商标显著性:一个概念的澄清与制度体系的改造

Trademark Distinctiveness:Concept Clarification and System Reform

商标显著性的制度目的是防止以商标权的方式独占通用性、描述性与功能性标志以保护公平竞争,其本质是与所指定商品或服务之间的区别性。我国学界将商标显著性界定为"来源识别性"是理论上的误读,这种误读导致显著性与来源识别性的制度体系杂混,以及显著性被误解为创造性。显著性与来源识别性的制度体系应各自归位,对于显著性的制度体系,应将第11条通用性标志调整为不可通过使用获得显著性的标志,将第12条功能性标志限于的三维标志扩展到所有标志,并增加兜底性的规定,以应对市场可能出现的其他功能性标志。而第13条第2款、第30条以及第32条后半段应回归"来源识别性"的制度范畴,将其中的规则统一调整为"相似性"商标申请的拒绝或使用的禁止以混淆可能性为条件、"相同性"商标申请的拒绝或使用的禁止无需混淆可能性。

In order to protect fair competition,the aim of the systems of the trademark distinctiveness is to prevent the right of trademark from monopolizing the generic signs,descriptive signs and functional signs.Its nature is pointed to the distinguishing feature between the trademark and the service and goods covered by the trademark.The mainstream viewpoints in China＇s jurisprudential circle that the trademark distinctiveness is defined as indication of resources is a theoretical misunderstanding,which makes the systems of trademark distinctiveness and resources indication in China＇s Trademark Law to be mixed together.The systems of trademark distinctiveness and resource indication should be returned to its seat respectively.As for the systems of trademark distinctiveness,the generic signs in Article 11 should be defined as a sign that could not gain the distinctiveness through usage,and the functional signs in Article 12 should be extended to all kinds of signs and add a catchall article to respond to new functional signs produced in the market.Article 13（2）,Article 30 and Article 32 should be returned to the systems of resources indication,in which for＂the similar application＂,the likelihood of confusion should be precondition for the rejection to the application and the ban to the use,as for＂the same application＂,the likelihood of confusion should not be the pre-condition for the rejection to the application and the ban to the use.