服务商标之使用和保护的特殊性研究

Research on Specific Characteristic of Use and Protection of Service Trademarks

服务商标是服务提供者使用的表示其服务的商标。在《商标法》同等看待商品商标和服务商标的情况下,服务商标的特殊性在一定程度上被忽略了,导致实践中出现诸多分歧。服务商标构成的特殊性在于其使用对象是服务。服务是为他人的利益的行为,服务的辅助行为附属于主要行为,在辅助服务上的商标使用行为应视为在核准注册的服务项目上的商标使用行为。服务商标使用的特殊性在于其只能附着于相关载体,必然需要跨类使用在其他商品或服务上。服务商标使用的认定应当根据所提供服务的内容和目的进行实质性判断。就服务商标的保护而言,应正视服务及服务商标在地域范围上的突破,对服务商标的保护应符合商业实践的发展,在处理涉及权利冲突的纠纷时应综合认定服务商标的显著性和知名度、涉案使用行为的正当性等各个因素,以合理保护服务商标并维护市场秩序。

Service trademarks are trademarks used by service providers to indicate their services.The trademark law treats product trademarks and service trademarks equally,such ignores the specific characteristic of service trademarks,and thus has caused many controversies in practice.The specific characteristic of the constitution of service trademarks is the object which is the service.It should clearly define that the service is an act for the benefit of others,and,the auxiliary act of the service is attached to the main act,and thus,the use on auxiliary service should be regarded as the use on the approved service.The specific characteristic of the use of service trademarks is that they can only be attached to related carriers,and thus,they must be used on other categories of products or services.The determination of trademark use should be substantively judged based on the content and purpose of the service provided.As far as the protection of service trademarks is concerned,it is necessary to face up to the geographical breakthroughs of the service and service trademarks,and the protection for service trademarks should be conformed to the development of their practice.When handling disputes involving conflicts of rights,it should comprehensively consider the distinctiveness and popularity of service trademarks,the legitimacy of the involved use behavior and other related factors,in order to reasonably protect the service trademarks and protect the competition order in the market.