Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 3.djvu/729

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PROCLAMATION 6308—JUNE 24, 1991 105 STAT. 2613 (2) The tenii "trademark" shall include service marks, collective and certification marks. (ii) Acquisition of Rights (1) A trademark right may be acquired by registration or by use. A system for the registration of trademarks shall be provided. Use of a trademark may be required as a prerequisite for registration. (2) Each Party shall publish each trademark either before it is registered or promptly after it is registered and shall afford other parties a reasonable opportunity to petition to cancel the registration. In addition, each Party may afford an opportunity for the other Party to oppose the registration of a trademark. (3) The nature of the goods or services to which a trademark is to be applied shall in no case form an obstacle to registration of the trademark. (iii) Rights Conferred (1) The owner of a registered trademark shall have exclusive rights therein. He shall be entitled to prevent all third parties not having his consent from using in commerce identical or similar signs for goods or services which are identical or similar to those in respect of which the trademark is protected, where such use would result in a likelihood of confusion. (2) Each Party shall refuse to register or shall cancel the registration and prohibit use of a trademark likely to cause confusion with a trademark of another which is considered to be well-known. A Party may not require that the reputation of the trademark extend beyond the sector of the public which normally deals with the relevant goods or services. (3) The owner of a trademark shall be entitled to take action against any imauthorized use which constitutes an act of unfair competition or passing off. (iv) Term of Protection The registration of a trademark shall be indefinitely renewable for terms of no less than 10 years when conditions for renewal have been met. Initial registration of a trademark shall be for a term of at least 10 years. (v) Requirement of Use (1) If use of a registered mark is required to maintain trademark rights, the registration may be cancelled only after an uninterrupted period of at least two years of non-use, unless legitimate reasons for non-use exist. Use of the trademark with the consent of the owner shall be recognized as use of the trademark for the purpose of maintaining the registration. (2) Legitimate reasons for non-use shall include non-use due to circumstances arising independently of the will of the trademark holder (such as import restrictions on or other government requirements for products protected by the trademark) which constitute an obstacle to the use of the mark. (vi) Other Requirements