驰名商标侵权认定中损害类型的区分与适用

On the distinction and application of damage typesin the determination of well-knowntrademark infringement

鉴于驰名商标跨类保护条款中损害要件“误导公众,致使该驰名商标注册人的利益可能受到损害”的不明确以及司法解释将淡化保护引入其中,司法实践对于损害要件的适用存在着不同的理解。分歧源于对基本概念认识的不清晰。认定被诉行为既导致混淆也导致淡化是常见的适用模式,然而混淆与淡化在内涵、本质、发生机理上存在着根本的区别,因此在基于混淆可以救济的情况下,则无必要适用淡化。减弱驰名商标的显著性、贬损驰名商标的市场声誉、不正当利用驰名商标的市场声誉这三种类型在保护的利益方面有所不同,减弱显著性和贬损声誉关注的是驰名商标受到的损害,不正当利用关注的并非损害而是对不正当利益的获取。全面认知和区分适用驰名商标侵权认定中不同的损害类型,具有重要的实践意义。

In view of the unclear nature of the damage element in the cross-category protection provision for well-known trademarks in“misleading the public so that the interests of the holder of the well-known trademark may be harmed”and the introduction of dilution protection in it with judicial interpretation,there are different understandings in judicial practice regarding the application of the damage element.The divergence stems from a lack of clarity in understanding the basic concept.The act complained of leads to both confusion and dilution is a common pattern of application,however,confusion and dilution are fundamentally different in connotation,nature and mechanism of occurrence,and there is no need to apply dilution where confusion can be remedied.Weakening of distinctiveness,detriment to reputation and misappropriation aim to protect different interests.Weakening of distinctiveness and detriment to reputation focus on the damage to well-known trademarks,while misappropriation focuses on the acquisition of other people’s illegitimate interests rather than the damage.It is of great practical significance to comprehensively understand and distinguish the different types of damages applicable to well-known trademark infringement.