史上注册商标最贵的国家竟然降价了？

Recently, UAE Trademark Office amends its registration and renewal fee.

近日，阿联酋商标局下调了商标注册和商标续展的费用。

Knowledge Extension.UAE

知识延伸.阿联酋

1.What can be registered as a trademark?

什么可以注册为商标？

Anything having a distinctive form such as names, words, signatures, letters, figures, drawings, logos, titles, hallmarks, seals, pictures, engravings, advertisements, packs or any other mark used or intended to be used to distinguish goods or services, can be registered as a trademark if it accompanies it.

任何具有显著性的东西，例如名称，文字，签名，字母，图形，图画，标识，标题，标志，印章，图片，版画，广告，包装用于或意图用于区分任何其他标志的商品或服务（如有），可以注册为商标。

2. What information is needed to register a trademark?

注册商标需要什么材料

The following information and documentation are required to file a trademark application in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)：

在阿联酋注册商标，需提供以下信息或文件：

a. Name, address and nationality of the trademark owner;

    商标持有人的名称、地址和国籍；

b. Nature of the Applicant’s business;

申请人的企业性质；

c. A representation of the mark;

商标图样；

d. Meaning of the mark, if not in Arabic;

    提供商标含义（如果商标是除阿拉伯语以外的其他语言）；

e. Goods or services to be protected under the registration;

商标注册所要保护的产品；

f. A Power of Attorney from the applicant, duly notarized and legalized from the UAE consulate. If the Power of Attorney is notarized in the UAE, consulate legislation is not required;

   一份申请人经过公证，且经过阿联酋领事馆认证的委托书。如果委托书是在阿联酋公证的，则无需再经过阿联酋领事馆认证；

g. In the case that priority is claimed, details of the priority application along with a certified copy of the priority document;

   若要求优先权，则需提供优先权申请的详细材料以及经核证的优先权文件副本；

The original, duly legalized Power of Attorney is required at the time of filing the application. A certified copy of the priority document can be filed within 90 days of filing the application.

在提交申请时，必须同时提交经公证认证的委托书原件。优先权文件的核证副本可在提交申请后90天内提交。

3. What is the general procedure for trademark registration?

商标注册的一般性程序

Once the application is filed, it undergoes a formal and substantive examination on absolute and relative grounds. If no objection is raised during examination, an acceptance letter is issued by the Trademark Office. After acceptance, the application is published in the Trademarks Journal and two Arabic newspapers. Thereafter, the application remains open for third-party oppositions for a non-extendable period of 30 days. In the event that no opposition is received, the mark becomes due for registration upon payment of registration fees. Registration is granted for a period of 10 years from the date of filing the application, and is renewable for unlimited period of 10 years.

申请一经提交，审查员会以绝对和相对理由进行形式审查和实质审查。如果在审查期间未下发驳回，商标局将发出接收函。 在接受后，该申请将在商标期刊和两份阿拉伯日报上公布。 此后，申请将对第三方异议开放30天（公告期30天且不可延长）。如果没有收到反对意见，该商标将在支付注册费后予以注册。阿联酋商标自申请之日起算，有效期为10年，每10年续展一次，可无限期续展。

4. Can a trademark acquire distinctiveness through use?

商标是否可以通过使用而获得显著性？

Claiming acquired distinctiveness is possible subject to continued use and fame of the trademark in UAE. Such a claim cannot be included while filing the application, however, could be argued in support of the mark during appeal proceedings.

商标在阿联酋持续使用且享有知名度后，可以宣称获得显著性。在提交申请时不能包括这样的权利要求，但是在上诉程序期间，可通过使用和知名度获得显著性来支持该商标。

5. How long on average does registration take?

商标注册平均时间？

It takes around 4-5 months for the registration certificate to be issued in a straightforward case. This duration significantly increases in cases where an opposition is filed against the mark.

若顺利（无驳回或异议），阿联酋商标从申请到获得证书时间约4-5个月。如果商标收到异议，则注册时间会增加。

6. Absolute grounds for refusal

 绝对理由驳回

a. What are the absolute grounds for refusal of registration?

  什么是绝对理由驳回？

An absolute grounds check includes an examination on the inherent registrability of a mark, which includes descriptiveness, morality, and compliance.

绝对理由审查是对商标固有可注册性的审查，包括商标的描述性、道德性（是否存在不良影响）和合规性。

b. What is the right of appeal from a decision of refusal of registration from the Intellectual Property Office?

  被知识产权局驳回的商标上诉的权利？

Refusal of an application by the register can be contested before the Trademarks Committee within 15 days of the issuance of the rejection decision.

在驳回决定下发后15天内，商标注册人可向商标委员会提出抗辩。

c. What is the route of appeal?

  上诉途径？

An appeal against the decision of the registrar can be filed before the Trademarks Committee. The Trademarks Committee’s decision can be contested before the Court of First Instance. An appeal against the decision of Court of First Instance lies before the Court of Appeal, and finally an appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal can be filed before the Court of Cassation.

针对注册商标驳回决定，可先向商标委员会提出上诉；若对商标委员会的决定不服，可在初审法院对商标委员会的决定提出抗辩；若对初审法院的决定不服，可向上诉法院提出上诉；针对上诉法院裁决，最后可向最高上诉法院提出上诉。

7. Relative grounds for refusal

  相对理由驳回

a. What are the relative grounds for refusal of registration?

   什么是相对理由驳回？

Relative grounds of refusal include similarity of the candidate mark with marks which are previously filed or registered in the same class in UAE. Cross-examination in other classes is not concluded. The law also provides that well-known trademarks should not be granted registration in the UAE. However, an ex office objection based upon an unregistered trademark or a well-known mark which has not been previously filed in the UAE is rare.

相对驳回理由包括申请商标与阿联酋同类在先商标（已注册/申请中）相似。跨类审查不包含在内。法律还规定，不得在阿联酋注册驰名商标。但是，基于未注册商标或此前未在阿联酋注册的驰名商标而被驳回的情况很少。

b. Are there any ways to overcome a relative grounds objection?

   如何克服相对理由驳回？

A refusal on relative grounds can be overcome through submission of a letter of consent from the owner of the cited mark. The applicant may also file a cancellation action before the Court to obtain cancellation of the cited mark and then pursue registration of its mark. In the event that the cited mark or the goods/services for which it is filed/registered are different from the candidate mark or the goods/services for which it is filed, the applicant can contest the rejection on such grounds.

通过提交所引证商标所有人的同意书，可以克服相对理由的驳回。申请人还可以向法院针对引证商标提出撤销，然后进行商标注册。 如果引证商标的商品/服务与申请商标的商品/服务不同，申请人可以基于此理由对驳回提出抗辩。

8. Opposition

   异议

a. On what grounds can a trademark be opposed

   商标会因什么理由被异议？

Opposition against a trademark can be filed on absolute and relative grounds. Interested parties may also oppose an application based upon prior use of the mark in the UAE or its well-known status abroad, if such fame extends to UAE.

可基于绝对理由和相对理由对商标提反对。利益攸关方也可基于阿联酋事先使用的商标或在其他国家的知名商标提反对（如果知名度有延伸到阿联酋）。

b. What is the procedure of opposition?

   异议程序

An opposition can be filed within 30 days of publication of a trademark application. In order to oppose a trademark, the opponent is required to file a normal opposition before the Trademark Office which, upon receipt, provides a copy of the notice of opposition to the applicant inviting them to submit their counter-statement within 30 days of receipt of opposition notification. Thereafter, the matter is queued for hearing. On the hearing date, both the parties can submit additional evidence and substantial arguments to support their case. Upon review of the submissions, a decision is rendered by the registrar.

可在商标申请公布后30天内提出异议。提异议，需向商标局提出。商标局收到异议申请后的30天内，将向申请人发出异议通知，并让申请人在收到通知后的30天内进行答辩。此后，该异议案件将排队等候听证。在听证会上，双方都可以提交额外的证据和实质性论据来支持他们的案件。审查提交的材料后，商标局将做出裁定。

In the event that the applicant fails to submit its counter-statement within the 30-day period mentioned above, the application is deemed abandoned.

如果申请人未能在上述30天内提交反驳，则该申请被视为放弃。

All evidence submitted before the Trademark Office in an opposition matter should either be in the Arabic language or accompanied by an Arabic translation thereof.

商标局在异议事项中提交的所有证据材料应使用阿拉伯语或附有阿拉伯语译文。

9. How is the trademark renewal?

商标续展？

The trademark owner is required to file a renewal application and pay the renewal fees during the last year of protection. A grace period of 6 months, subject to payment of a late renewal fine, is allowed after the end of protection period. Upon submission of the renewal application and payment of requisite fee, the renewal application is published in the Trademarks Journal and two Arabic daily newspapers. Thereafter, the renewal certificate is issued by the Trademark Office.

商标所有人必须在商标有效期的最后一年提交续展申请并支付续展费。 在商标到期后，有6个月的宽展期，在宽展期内续展，还须额外支付一笔宽展费。提交续展申请并支付费用后，续展申请将在商标期刊和两份阿拉伯日报上公布。此后，由商标局将签发续展证书。

10. Revocation

撤销

a. What are the grounds for revocation/cancellation of a trademark?

   撤销商标的理由？

Non-use for a continuous period of 5 years.

五年未使用

Illegal registration

恶意注册

b. What grounds of defense can be raised to a revocation action?

   如何抗辩他人的撤销

In a non-use cancellation action, the defence may include use of the mark by the registrant or under their authorization, and trade transactions due to which goods under the mark could not be sold in the UAE.

在未使用为由的撤销中，抗辩理由可包括：注册人使用该商标或在其授权下使用该商标，以及由于该商标下的商品无法在阿联酋出售。

As for cancellation of a mark on grounds of illegal registration, the defense may include the registrant's legal interest in the mark, prior use or clear differences in the marks of their use.

基于恶意注册的撤销，抗辩理由可以包括：注册人对该商标拥有的合法权益，在先使用权利或使用商标拥有的明显差异。

11. Invalidation

   无效

a. What are the grounds for invalidation of a trademark?

   无效商标的理由？

Invalidation of a trademark registration can be sought on grounds of illegal registration.

无效是基于恶意注册提出的。

b. What grounds of defense can be raised to an invalidation case?

   如何抗辩他人的无效？

Defence to an invalidation action may include registrant’s legal interest in the trademark, acquired distinctiveness, prior use, fame, international registrations, or clear differences in the marks or their use.

对无效宣告的辩护可包括注册人对商标的合法权益，商标的显著性，事先使用，知名度，国际注册，商标或商标的使用上具有明显差异。

12. What grounds of defence can be raised by way of non-infringement to a claim of trademark infringement?

   针对商标侵权，如何抗辩商标不侵权？

a. Prior use

  在先使用

b. Prior registration in a foreign country

  国外注册在先

c. Distinctiveness of the mark or the goods/services for which it is being used

  商标或使用在产品上的商标具有显著性

d. Authorized use or consent of the rights holder or its license/representative

  权利人或其许可/代表的授权使用或同意

e. Good faith adoption

  诚信原则