthe i dtosach feidhme an Achta seo, féadfaidh an dílseánach, nó féadfaidh an tAire a cheangal air mar choinníoll go leanfadh an clárú ar substaineadh, cibé rialacháin a cheadóidh nó a cheanglóidh an tAire a thaisceadh aon uair dá éis sin; agus
(d) i gcás nach mbeidh aon rialacháin den sórt sin taiscthe de thuras na huaire, beidh éifeacht ag an alt sin 45 amhail is dá bhfágtaí ar lár na tagairtí atá ann agus sa Chéad Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo do na rialacháin.