商标法保护地理标志路径的审视与重构——以区分功能为逻辑起点

Inspecting and reconstructing the approach that the trademark law protects the geographical Indications:with the distinguishing function as the logical staring point

作为集体商标、证明商标保护的地理标志,被寄望发挥保护本乡本土经营者、促进乡村产业振兴的作用,却暴露出可能演化为压榨工具的危险。商标制度构造以“商标区分功能”为核心,与地理标志的基本功能“地理标志区分功能”存在龃龉(不协调性)。我国商标法通过制定和适用若干特殊规则兼容“地理标志区分功能”,该路径一则异化商标基本功能,不利于最大化利用商标激活创新的机制;二则与专门法规在价值取向上定位重叠;三则滋生“权利滥用”之土壤。商标法应回归保护“商标区分功能”的价值取向,停止主动认定地理标志,移除或停止适用地理标志商标特殊保护规则,是加强地理标志立法、增强地理标志保护体系协调性的必由之路。

Geographical indications registered as collective trademarks and certification trademarks are expect-ed to play a role in protecting the local operators and promoting the revitalization of rural industry,which,however,show the danger of evolving into a tool for exploiting the local operators.The trademark system is centered on the distinguishing function of trademarks,which is incompatible with the basic function of the distinguishing function of geographical indications.China's trademark law caters for the distinguishing func-tion of geographical indications through the formulation and application of several special rules.However,this approach firstly disintegrates the basic function of trademarks,which is not conducive to the mechanism of maximizing the use of trademarks to activate innovation.Secondly,it overlaps with the value orientation of sui generis laws and regulations.Thirdly,it creates soil for abuse of rights.Therefore,the inevitable way to strengthen the legislation of geographical indications and enhance the coordination of the protection system of geographical indications is that the trademark law should return to its value orientation of protecting the distinguishing function of trademarks,stop the active recognition of geographical indications,and remove or stop the application of the special protection rules for geographical indications.