Trade Marks Act 1995
Act No. 119 of 1995 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 25 October 2006
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 114 of 2006
The text of any of those
amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may
be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of
Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
READER’S GUIDE
This guide aims to give you a general idea of the purpose of this Act and some information about its structure. It also explains briefly how the operation and interpretation of this Act is affected by other Acts.
Purpose of this Act
This Act provides for the registration of trade marks, collective trade marks, certification trade marks and defensive trade marks (for a definition of these terms, see sections 17, 162, 169 and 185 respectively) and sets out and protects the rights deriving from registration.
It is a rewrite of the legislation relating to trade marks, certification trade marks and defensive trade marks. The previous Act did not deal with collective trade marks.
In rewriting the legislation, some changes have been made to reflect international trends towards greater uniformity in that field of law. In particular, this Act conforms with the minimum standards and principles prescribed for trade marks in the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.
An attempt has also been made to simplify the language as much as possible to make it easier for readers to understand the law. For that reason, a number of terms used in the old legislation have been replaced by simpler ones. For example, the word “owner” has been used where the previous Act referred to the proprietor of a trade mark. No difference in meaning is intended when simpler terms have thus been used.
Summary of this Act
Part 1: Deals with formal matters such as the commencement of this Act and its general application.
Part 2: Contains definitions and terms that are used frequently throughout this Act.
Part 3: Explains what is a trade mark and sets out the rights given by this Act to the registered owner and any authorised user of a registered trade mark.
Parts 4 and 5: Deal with the steps that you have to take to have a trade mark registered.
Part 6: Sets out how and why an application for registration and other documents may be amended.
Parts 7, 8 and 9: Deal with the registration of trade marks and how and why particulars of the registration of a trade mark may be amended, cancelled or removed from the Register.
Parts 10 and 11: Deal with the assignment of trade marks, the registration of assignments of registered trade marks and the recording of the rights and interests that persons (other than registered owners) may have in registered trade marks or trade marks whose registration is being sought.
Parts 12, 13 and 14: Deal with the protection of trade marks. Part 12 sets out what constitutes an infringement of a trade mark and how to obtain redress and relief in cases of infringement. Part 13 provides for a special regime to deal with any importation of goods that would infringe a registered trade mark. Part 14 makes certain types of conduct offences against this Act.
Parts 15, 16 and 17: Explain what are collective trade marks, certification trade marks and defensive trade marks and apply to them, with necessary alterations, the provisions of this Act relating to trade marks.
Part 17A: Enables the making of regulations to enable the performance of the obligations of Australia, or to obtain for Australia any advantage or benefit, under the Madrid Protocol. Those regulations prevail over this Act to the extent of any inconsistency.
Part 18: Deals with the jurisdiction of the courts to hear and determine matters arising under this Act.
Parts 19 and 20: Deal with the Trade Marks Office, the officials responsible for its administration and the keeping of the Register of Trade Marks.
Part 21: Deals with miscellaneous matters such as the payment of fees, the service of documents and the making of regulations.
Part 22: Repeals the Trade Marks Act 1955 and explains how matters that were being dealt with under that Act at the time of its repeal are to be dealt with when this Act is in force.
How to use this Act
Definitions: Section 6 contains definitions of terms that have special meanings and are used frequently in this Act. A list of terms defined in section 6 appears after the Table of Provisions. Notes: Notes are to be found throughout the text. They are designed to help you find your way through the Act. They may tell you that certain words or terms are defined and where to find the definition; they may alert you to other provisions in this Act and in other legislation that are relevant to the text you are reading; or they may draw your attention to information that may help you to understand the contents or legal consequences of certain provisions or how to comply with them.
Chart: The appendix to this Guide contains a chart showing the main steps involved in obtaining the registration of a trade mark. The chart is intended to be used only as an illustration and is not intended to have any other effect. If there is any inconsistency between any matter contained in the chart and a provision of this Act or the regulations, the provision prevails.
Related legislation
The following Acts are directly relevant to the operation or interpretation of this Act.
Acts Interpretation Act 1901
That Act contains general rules about the meaning or effect of many terms and provisions that are commonly used in Commonwealth Acts. Some of the notes used in this Act draw your attention to some of them, but it is not possible to refer to all of them.
Crimes Act 1914
In Parts 13 and 14, you will find that a penalty, expressed as imprisonment for a particular period or a number of penalty units, is set out at the foot of some sections or subsections. Section 4D of the Crimes Act 1914 provides that this indicates that any contravention of the section or subsection is an offence against this Act punishable upon conviction by a penalty not exceeding the penalty set out.
If only a term of imprisonment is provided as the penalty for an offence, subsections 4B(2) and 4B(3) of the Crimes Act 1914 allow a court to impose an appropriate fine instead of, or in addition to, the term of imprisonment.
Section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 sets out the amount of a penalty unit. Under subsection 4B(3) of that Act a court may impose on a body corporate convicted of an offence a fine of up to 5 times the amount of the fine that could be imposed on a natural person convicted of that offence.
Criminal Code
The Criminal Code is set out in the Schedule to the Criminal Code Act 1995. It contains many general rules that apply to offences. Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility. For example, it has default fault elements that apply to offences that do not specify a fault element and provides the consequences of an offence being an offence of strict liability.
Trade Marks Act 1955
That Act is repealed by this Act. It contained the legislation that previously applied to trade marks, certification trade marks and defensive trade marks. Even though it is repealed, this Act provides that some of the provisions of that Act are to continue to apply to certain matters that were being dealt with under that Act immediately before it was repealed.
The list of Acts cited above is not exhaustive. Other Acts may also affect the operation or interpretation of this Act.
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1
3............ Act binds the Crown.......................................................................... 1
4............ Application of Act............................................................................. 1
4A......... Application of the Criminal Code...................................................... 1
5............ Repeal of Trade Marks Act 1994....................................................... 2
Part 2—Interpretation 3
6............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3
6A......... Periods expressed in months.............................................................. 8
7............ Use of trade mark............................................................................... 8
8............ Definitions of authorised user and authorised use............................. 9
9............ Definition of applied to and applied in relation to............................ 10
10.......... Definition of deceptively similar....................................................... 11
11.......... Definition of pending........................................................................ 11
12.......... Definition of priority date................................................................. 12
13.......... Definition of remove from the Register............................................ 12
14.......... Definition of similar goods and similar services............................. 12
15.......... Definition of originate in relation to wine........................................ 12
16.......... Definition of repealed Act................................................................. 13
Part 3—Trade marks and trade mark rights 14
17.......... What is a trade mark?....................................................................... 14
18.......... Certain signs not to be used as trade marks etc................................ 14
19.......... Certain trade marks may be registered.............................................. 14
20.......... Rights given by registration of trade mark........................................ 15
21.......... Nature of registered trade mark as property.................................... 15
22.......... Power of registered owner to deal with trade mark.......................... 16
23.......... Limitation on rights if similar trade marks etc. registered by different persons 16
24.......... Trade mark consisting of sign that becomes accepted as sign describing article etc. 16
25.......... Trade mark relating to article etc. formerly manufactured under patent 17
26.......... Powers of authorised user of registered trade mark.......................... 18
Part 4—Application for registration 20
Division 1—General 20
27.......... Application—how made.................................................................. 20
28.......... Application by joint owners............................................................ 21
29.......... Application for registration of trade mark whose registration has been sought in a Convention country—claim for priority............................................................................................. 21
30.......... Particulars of application to be published........................................ 22
31.......... Registrar to examine, and report on, application.............................. 22
32.......... Registrar to decide on disputed classification of goods etc.............. 22
33.......... Application accepted or rejected...................................................... 23
34.......... Notice etc. of decision...................................................................... 23
35.......... Appeal.............................................................................................. 24
36.......... Deferment of acceptance.................................................................. 24
37.......... Lapsing of application...................................................................... 24
38.......... Revocation of acceptance................................................................. 24
Division 2—Grounds for rejecting an application 26
39.......... Trade mark containing etc. certain signs........................................... 26
40.......... Trade mark that cannot be represented graphically.......................... 26
41.......... Trade mark not distinguishing applicant’s goods or services........... 26
42.......... Trade mark scandalous or its use contrary to law............................ 28
43.......... Trade mark likely to deceive or cause confusion.............................. 28
44.......... Identical etc. trade marks.................................................................. 29
Division 3—Divisional applications 31
45.......... Definition of divisional application.................................................. 31
47.......... Divisional application for registration of part of trade mark............ 31
48.......... Divisional application for registration of trade mark in respect of some of the goods etc. specified in the initial application........................................................................................ 32
49.......... Divisional application for registration of trade mark in respect of goods etc. excluded from the initial application.......................................................................................................... 32
50.......... Filing date......................................................................................... 33
Division 4—Application for registration of series of trade marks 34
51.......... Application—series of trade marks.................................................. 34
Part 5—Opposition to registration 35
Division 1—General 35
52.......... Opposition....................................................................................... 35
53.......... Circumstances in which opposition may proceed in name of a person other than the person who filed the notice.......................................................................................................... 36
54.......... Opposition proceedings................................................................... 36
55.......... Decision............................................................................................ 36
56.......... Appeal.............................................................................................. 37
Division 2—Grounds for opposing registration 38
57.......... Registration may be opposed on same grounds as for rejection....... 38
58.......... Applicant not owner of trade mark.................................................. 38
58A....... Opponent’s earlier use of similar trade mark................................... 38
59.......... Applicant not intending to use trade mark....................................... 39
60.......... Trade mark similar to trade mark that has acquired a reputation in Australia 39
61.......... Trade mark containing or consisting of a false geographical indication 39
62.......... Application etc. defective etc........................................................... 41
62A....... Application made in bad faith.......................................................... 41
Part 6—Amendment of application for registration of a trade mark and other documents 42
63.......... Amendment of application for registration of trade mark................ 42
64.......... Amendment before particulars of application are published............ 42
65.......... Amendment after particulars of application have been published... 42
66.......... Amendment of other documents...................................................... 43
67.......... Appeal.............................................................................................. 43
Part 7—Registration of trade marks 44
Division 1—Initial registration 44
68.......... Obligation to register........................................................................ 44
69.......... Registration—how effected.............................................................. 44
70.......... Colours in registered trade marks..................................................... 45
71.......... Notification of registration............................................................... 45
72.......... Date and term of registration............................................................ 45
73.......... Ceasing of registration...................................................................... 46
74.......... Disclaimers....................................................................................... 46
Division 2—Renewal of registration (general) 48
74A....... Application of this Division............................................................. 48
75.......... Request for renewal.......................................................................... 48
76.......... Notice of renewal due....................................................................... 48
77.......... Renewal before registration expires.................................................. 48
78.......... Failure to renew................................................................................ 49
79.......... Renewal within 12 months after registration expires....................... 49
80.......... Status of unrenewed trade mark....................................................... 49
Division 3—Renewal of registration (registration delayed for 10 or more years after filing date) 50
80A....... Application of this Division............................................................. 50
80B....... Expiry of registration........................................................................ 50
80C....... Notice about renewal........................................................................ 50
80D....... Request for renewal.......................................................................... 51
80E........ Renewal within prescribed period.................................................... 51
80F........ Failure to renew................................................................................ 51
80G....... Renewal within 10 months after end of prescribed period............... 52
80H....... Status of unrenewed trade mark....................................................... 52
Part 8—Amendment and cancellation of registration 54
Division 1—Action by Registrar 54
81.......... Correction of Register....................................................................... 54
82.......... Adaptation of classification.............................................................. 54
83.......... Amendment of particulars of trade mark entered in Register........... 54
84.......... Cancellation of registration............................................................... 55
Division 2—Action by court 56
85.......... Amendment to correct error or omission.......................................... 56
86.......... Amendment or cancellation on ground of contravention of condition etc. 56
87.......... Amendment or cancellation—loss of exclusive rights to use trade mark 56
88.......... Amendment or cancellation—other specified grounds..................... 57
88A....... Applications by Registrar................................................................ 58
89.......... Rectification may not be granted in certain cases if registered owner not at fault etc. 58
90.......... Duties and powers of Registrar........................................................ 59
Division 3—Amendment of certificate of registration 60
91.......... Amendment of certificate of registration.......................................... 60
Part 9—Removal of trade mark from Register for non‑use 61
92.......... Application for removal of trade mark from Register etc................. 61
93.......... Time for making application............................................................. 62
94.......... Referral to court................................................................................ 63
95.......... Notification of application............................................................... 63
96.......... Notice of opposition........................................................................ 63
96A....... Circumstances in which opposition may proceed in name of a person other than the person who filed the notice.......................................................................................................... 63
97.......... Removal of trade mark from the Register etc. if application unopposed 64
98.......... Trade mark restored to Register if notice of opposition filed within extended time 64
99.......... Proceedings before Registrar............................................................. 65
100........ Burden on opponent to establish use of trade mark etc................... 65
101........ Determination of opposed application—general.............................. 67
102........ Determination of opposed application—localised use of trade mark 68
103........ Registrar to comply with order of court........................................... 69
104........ Appeal.............................................................................................. 69
105........ Certificate—use of trade mark.......................................................... 69
Part 10—Assignment and transmission of trade marks 71
106........ Assignment etc. of trade mark.......................................................... 71
107........ Applications for record to be made of assignment etc. of trade mark whose registration is sought 71
108........ Recording of assignment etc. of trade mark whose registration is sought 72
109........ Application for record of assignment etc. of registered trade mark to be entered in Register 72
110........ Recording of assignment etc. of registered trade mark...................... 72
111........ Notice of application to be given to person recorded as claiming interest in trade mark etc. 73
Part 11—Voluntary recording of claims to interests in and rights in respect of trade marks 74
Division 1—Preliminary 74
112........ Object of Part................................................................................... 74
Division 2—Interests in, and rights in respect of, registered trade marks 75
113........ Application to have claims to interest etc. recorded........................ 75
114........ Record of claims to interest etc........................................................ 75
115........ Amendment and cancellation............................................................ 75
116........ Record not proof etc. of existence of right etc.................................. 76
Division 3—Interests in, and rights in respect of, unregistered trade marks 77
117........ Application to have claims to interest etc. recorded........................ 77
118........ Record of claims to interest etc........................................................ 77
119........ Amendment and cancellation............................................................ 77
Part 12—Infringement of trade marks 78
120........ When is a registered trade mark infringed?....................................... 78
121........ Infringement of trade mark by breach of certain restrictions............ 79
122........ When is a trade mark not infringed?................................................. 81
123........ Goods etc. to which registered trade mark has been applied by or with consent of registered owner 82
124........ Prior use of identical trade mark etc................................................. 82
125........ What courts may hear action for infringement of registered trade mark 83
126........ What relief can be obtained from court............................................. 83
127........ Special case—plaintiff not entitled to damages etc.......................... 83
128........ Circumstances in which action may not be brought......................... 84
129........ Groundless threats of legal proceedings........................................... 84
130........ Counterclaim by defendant in action on groundless threats............. 86
Part 13—Importation of goods infringing Australian trade marks 87
131........ Object of Part................................................................................... 87
132........ Notice of objection to importation................................................... 87
133........ Customs CEO may seize goods infringing trade mark..................... 88
133A..... Determinations about owners of goods............................................ 89
134........ Notice of seizure............................................................................... 89
135........ Forfeiture of goods........................................................................... 90
136........ Release of goods to owner—no action for infringement................... 90
137........ Action for infringement of trade mark.............................................. 92
138........ Action for infringement by authorised user...................................... 93
139........ Forfeited goods—how to be disposed of......................................... 93
140........ Power of Customs CEO to retain control of goods.......................... 93
141........ Insufficient security.......................................................................... 94
142........ Commonwealth not liable for loss etc. suffered because of seizure. 94
143........ Power to require information............................................................ 94
144........ Modification in relation to Norfolk Island etc.................................. 95
Part 14—Offences 96
145........ Falsifying etc. a registered trade mark.............................................. 96
146........ Falsely applying a registered trade mark.......................................... 97
147........ Manufacture and possession of die etc. for use in commission of offence 97
148........ Selling etc. goods with false marks................................................... 98
149........ Penalty for offence under section 145, 146, 147 or 148................... 99
150........ Aiding and abetting offences............................................................. 99
151........ False representations regarding trade marks..................................... 99
152........ False entries in Register etc............................................................ 101
153........ Disobeying summons etc................................................................ 101
154........ Refusing to give evidence etc.......................................................... 102
156........ Unregistered persons...................................................................... 102
157........ False representation about Trade Marks Office............................. 104
159........ Forfeiture orders under the proceeds of crime legislation............... 104
160........ Conduct of employees and agents of natural persons.................... 105
Part 15—Collective trade marks 107
161........ Object of Part................................................................................. 107
162........ What is a collective trade mark?..................................................... 107
163........ Application of Act......................................................................... 107
164........ Application for registration............................................................ 108
165........ Limitation on rights given by registered collective trade mark....... 108
166........ Assignment etc. of collective trade mark........................................ 108
167........ Infringement of collective trade mark............................................. 108
Part 16—Certification trade marks 109
168........ Object of Part................................................................................. 109
169........ What is a certification trade mark?................................................. 109
170........ Application of Act......................................................................... 109
171........ Rights given by registration of a certification trade mark............... 110
172........ Rights of persons allowed to use certification trade mark.............. 110
173........ Rules governing the use of certification trade marks...................... 110
174........ Registrar to reject application or send it to Commission............... 111
175........ Certificate by Commission............................................................. 112
176........ Acceptance of application.............................................................. 112
177........ Additional ground for rejecting an application or opposing registration—certification trade mark not distinguishing certified goods or services............................................................... 113
178........ Variation of rules............................................................................ 113
179........ Rules to be available for inspection................................................ 114
180........ Assignment of registered certification trade mark.......................... 114
180A..... Assignment of unregistered certification trade mark...................... 116
181........ Rectification of the Register by order of court............................... 116
182........ Variation of rules by order of court................................................ 116
183........ Delegation of Commission’s powers and functions....................... 117
Part 17—Defensive trade marks 118
184........ Object of Part................................................................................. 118
185........ Defensive trade marks.................................................................... 118
186........ Application of Act......................................................................... 120
187........ Additional grounds for rejecting application for registration or opposing registration 120
189........ Cancellation of registration by Registrar........................................ 120
Part 17A—Protected international trade marks under the Madrid Protocol 121
189A..... Regulations implementing the Madrid Protocol............................. 121
Part 18—Jurisdiction and powers of courts 123
190........ Prescribed courts............................................................................ 123
191........ Jurisdiction of the Federal Court.................................................... 123
192........ Jurisdiction of other prescribed courts........................................... 123
193........ Exercise of jurisdiction.................................................................... 124
194........ Transfer of proceedings.................................................................. 124
195........ Appeals.......................................................................................... 124
196........ Registrar may appear in appeals.................................................... 125
197........ Powers of Federal Court................................................................. 125
198........ Practice and procedure of prescribed courts................................... 125
Part 19—Administration 126
199........ Trade Marks Office and sub‑offices............................................... 126
200........ Seal of Trade Marks Office............................................................ 126
201........ Registrar of Trade Marks............................................................... 126
202........ Registrar’s powers.......................................................................... 126
203........ Exercise of power by Registrar....................................................... 126
204........ Registrar to act as soon as practicable............................................ 127
205........ Deputy Registrar of Trade Marks.................................................. 127
206........ Delegation of Registrar’s powers and functions............................. 127
Part 20—The Register and official documents 129
207........ The Register.................................................................................... 129
208........ Register may be kept on computer................................................. 129
209........ Inspection of Register..................................................................... 130
210........ Evidence—the Register................................................................... 130
211........ Evidence—certified copies of documents....................................... 130
Part 21—Miscellaneous 132
Division 1—Applications and other documents 132
212........ Making and signing applications etc............................................... 132
213........ Filing of documents........................................................................ 132
214........ Withdrawal of application etc........................................................ 132
215........ Address for service......................................................................... 133
216........ Change of name............................................................................... 134
217........ Death of applicant etc.................................................................... 135
Division 2—Proceedings before the Registrar or a court 136
218........ Description of registered trade mark.............................................. 136
219........ Evidence of trade usage................................................................... 136
220........ Death of party to proceeding before Registrar............................... 136
221........ Costs awarded by Registrar............................................................ 136
222........ Security for costs............................................................................ 137
Division 3—General 138
223........ Fees................................................................................................. 138
224........ Extension of time............................................................................ 138
225........ Convention countries...................................................................... 141
226........ Publication of Official Journal etc.................................................. 141
226B..... Certain proceedings do not lie........................................................ 141
227........ Notice regarding review of decision by Administrative Appeals Tribunal 141
228........ Use of trade mark for export trade................................................. 141
228A..... Registration of trade marks attorneys............................................ 142
228B..... Deregistration of trade marks attorneys......................................... 143
229........ Privileges of trade marks attorney and patent attorney................. 143
230........ Passing off actions.......................................................................... 144
231........ Regulations..................................................................................... 144
Part 22—Repeal and transitional 147
Division 1—Repeal 147
232........ Repeal............................................................................................. 147
Division 2—Marks registered under the repealed Act 148
233........ Automatic registration under this Act............................................ 148
234........ Registration conclusive after 7 years.............................................. 148
235........ Term of registration........................................................................ 149
236........ Renewal.......................................................................................... 149
237........ Restoration of particulars to Register and renewal of registration where registration expired within 12 months before 1 January 1996............................................................................... 150
238........ Disclaimers..................................................................................... 150
239........ Rules governing the use of certification trade marks registered in Part C of the old register 150
Division 3—Matters pending immediately before repeal of repealed Act 152
240........ Applications, notices etc.—general................................................ 152
241........ Application for registration of trade mark...................................... 152
242........ Divisional application in relation to pending application............... 154
243........ More than one application lodged on same day for registration of same trade mark 155
244........ Application for registration of trade mark whose registration has been sought in Convention country