RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/50
11November 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4771)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION ONTRADEMARKS, GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS
Replies from Hungary toquestions posed bytheEuropean Community anditsMember States1
Thefollowing communication, dated 5November 1996, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission oftheRepublic ofHungary.
1Document IP/C/W/37 /Add.1IP/C/W/50
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REPLIES TOQUESTIONS POSED BYTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
AND ITSMEMBER STATES
Trademarks
1. PleaseexplaintherightsconferredontheproprietorofaHungariantrademarkand,inparticular,
whether andifso,inwhich cases suchaproprietor hastoprove theexistence ofalikelihood ofconfusion
where athirdparty uses, without hisauthorization, anidentical orsimilar signforidentical orsimilar
goods orservices.
Relevant provisions oftheHungarian trademark lawinforce:
- Theregistered trademark confers onitsproprietor exclusive rights tousethetrademarks
withrespect togoods andservices forwhich thetrademark isregistered (Article 7).
- Trademark infringement iscommitted bytheunauthorized useofaregistered trademark
orofasignconfusingly similar totheregistered trademark forgoods andservices
identical orsimilar tothose enumerated inthelistofgoods oftheregistered trademark
(Article 13).
Itfollows fromtheabove thatwhen boththesignandthegoods orservices areidentical neither
thelawnorthelegalpractice requires anyproofs astothelikelihood ofconfusion.
Should, however, either thesignorthegoods orservices notbeidentical butsimilar, itisthe
proprietor oftheregistered trademark whohastoallege andtomake itprobable thatthereisalikelihood
ofconfusion. Noproof totheeffect thatconfusion hasinfactoccurred inthetrade isrequired.
Anewlawontrademarks isunder preparation andisexpected toenterintoforce inJuly1997.
Thedraftofthenewlawcontains more detailed provisions ontherights conferred byatrademark,
basically inconformity withArticle 5oftheCouncil Directive. Accordingly there seems tobeno
change insofar thattheproprietor ofthetrademark willnothavetoprove thelikelihood ofconfusion
withrespect totheunauthorized useofidentical signs foridentical goods orservices.
2. DoesHungariantrademarklawprovidemeanstoactagainsttheunauthorizeduseofaregistered
trademark forgoods orservices which arenotsimilar tothose inrespect ofwhich atrademark is
registered? Ifyes,under whatconditions?
TheHungarian trademark lawinforcedoesnotprovide means toactagainst theabove described
use.
Anewlawontrademarks isunder preparation andisexpected toenterintoforce inJuly1997.
Thedraftnewlawcontains aprovision according towhich theproprietor ofaregistered trademark
shallbeentitled toprevent allthirdparties nothaving hisconsent from using inthecourse oftrade
anysignwhich isidentical withorsimilar tothetrademark inrelation togoods orservices which are
notsimilar tothose forwhich thetrademark isregistered, provided thatthetrademark hasareputation
inHungary andwhere theuseofthatsignwould bedetrimental toorwould takeunfair advantage
ofthedistinctive character oftherepute ofthetrademark.IP/C/W/50
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3. Please explain whether trademarks canbeassigned without thetransfer ofthebusiness towhich
thetrademark belongs?
Relevant provision oftheHungarian trademark lawinforce:
- Trademark protection shallbeassignable bycontract (Article 12).
Under thisprovision atrademark canbeassigned without thetransfer ofthebusiness towhich
thetrademark belongs. Anewlawontrademarks isunder preparation andisexpected toenter into
force inJuly1997. Thisprovision willbemaintained bythedraftnewlaw.