论外号商标应受商标法调整

On Legal Regulation of the Nickname Trademark by Trademark Law

外号商标是公众对经营者商标的别称或简称。外号商标之上存在原商标所有人的商誉,放任外号商标的使用会导致消费者混淆与原商标符号价值弱化。但由于外号商标不是经营者自己使用的商标,故不属于现行《商标法》调整的商标。在现有知识产权制度框架之下,虽然可用"知名商品的特有名称权"规范外号商标,但这种方案只能解一时之需,其存在论证上的逻辑瑕疵,且会过重保护外号商标而有损公众对可商标资源的获取。因此,从完善商标法的角度,应当在商标法中构建外号商标的保护制度。

Nickname trademark is an alternative name or abbreviation of business operator＇s trademark which has been given by the public. Good will of original trademark shows itself on the nickname trademark. It will result in confusion and reduction of symbolic value of original trademark if we take laissez-faire attitude towards the usage of nickname. The nickname trademark can＇t be regulated by Trademark Law because it is not a trademark used by business operators themselves. Under current intellectual property right legal system, nickname can be regulated through rules of peculiar name of well-known goods, but it is only a temporary solution. There is a logical defect existing in its rational argumentation. And it also overburdens obligation to the public, and may affect the public＇s access to trademark resource. In order to balance the interest conflict among owner of original trademark, the public and third party, the owner of original trademark shall have the right to forbid other people from using or registering nickname trademark under certain conditions, but they shall not have the right to claim damages.