论商标侵权行为认定中的混淆标准——最高人民法院(2009)民三终字第3号判决评析

On Confusion Theory in Judging Trademark Infringement

从最高人民法院对拉科斯特公司诉鳄鱼国际公司商标侵权案作出的判决可以看出,在我国商标侵权行为的认定标准为混淆,在混淆的认定上商标近似虽然具有举足轻重的地位,但诉争商标的形成历史和发展历程、被诉标识的使用环境和状态、被告的主观意图、诉争标识在国内外市场上的共存和使用情况等也是需要考虑的因素。最高人民法院根据个案的特点,灵活、综合地判定混淆,这对于公平合理地认定商标侵权行为具有重要意义。该案对我国商标法引入混淆理论和有限度地承认商标共存协议亦有所启示。

From the Supreme People＇s Court＇s decision on La Chemise Lacoste VS. Crocodile International Pte Ltd, we can see that the standard for trademark infringement is confusion. On the affLrming of confusion, although the similarity of trademarks plays a pivotal role, the developing history of disputed trademarks, the using environment and state of the mark at issue, the defendant＇s subjective intention, the coexistence and using condition in domestic and overseas of the disputed trademarks and so on also need to be seriously considered. According to the characteristics of the case, the Supreme People＇s Court aftYLrmed confusion in a flexible and comprehensive way, which has a great significance in fairly and reasonably recognizing trademark infiJngement. This case also has inspiration in bringing in confusion theory and admitting trademark coexistence agreement limitedly.