A trade mark is any sign that distinguishes your business from others. As a business owner, you should monitor the marketplace. It is important that you take action appropriately by opposing trade marks that may conflict with your own. In this case, you will need to be aware of the trade mark opposition process.
It is important to note that you can only oppose a trade mark during the relevant opposition period. Your objection must fall within one or more of the grounds for the opposition in the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth). In this article, we set out how you can apply to oppose a trade mark in four steps below.
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1. Determine the Relevant Grounds for Opposition
While there are several grounds for opposition, the most commonly used ones are described below.
The Applicant is Not the Owner
You may be able to prove that the applicant is not actually the owner of the trade mark. In this case, you can challenge this by opposing the trade mark.
The Trade Mark is Identical or Very Similar to Another
The purpose of a trade mark is to differentiate your business from others in the marketplace. If an identical or very similar trade mark is allowed to become registered, this may cause confusion in the marketplace and damage your business reputation.
One instance of the principle of ‘substantially identical or deceptively similar’ trade mark applications is the trade marking of first names. For example, two celebrities may wish to register their shared name in connection to different products. Where one objects to the other’s application, the applicant must prove that the trade marks are unlikely to cause confusion in the marketplace.
The Trade Mark Is Likely to Deceive or Cause Confusion
If you believe that a trade mark is likely to deceive consumers or cause confusion in the marketplace, you can challenge the trade mark by opposing it.
2. Filing for an Opposition
The next step in the trade mark opposition process is filing a Notice of Intention to Oppose with IP Australia (‘NIO’). After filing your NIO, you must substantiate this by filing a Statement of Grounds and Particulars (SGP) within one month of the NIO.
The SGP must outline the reasons for opposing the trade mark, per the eligible grounds of opposition under the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth). If you do not file the SGP in time, the trade mark you intend on opposing will likely proceed to registration. If the trade mark applicant wishes to defend the opposition, they must file a Notice of Intention to Defend (‘NID’) within one month of receiving the SGP.
Continue reading this article below the form3. Submitting Evidence
During the opposition process, both parties will have an opportunity to submit evidence. This includes Evidence in Support (‘EIS’), Evidence in Answer (‘EIA’) and Evidence in Reply (‘EIR’) of an objection. The type of evidence both parties provide will typically depend on the specific grounds of the opposition.
The EIS must be filed within three months of receiving a copy of the trade mark applicant’s NID. You should seek professional legal advice during this stage as the standard of evidence and formality requirements can be complex.
4. Attending the Hearing
After the evidence stages are complete, either party in the opposition may request a hearing. Here, they can make oral or written submissions in support of their case. A delegate of the Registrar of Trade Marks (‘the Registrar’) will consider the evidence and submissions. They will then issue a decision with reasoning on the opposition.
Key Takeaways
When opposing a trade mark registration, you must be aware of the opposition process, time limits, and grounds. Your opposition must be based on at least one of the grounds outlined in the Trade Marks Act.
Our experienced intellectual property lawyers can assist with any oppositions you wish to commence or defend, as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 1300 544 755 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some common grounds that you can oppose a trade mark application include if the applicant is not the owner, if the trade mark is very similar to an existing one, or if it may be deceptive or misleading to an existing trade mark.
To oppose a trade mark application, you must submit a Notice of Intention to Oppose with IP Australia and then substantiate this with a Statement of Grounds and Particulars. There is then an opportunity to submit evidence before the hearing.
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