Trade Marks Act, 1996

Grounds for invalidity of registration.

52.—(1) The registration of a trade mark may be declared invalid on the ground that the trade mark was registered in breach of section 8 or any of the provisions referred to in that section; but where a trade mark was registered in breach of subsection (1) (b), (c) or (d) of that section, it shall not be declared invalid if, in consequence of the use which has been made of it, it has after registration acquired a distinctive character in relation to the goods or services for which it is registered.

(2) The registration of a trade mark may be declared invalid on the grounds—

(a) that there is an earlier trade mark in relation to which any of the conditions set out in subsections (1) to (3) of section 10 obtains, or

(b) that there is an earlier right in relation to which the condition set out in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) of that section is satisfied,

unless the proprietor of that earlier trade mark or earlier right has consented to the registration.

(3) An application for a declaration of invalidity may be made by any person, and may be made either to the Controller or to the Court, except that—

(a) if proceedings concerning the trade mark in question are pending in the Court, the application must be made to the Court; and

(b) if in any other case the application is made to the Controller, the Controller may at any stage of the proceedings refer the application to the Court.

(4) In the case of bad faith in the registration of a trade mark, the Controller may apply to the Court for a declaration of the invalidity of the registration.

(5) Where the grounds of invalidity exist in respect of only some of the goods or services for which the trade mark is registered, the trade mark shall be declared invalid as regards those goods or services only.

(6) Where the registration of a trade mark is declared invalid to any extent, the registration shall to that extent be deemed never to have been made, provided that this shall not affect transactions past and closed.