{"id":3662,"date":"2020-04-11T09:45:18","date_gmt":"2020-04-11T08:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/?page_id=3662"},"modified":"2023-09-27T10:38:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T09:38:28","slug":"trademark-cancellation-before-linpi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/guide-marques\/annulation-de-marque-devant-linpi\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancellation of a trademark: invalidity proceedings before the INPI"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/certif.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/certif.jpg\" alt=\"deleted mark\" width=\"700\" height=\"471\" \/><\/a><\/h1>\n<h1>Cancellation of a trademark: invalidity proceedings before the INPI<\/h1>\n<p>Until March 2020, the only way to obtain the cancellation of an earlier French trademark was through the courts. Like any legal action, this was a long and costly procedure, often reserved for large companies with sufficient means.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.legifrance.gouv.fr\/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006069414&amp;idArticle=LEGIARTI000006279718\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">With the entry into force of the Covenant Act<\/a>It is now possible to file trademark invalidity applications directly with the INPI. This is a fast and inexpensive administrative procedure that should make it possible to free up registers of earlier trademarks that have not been exploited or do not comply with legal requirements.<\/p>\n<h2>The purpose of the cancellation actions<\/h2>\n<p>For a mark to be valid, it must meet the following conditions (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.legifrance.gouv.fr\/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006069414&amp;idArticle=LEGIARTI000006279684&amp;dateTexte=&amp;categorieLien=cid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Art. L.711-3 and 4 CPI<\/a>)\u00a0:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>be <a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/brand-guide\/distinctive-and-descriptive\/\">distinctive<\/a><\/li>\n<li>not to offend against public order or morality<\/li>\n<li>not to be deceitful<\/li>\n<li>be available (i.e. it must not infringe a prior right, such as another trademark, domain name, appellation of origin or company name).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When the trademark is filed, an initial check is carried out by the INPI (which will not, however, check <a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/brand-guide\/availability-brand-search-danteriorites\/\">availability<\/a>). However, trademarks are sometimes registered even though they do not meet all these essential requirements.<\/p>\n<p>In this case, the trademark runs the risk of being cancelled. Invalidity action must be based either on an absolute ground (misleading trademark, trademark registered in bad faith, trademark contrary to public policy) or on a relative ground (infringement of one or more prior rights).<\/p>\n<h2>Who can act in nullity?<\/h2>\n<p>If the application for a declaration of invalidity is based on absolute grounds, it may be filed by any natural or legal person. It is not necessary to demonstrate an interest in the proceedings. However, if the application is based on a prior right, it must be filed by the holder of the right concerned. The latter will have to prove the existence of his prior right.<\/p>\n<p>As this is an administrative procedure, there is no obligation to be represented (except in special cases). However, in view of the complexity and legal technicality of the annulment proceedings, it is strongly recommended to use an <a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/industrial-property-consulting\/\">professional representative<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>When to bring an application for annulment?<\/h2>\n<p>At any time: there is no legal time limit for filing an application for nullity. Moreover, the application for nullity is imprescriptible.<\/p>\n<p>This procedure applies to all French (or international) trademarks having effect in France. A similar procedure exists <a href=\"https:\/\/euipo.europa.eu\/ohimportal\/fr\/web\/guest\/invalidity-and-revocation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">before the EUIPO<\/a> for European brands.<\/p>\n<p>However, the action may be blocked because of the acquiescence of the holder of the prior right invoked. This means that if the plaintiff of the invalidity action has tolerated for 5 consecutive years a later trademark of which he was aware, he can no longer apply for invalidity. Burden on the party whose mark is subject to the invalidity proceedings to demonstrate that the opponent was aware of his mark (e.g. through old correspondence between them, for example, concerning the mark).<\/p>\n<h2>The course of the invalidity proceedings before the INPI<\/h2>\n<p>This is an exclusively electronic procedure: the request for cancellation must be filed on the INPI e-procedures portal. The applicant must pay a fee of \u20ac600.<\/p>\n<p>This procedure is organized in 3 phases:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A pre-instruction phase. Once the application has been filed, the INPI will ensure that the application is admissible. It will also identify the owner of the contested trademark and inform him of the procedure.<\/li>\n<li>An instruction phase. The parties will be able to exchange their arguments in a contradictory manner. This phase will end as soon as one of the parties stops answering.<\/li>\n<li>A decision phase: the INPI has 3 months to make its decision, which will be communicated to the parties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/schema-inpi.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/schema-inpi.png\" alt=\"action annulation inpi\" width=\"1045\" height=\"358\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Source diagram: INPI)<\/p>\n<p>The invalidity procedure is a written and contradictory procedure: the parties are invited by the INPI to confront their arguments. The owner of the contested trademark may then invoke defences. At the end of the investigation phase, the parties may, if they wish, present oral observations.<\/p>\n<p>In all, the procedure lasts between 5 months and 1 year, depending on the number of exchanges between the parties. No extension of time limits is possible, but the procedure may be suspended.<\/p>\n<h2>The INPI's decision<\/h2>\n<p>INPI decisions are entered in the National Register of Trademarks and published in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI). They will also be accessible online, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inpi.fr\/fr\/base-jurisprudence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in the \"Jurisprudences\" database on the INPI website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These decisions have the effect of a judgment and are enforceable.<\/p>\n<p>Nullity has retroactive and absolute effect. This means that the mark is deemed never to have existed.<\/p>\n<p>As with all INPI decisions, however, it is possible to appeal to a Court of Appeal.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Annulation de marque : la proc\u00e9dure de nullit\u00e9 devant l\u2019INPI Jusqu\u2019en mars 2020, seule la voie judiciaire permettait d\u2019obtenir l\u2019annulation d\u2019une marque fran\u00e7aise ant\u00e9rieure. Comme toute action en justice, il s\u2019agissait d\u2019une proc\u00e9dure longue et co\u00fbteuse, qui \u00e9tait souvent r\u00e9serv\u00e9e \u00e0 de grandes entreprises ayant des moyens suffisants. Avec l\u2019entr\u00e9e en vigueur de la loi [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":11,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","tve_updated_post":"<div class=\"thrv_wrapper tve_wp_shortcode\" data-css=\"tve-u-17624e2725c\"><div class=\"tve_shortcode_raw\" style=\"display: none\">___TVE_SHORTCODE_RAW__&lt;h1&gt;&lt;a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/certif.jpg\"&gt;&lt;img class=\"size-full wp-image-3666 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/certif.jpg\" alt=\"marque annul\u00e9e\" width=\"700\" height=\"471\" \/&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/h1&gt;&lt;h1&gt;Annulation de marque : la proc\u00e9dure de nullit\u00e9 devant l\u2019INPI&lt;\/h1&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jusqu\u2019en mars 2020, seule la voie judiciaire permettait d\u2019obtenir l\u2019annulation d\u2019une marque fran\u00e7aise ant\u00e9rieure. Comme toute action en justice, il s\u2019agissait d\u2019une proc\u00e9dure longue et co\u00fbteuse, qui \u00e9tait souvent r\u00e9serv\u00e9e \u00e0 de grandes entreprises ayant des moyens suffisants.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=\"https:\/\/www.legifrance.gouv.fr\/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006069414&amp;amp;idArticle=LEGIARTI000006279718\"&gt;Avec l\u2019entr\u00e9e en vigueur de la loi Pacte&lt;\/a&gt;, il est d\u00e9sormais possible de r\u00e9aliser des demandes en nullit\u00e9 de marques directement devant l\u2019INPI. Il s\u2019agit d\u2019une proc\u00e9dure administrative, rapide et peu co\u00fbteuse, qui devrait permettre de lib\u00e9rer les registres de marques ant\u00e9rieures non-exploit\u00e9es ou non conformes aux exigences l\u00e9gales.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;L\u2019objet des actions en annulation&lt;\/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pour qu\u2019une marque soit valable, elle doit r\u00e9pondre aux conditions suivantes (&lt;a href=\"https:\/\/www.legifrance.gouv.fr\/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006069414&amp;amp;idArticle=LEGIARTI000006279684&amp;amp;dateTexte=&amp;amp;categorieLien=cid\"&gt;Art. L.711-3 et 4 CPI&lt;\/a&gt;)&nbsp;:&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;\u00eatre &lt;a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/guide-marques\/distinctivite-et-descriptivite\"&gt;distinctive&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;ne pas porter atteinte \u00e0 l\u2019ordre public ou aux bonnes m\u0153urs&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;ne pas \u00eatre trompeuse&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;\u00eatre disponible (c\u2019est-\u00e0-dire qu\u2019elle ne doit pas porter atteinte \u00e0 un droit ant\u00e9rieur, comme une autre marque, un nom de domaine, une appellation d\u2019origine ou une d\u00e9nomination sociale).&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;\/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lors du d\u00e9p\u00f4t de la marque, un premier contr\u00f4le est op\u00e9r\u00e9 par l\u2019INPI (qui ne va cependant pas contr\u00f4ler &lt;a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/guide-marques\/disponibilite-marque-recherche-danteriorites\/\"&gt;la disponibilit\u00e9&lt;\/a&gt;). Toutefois, il arrive que des marques soient enregistr\u00e9es, alors m\u00eame qu\u2019elles ne r\u00e9unissent pas toutes ces conditions essentielles.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dans ce cas, la marque encourt le risque d\u2019\u00eatre annul\u00e9e. L\u2019action en nullit\u00e9 doit se fonder soit sur un motif absolu (marque trompeuse, marque d\u00e9pos\u00e9e de mauvaise foi, marque contraire \u00e0 l\u2019ordre public) soit sur un motif relatif (atteinte \u00e0 un ou plusieurs droits ant\u00e9rieurs).&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Qui peut agir en nullit\u00e9 ?&lt;\/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Si la demande en nullit\u00e9 est fond\u00e9e sur des motifs absolus, elle peut \u00eatre pr\u00e9sent\u00e9e par toute personne physique ou morale. Il n\u2019est pas n\u00e9cessaire de d\u00e9montrer un int\u00e9r\u00eat \u00e0 agir. Mais, si la demande est fond\u00e9e sur un droit ant\u00e9rieur, elle doit \u00eatre pr\u00e9sent\u00e9e par le titulaire du droit concern\u00e9. Ce dernier devra apporter la preuve de l\u2019existence de son droit ant\u00e9rieur.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;S\u2019agissant d\u2019une proc\u00e9dure administrative, il n\u2019est pas obligatoire de se faire repr\u00e9senter (sauf cas particuliers). Cependant, compte tenu de la complexit\u00e9 et de la technicit\u00e9 juridique de la proc\u00e9dure en annulation, il est fortement recommand\u00e9 de faire appel \u00e0 un &lt;a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/conseil-propriete-industrielle\"&gt;mandataire professionnel&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Quand pr\u00e9senter une demande en annulation ?&lt;\/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;\u00c0 tout moment&nbsp;: il n\u2019y a aucun d\u00e9lai l\u00e9gal pour pr\u00e9senter une demande en nullit\u00e9. En outre, la demande en nullit\u00e9 est imprescriptible.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cette proc\u00e9dure porte sur toutes les marques fran\u00e7aises (ou internationales ayant leur effet en France). Une proc\u00e9dure similaire existe &lt;a href=\"https:\/\/euipo.europa.eu\/ohimportal\/fr\/web\/guest\/invalidity-and-revocation\"&gt;devant l\u2019EUIPO&lt;\/a&gt; pour les marques europ\u00e9ennes.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mais l\u2019action peut \u00eatre bloqu\u00e9e en raison de la tol\u00e9rance du titulaire du droit ant\u00e9rieur invoqu\u00e9. Cela signifie que si le demandeur de l\u2019action en nullit\u00e9 a tol\u00e9r\u00e9 pendant 5 ann\u00e9es cons\u00e9cutives une marque post\u00e9rieure dont il avait connaissance, il ne peut plus en demander la nullit\u00e9. Charge \u00e0 la partie dont la marque est sous le coup de la proc\u00e9dure d\u2019annulation de d\u00e9montrer que l\u2019adversaire avait bien connaissance de sa marque (via d\u2019anciens \u00e9changes de courriers entre eux, par exemple, au sujet de la marque).&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;Le d\u00e9roulement de la proc\u00e9dure en nullit\u00e9 devant l\u2019INPI&lt;\/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Il s\u2019agit d\u2019une proc\u00e9dure exclusivement \u00e9lectronique : la demande en annulation doit \u00eatre d\u00e9pos\u00e9e sur le portail e-proc\u00e9dures de l\u2019INPI. Le demandeur doit payer une taxe de 600 \u20ac.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cette proc\u00e9dure s\u2019organise en 3 phases&nbsp;:&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Une phase de pr\u00e9-instruction. Une fois la demande d\u00e9pos\u00e9e, l\u2019INPI va s\u2019assurer que la demande est recevable. Il va \u00e9galement identifier le titulaire de la marque contest\u00e9e et l\u2019informer de la proc\u00e9dure.&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Une phase d\u2019instruction. Les parties pourront \u00e9changer leurs arguments de fa\u00e7on contradictoire. Cette phase prendra fin d\u00e8s que l\u2019une des parties cesse de r\u00e9pondre.&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Une phase de d\u00e9cision&nbsp;: l\u2019INPI a 3 mois pour rendre sa d\u00e9cision, qui sera communiqu\u00e9e aux parties.&lt;\/li&gt;&lt;\/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/schema-inpi.png\"&gt;&lt;img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3664\" src=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/schema-inpi.png\" alt=\"action annulation inpi\" width=\"1045\" height=\"358\" \/&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;(Source sch\u00e9ma&nbsp;: INPI)&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;La proc\u00e9dure en nullit\u00e9 est une proc\u00e9dure \u00e9crite et contradictoire&nbsp;: les parties sont invit\u00e9es par l\u2019INPI \u00e0 confronter leurs arguments. Le titulaire de la marque contest\u00e9e pourra alors invoquer des moyens de d\u00e9fense. A la fin de la phase d\u2019instruction, les parties pourront, si elles le souhaitent, pr\u00e9senter des observations orales.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;En tout, la proc\u00e9dure dure entre 5 mois et 1 an, en fonction du nombre d\u2019\u00e9changes entre les parties. Aucune prorogation des d\u00e9lais n\u2019est possible, mais une suspension de la proc\u00e9dure peut intervenir.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;h2&gt;La d\u00e9cision de l\u2019INPI&lt;\/h2&gt;&lt;p&gt;Les d\u00e9cisions de l\u2019INPI sont inscrites au Registre national des marques et publi\u00e9es au Bulletin officiel de la propri\u00e9t\u00e9 industrielle (BOPI). Elles seront \u00e9galement accessibles en ligne, &lt;a href=\"https:\/\/www.inpi.fr\/fr\/base-jurisprudence\"&gt;dans la base \u00ab&nbsp;Jurisprudences&nbsp;\u00bb du site de l\u2019INPI&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ces d\u00e9cisions ont les effets d\u2019un jugement et ont une force ex\u00e9cutoire.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;La nullit\u00e9 a un effet r\u00e9troactif et absolu. Cela signifie que la marque est cens\u00e9e n\u2019avoir jamais exist\u00e9.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Comme pour toutes les d\u00e9cisions de l'INPI, il est cependant possible de former un recours devant une Cour d\u2019Appel.&lt;\/p&gt;__TVE_SHORTCODE_RAW___<\/div><\/div><div class=\"thrv_wrapper thrv-button thrv-button-v2 tcb-local-vars-root\" data-css=\"tve-u-17624e27234\">\n<div class=\"thrive-colors-palette-config\" style=\"display: none !important\">__CONFIG_colors_palette__{\"active_palette\":0,\"config\":{\"colors\":{\"62516\":{\"name\":\"Main Accent\",\"parent\":-1}},\"gradients\":[]},\"palettes\":[{\"name\":\"Default Palette\",\"value\":{\"colors\":{\"62516\":{\"val\":\"var(--tcb-skin-color-0)\"}},\"gradients\":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__<\/div>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/guide-marques\/\" class=\"tcb-button-link tcb-plain-text\">\n<span class=\"tcb-button-texts\"><span class=\"tcb-button-text thrv-inline-text\">Retour au menu<\/span><\/span>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>","tve_custom_css":"@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css=\"tve-u-17624e27234\"] .tcb-button-link { letter-spacing: 2px; background-image: linear-gradient(var(--tcb-local-color-62516,rgb(19,114,211)),var(--tcb-local-color-62516,rgb(19,114,211))); --tve-applied-background-image: linear-gradient(var$(--tcb-local-color-62516,rgb(19,114,211)),var$(--tcb-local-color-62516,rgb(19,114,211))); background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; border-radius: 5px; overflow: hidden; padding: 18px; background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; }[data-css=\"tve-u-17624e27234\"] .tcb-button-link span { color: rgb(255, 255, 255); --tcb-applied-color: #fff; }[data-css=\"tve-u-17624e27234\"] { --tcb-local-color-62516: var(--tcb-skin-color-0); }[data-css=\"tve-u-17624e2725c\"] { --tcb-local-color-62516: var(--tcb-skin-color-0) !important; }}","tve_user_custom_css":"","tve_globals":{"e":"1","font_cls":[]},"tcb2_ready":1,"tcb_editor_enabled":1,"tve_landing_page":"","_tve_header":"0","_tve_footer":"0"},"class_list":["post-3662","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3662\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depot-de-marque.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}