As mentioned in our 2022 文章, Zambia published a new Trade Marks Bill, which has subsequently been enacted into law by the Zambian parliament on 26 December 2023. Anticipated within the coming months, the new Trade Marks Act (Act No.11 of 2023) will come into force pending the Minister’s issuance of the requisite statutory approval. As anyone who has filed trade marks in Zambia will know, a legislative update is long overdue – the present Zambian trade marks legislation, the Trade Marks Act (Chapter 401) 1958, is more than 60 years old, and it is based on the UK Trade Marks Act 1938. What the new bill does is present something that will seem familiar to anyone who is involved in trade mark law.

What follows is a copy of our previous article, noting the change in registration and renewal terms.

突出的特点

  1. 服务商标——与服务相关的商标将受到保护。
  2. 驰名商标——驰名商标将受到保护。
  3. 集体商标和证明商标——将来都可以得到保护。
  4. Registration and renewal terms will be 10 years, instead of seven and 14 years.
  5. Madrid Protocol – the legislation will ‘give effect to’ the Madrid Protocol, meaning that trade mark owners will be able to designate Zambia in international registrations.
  6. Geographical Indications – there will be protection for GIs.

新法生效后赞比亚商标法的简要介绍

备案/注册

  1. 有使用意图就足够了。
  2. 多类申请将成为可能。
  3. 将进行实质性审查。

拒绝

  1. 可以提出拒绝的绝对和相对理由，包括与驰名商标的冲突。
  2. 诚实的同时使用可以克服基于相对理由（优先权）的拒绝。

反对

  1. 第三方反对是可能的。
  2. 默许——如果默许五年或更长时间，将不再可能反对注册或使用。

取消不使用

要求的期限为五年或更长时间。

转让和许可

两种交易都有规定。

执法

  1. 如果存在混淆的可能性，在类似商品/服务上使用类似商标将构成侵权。
  2. 如果对注册商标的显着性或声誉存在不公平的优势和损害，声誉将是相关的。
  3. 辩护将包括自名辩护和使用描述性名称。
  4. 可以考虑用尽权利。
  5. 可以阻止毫无根据的行动威胁。
  6. 禁令、损害赔偿、账目、交付和特许权使用费——这些措施都将提供给商标被侵权的一方。

临时措施

立法列出了具体的证据保存措施。

假冒

已经创建了许多罪行。

边境措施

已经制定了各种措施。

综上所述

An overhaul of Zambian trade mark law is long overdue and therefore very welcome. We look forward to seeing the new legislation in force in the near future.

联系我们 了解更多信息。