Trade Marks Act, 1996

Infringing goods, material or articles: powers of seizure and search.

25.—(1) If the District Court is satisfied by evidence that there is reasonable ground for believing that infringing goods, material or articles are in the possession, custody or control of any person in the course of business or otherwise for the purpose of dealing in any way (including offering or exposing for sale), the District Court may by order authorise a member of the Garda Síochána to seize the goods, material or articles without warrant and to bring them before the court.

(2) If a Judge of the District Court is satisfied by information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that infringing goods, material or articles are on any premises in the course of business or otherwise for the purpose of dealing in any way, the Judge may grant a search warrant authorising a named member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of inspector, accompanied by such other members of the Garda Síochána as may be necessary, to enter on the premises, if need be by force, and to seize any such goods, material or articles and bring them before the court.

(3) On proof to the District Court that any goods, material or articles brought before the court under subsection (1) or (2) are infringing goods, material or articles, the court may—

(a) order them to be delivered up to the proprietor of the registered trade mark concerned;

(b) order them to be destroyed or forfeited to such person as the court thinks fit; or

(c) order them to be dealt with in such other way as the court thinks fit.

(4) The powers of the District Court under this section shall be exercisable by the Judge of the District Court for the district in which the goods, material or articles are for the time being or, as the case may be, where the premises concerned are situated.

Registered Trade Mark as Object of Property