Trade Marks Act, 1996
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General provisions as to rights of licensees in case of infringement. |
34.—(1) This section has effect with respect to the rights of a licensee in relation to infringement of a registered trade mark, except where or to the extent that, by virtue of section 35 (2), the licensee has a right to bring proceedings in the licensee's own name. | |
(2) A licensee is entitled, unless the licence, or any licence through which the licensee's interest is derived, provides otherwise, to call on the proprietor of the registered trade mark to take infringement proceedings in respect of any matter which affects the licensee's interests. | ||
(3) If the proprietor— | ||
(a) refuses to take proceedings when called upon under subsection (2), or | ||
(b) fails to do so within two months after being so called upon, | ||
the licensee may bring the proceedings in his own name as if he were the proprietor. | ||
(4) Where infringement proceedings are brought by a licensee by virtue of this section, the licensee may not, without the leave of the Court, proceed with the action unless the proprietor is either joined as a plaintiff or added as a defendant; but this subsection does not affect the granting of interlocutory relief on an application by a licensee alone. | ||
(5) A proprietor who is added as a defendant as mentioned in subsection (4) shall not be liable for any costs in the action unless he takes part in the proceedings. | ||
(6) In infringement proceedings brought by the proprietor of a registered trade mark the Court shall take into account any loss suffered or likely to be suffered by licensees; and the Court may give such directions as it thinks fit as to the extent to which the plaintiff is to hold the proceeds of any pecuniary remedy on behalf of licensees. | ||
(7) The provisions of this section shall apply in relation to an exclusive licensee if or to the extent that the licensee has, by virtue of section 35 (1), the rights and remedies of an assignee as if the licensee were the proprietor of the registered trade mark. |