非传统商标国际注册的条约义务研究

Treaty Obligations Concerning the International Registration of Non-traditional Trademarks

非传统商标在WTO成员尚未获得一致认可和保护,从国际条约义务的角度分析非传统商标的注册问题尤为重要。首先,通过对《TRIPs协定》第15条所界定的商标定义来分析非传统商标是否属于能够构成商标的标记形式,并介绍WTO成员国内立法对于非传统商标的保护现状。其次,通过对《巴黎公约》第6条商标独立性原则和第6条第5款原样注册原则的深入分析,旨在强调原样注册原则对于非传统商标国际注册的重要意义。最后,对我国负有的非传统商标注册保护的条约义务进行分析,并为商标主管机构提供建议。

Since non-traditional trademarks have not been widely accepted for protection by WTO Members, the registration issues of non-traditional trademarks from the international treaty obligations perspective are crucially important. With the brief introduction to the new category of trademarks, this article first discusses whether non-traditional signs can constitute trademarks by analyzing the trademark definition stipulated in Article 15. 1 of TRIPs Agreement, and introduces the current status of legal protection afforded to non-traditional trademark in domestic laws of WTO Members. Through penetrating analysis of Article 6 and Article 6.5 of Paris Convention, this article then addresses the significance of original form registration principle in relation to the international registration of non-traditional trademarks. In the conclusion, international obligation to protect non-traditional trademarks of China will be analyzed and strategical suggestions for competent authorities will be given.