驰名商标跨类保护与全类保护之辩

A Debate on Cross-Class Protection and Full-Class Protection of Well-Known Trademarks

围绕着驰名商标跨类保护是否应受到限制,商标法上“跨类保护”与“全类保护”之争一直是受争议的话题,该争议实际上是由对驰名商标的理解偏差而产生的。主张限制商品类别的会带来解释困境,“跨类保护”存在逻辑漏洞,违背商标法价值目标,容易导致驰名商标制度异化等弊端,因此需进一步明确驰名商标这一法律概念,规范驰名商标的认定与使用。另一方面,从近年来我国逐渐采用的淡化理论来看,驰名商标的反淡化保护也需要对驰名商标进行“全类保护”,而淡化理论在我国法律规范与司法事务中也得到支撑。驰名商标是法律概念而非商业概念,需经过特定程序产生并仅在个案中生效,通过明确驰名商标的概念、激活个案认定规则,有助于厘清商标法律关系,避免驰名商标异化。

Whether cross-class protection of well-known trademarks shall be restricted, the dispute between “cross-class protection” and “full class protection” in trademark law has always been a controversial topic. This controversy is actually caused by a misunderstanding of well-known trademarks. Advocating for restricting the category of goods will bring about interpretational difficulties. “cross-class protection” has logical loopholes, violates the value goals of trademark law, and is prone to cause the alienation of the well-known trademark system. Therefore, it is necessary to further clarify the legal concept of well-known trademarks and regulate their identification and use. On the other hand, from the perspective of the dilution theory gradually adopted in China in recent years, the anti-dilution protection of well-known trademarks also needs to be “fully protected” for well-known trademarks. The dilution theory is also supported in China’s legal norms and judicial affairs. Well-known trademarks are legal concepts rather than commercial concepts. They need to be generated through specific procedures and only take effect in individual cases. Clarifying the concept of well-known trademarks and activating the case identification rules can help clarify the legal relationship of trademark law and avoid the alienation of well-known trademarks.