Trade Marks Act, 1996

Remedy for groundless threats of infringement proceedings.

24.—(1) Where a person threatens another with proceedings for infringement of a registered trade mark other than in relation to—

(a) the application of the mark to goods,

(b) the importation of goods to which the mark has been applied, or

(c) the supply of services under the mark,

any person aggrieved may apply to the Court for relief under this section.

(2) The relief which may be applied for as mentioned in subsection (1) is any of the following:

(a) a declaration that the threats are unjustifiable;

(b) an injunction against the continuance of the threats;

(c) damages in respect of any loss sustained by the threats.

(3) A plaintiff shall be entitled to such relief as is referred to in subsection (2) unless the defendant shows that the acts in respect of which proceedings were threatened constitute (or if done would constitute) an infringement of the registered trade mark concerned.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (3), the plaintiff shall be entitled to such relief as is referred to in subsection (2) if the plaintiff shows that the registration of the trade mark is invalid or liable to be revoked in a relevant respect.

(5) Notification that a trade mark is registered or that an application for registration has been made shall not of itself constitute a threat of proceedings for the purposes of this section.