论反向混淆商标侵权的损害赔偿

Study on compensation for damages in trademark reverse confusion infringements

关于应当如何救济反向混淆中商标权人遭受的损害,学界一直存在争议。为了厘清反向混淆商标侵权损害赔偿的教义学逻辑,探寻解决反向混淆损害赔偿问题的正确请求权基础,从而避免学理上的混乱并确保司法实践裁判的正确性,首先采取教义学分析的方法,对现行商标侵权赔偿规则进行了教义学解释,揭示了侵权获利赔偿、存在限额的法定赔偿等现行商标侵权赔偿方式不适合作为反向混淆所生损害救济措施的根本原因:现行商标侵权赔偿规则的立法意旨在于矫正因侵害商标权发生的交易机会错配;而在反向混淆案件,商标权人所受损失主要涉及传统侵权损害。在这一正确认识的的基础上运用体系分析方法,提出了以《民法典》一般规定救济反向混淆所生损害的规制路径,商标权人可基于《民法典》第1165条及第1184条主张反向混淆所生损害的赔偿。

There has always been debate on how to remedy the damage suffered by the trademark owner in trademark reverse confusion infringements in our academic community. In order to clarify the doctrinal logic of the compensation for damages in trademark reverse confusion infringements, and to identify the proper basis of claims for damages in reverse confusion, so as to avoid chaos in academic theory and ensure the properness of judicial practice, a dogmatic analysis of the current trademark infringement rules is made, which reveals that the current rules are designed to redress the mismatch of trading opportunities caused by trademark infringement. However, the major losses suffered by the trademark owner in reverse confusion cases belong to traditional tort damage. This is the fundamental reason why the current methods of the compensation for damages in trademark infringements, such as compensation for benefits derived from infringement and statutory compensation with limits, are not suitable for the remedy of damages arising from reverse confusion. In recognition of this reality and based on the method of system analysis, a new regulatory route is advisable, namely using Article 1165 and Article 1184 of the Civil Code for settling the issue of damages arising in cases of trademark reverse confusion infringement.