[ 李儉 ]——(2012-11-27) / 已閱22333次
企業國外參展應注意的知識產權法律問題
IPR Legal Issue That Enterprise Shall Pay Attention
to While Attending Exhibition Abroad
北京市中銀(南京)律師事務所 高級合伙人 李 儉
Beijing Zhongyin (Nanjing) law firm Senior partner: Li Jian
企業的產品在國外的各種博覽會上參展,是企業走出國門、走向世界的重要一步,也是企業直接向國外的客戶展示自己產品、品牌和企業的最好機會。通過短短的幾天,就可以接觸到國外大量的潛在客戶,讓客戶對自己的產品和品牌有個直觀、形象的認識,而且有利于雙方面對面的交流,有利于雙方就此建立直接的聯系,加快企業跟國際市場的接軌。
It is an important pace for enterprise to step abroad and towards the world and also a best opportunity for enterprise to directly exhibit their products and brand to foreign customers while attending various kinds of exhibitions abroad.
近年來,國內越來越多的企業通過在參加產品博覽會等國外參展的方式推銷自己的產品,但在參展的過程中也遇到了很多的法律問題,有的甚至遭遇了參展產品當場被扣押、甚至被起訴的尷尬局面。企業在國外參展一般會遇到以下知識產權方面的法律問題:
In recent years, more and more domestic enterprises market their products by attending products fair abroad, but some of them encounter many legal issues and even face the awkward situation that their products on show were detained on the exhibition spot or even were sued. Generally speaking, enterprises may encounter following legal issues concerning IPR while attending product exhibition abroad.
1.展臺設計、廣告手冊、宣傳標語、圖片等,如產品說明書、現場演示用軟件或背景音樂等,若處理不當容易侵犯當事人的著作權;
1. Design of exhibition booth, brochure of broadcast, advertising slogan, pictures etc, such as product specification, software for live demo or background music etc. If you handle it improperly, you may easily infringe other’s copyright.
2.不當使用他人的注冊商標,容易侵犯當事人的商標權,尤其是馳名商標權利;
Improperly use of other’s registered trademark may easily infringe other’s right of trademark, esp. well-known trademark.
3.產品外觀設計參加展覽的產品一般都是最先進的成果,所以其中很大一部分具備專利性。 這也是企業參展中最容易產生法律問題的地方。
Product of design that attend exhibition usually represents most advanced achievements, and most of which are of patentability. This is the right place that it may easily cause legal problem during exhibition.
一般而言,歐盟在對待展會侵犯知識產權的情況一旦查證屬實,會采取以下一些法律手段:
Generally speaking, EU will take following legal measures in case the infringement of IP has been verified during the exhibition.
1、 向涉嫌侵權方發出“警告信”
Send warning letter to a suspect of infringing party.
在德國知識產權糾紛中,警告信是權利人提出訴訟前的要求書,一般由權利人的代理律師起草和發出,權利人將會要求其認為的侵權人停止正在進行的侵權行為,并承諾不再實施侵權行為。
In IP disputes in Germany, warning letter is a statement of requirements before IPR owner lodges a lawsuit which is usually drafted and issued by attorney agent of IPR owner. In the letter, IPR owner will require infringing party to stop infringement act and undertake not to perform infringement no longer.
2、 緊急臨時禁令
Urgent temproary injunction
緊急臨時禁令程序是法院在緊急情況下發出的臨時禁令,以禁止某種行為,從而避免這種行為今后造成的損失。這是知識產權糾紛案中最常見的訴訟程序。
Urgent temporary injunction procedure is a temporary injunction that court issues under emergency circumstances in order to prohibit certain act in order to avoid the loss it may cause in the future. This a most common litigation procedure in IPR disputes.
臨時禁令送達時,被告必須立即遵守;如果臨時禁令包括扣押命令,原告將扣押產品并保存,直到民事法院作出最終裁決;如果被告不遵守,民事法院將判處高額處罰金并簽發針對被告的逮捕令。
When temporary injunction is serviced, defendant must observe right away. If temporary injunction includes a seizure order, plaintiff will detain products and preserve it until civil court makes final decision. If defendant doesn’t observe, civil court will sentence to fines of a large amount and issue a warrant against defendant.
如果產品沒有侵權,對臨時禁令有這些應對措施:提起對臨時禁令的抗辯;申請廢除禁令;申請進入主要訴訟程序;要求臨時禁令申請人賠償損失。如果產品侵權,可對案件價值提出抗辯;與權利人溝通談判,簽署和解協議以徹底了結案件,避免進一步的法律費用。
If the product proves not to infringe other’s IPR, there are following answering measures against temporary injunction: file a plea against temporary injunction, apply to abrogate injunction, apply to enter into main litigation procedures, request compensation of loss from applier of temporary injunction. If the product infringes other’s IPR, the product owner may file a plea against case value, communicate with owner of IPR and sign the settlement in order to completely file the case and avoid further legal expenditure.
3、 海關扣押
Customs seizure
經權利人申請,海關發現涉嫌侵權產品入境,有權扣押保全展品。扣押既可在邊境,也可在展覽會場。產品扣押后,貨主可以提出抗辯;如果沒有侵權,則申請人要賠償損失;如果確實侵權,貨主可以同意海關銷毀產品,以避免進一步的調查程序。
Upon application of IPR owner, in case customs finds products suspected of infringing other’s IPR, it is entitled to detain and preserve exhibited products which can be conducted both on the frontier or exhibition spot. After the products are seizured, its owner can raise a plea. If there is no infringement, the applicant may claim compensation of the loss. If product definitely infringes other’s IPR, product owner may consent with customs to destroy products by melting or burning in order to avoid further investigation procedures.
4、 刑事程序
Criminal procedure
在德國法律下,任何故意侵犯被授予的德國專利和歐洲專利的德國部分都構成刑事犯罪,專利權利人可以向警方和檢查官提起刑事訴訟。在緊急情況下,警方可以自行采取行動,或在獲得刑事法官的搜查令后開始行動,扣押物品,查封展臺。在這種情況下,可以事先告訴警察官和刑事法官爭議將涉及復雜技術問題,而且他們不能判定侵權和專利的有效性。如果認為沒有侵權,可向法院提出抗辯,申請免予起訴。切不可置之不理,否則產品將喪失德國市場。
Under German laws and regulations, any act of intentionally infringing German and European granted patent will constitute criminal offense that IPR owner may lodge criminal lawsuit towards police station and prosecutor. Under emergency circumstances, police may take action by themselves, or start action after acquiring search warrant from criminal judge to seizure goods and seal up exhibition booth. Under such circumstances, you may tell policeman and criminal judge that as it will involve complicated technical issue, they cannot judge infringement and the effectiveness of patent. If one thinks there is no infringement, he can raise a plea to court and apply for immunity from suit, but he cannot ignore, otherwise, he may lose Germany market.
一旦在歐盟其中一國涉嫌侵權,強制措施將同樣適用于歐盟各國。
Once your product constitutes a suspect of infringement act in any of EU countries, compulsory measures will be adapted to all other EU countries similarly.
隨著會展經濟的蓬勃發展,展覽會上知識產權問題也日益凸顯,給展會市場帶來了干擾與負面影響。知識產權侵權問題已經成為中國企業進入海外市場的首要問題之一,企業如何能保證在國外參加產品博覽會能卓有成效但同時又能有效地避免法律風險呢?應從以下三個方面進行把握。
With the development of exhibition economy, IPR issue on the exhibition becomes highlighted increasingly which brings disturbance and negative effect on exhibition market. IPR infringement issue has become primary problem for Chinese enterprise entering into overseas market. How can enterprise guarantee the high effectiveness of product exhibition at abroad and simultaneously effectively avoid legal risks? Enterprise shall proceed from three points as follows:
一、參展前的充分準備
Full preparation before exhibition
(一) 先行了解
Investigation beforehand
為了避免在國際展會上遇到知識產權糾紛,中國企業非常有必要了解和熟悉參展國相關的知識產權法律,在參展前進行必要的法律咨詢,甚至聘請這方面的專業律師對所在國有關的知識產權問題提供律師建議。展覽公司應當有義務提供必要咨詢服務,參展商還以向參展國的法律咨詢機構或律師咨詢,還可以利用互聯網進行檢索,了解參展國的知識產權保護法律體系和知識產權法的執法機構和執法程序,盡可能降低知識產權糾紛,減少損失。
In order to avoid IPR disputes on the international exhibition, Chinese enterprises are necessary to know and master related IPR laws and regulations of the country where the exhibition locates and conduct necessary legal consultation before exhibition even engage a professional IPR lawyer to provide lawyer’s opinions and suggestions. Exhibition company shall be obliged to provide necessary consultation service. Exhibition participant can consult with local legal consultation institution or lawyer or search on the internet to understand IPR protection law system and executive institution and its procedures of hosting country in order to decrease IPR disputes and reduce loss.
另外,對于自己攜帶參展的產品,最好能確定其合法的來源。如果是從企業獲得的產品,則必須由其出具相應的手續如授權參展的證明文件等,以證明其來源的合法性,或者提供相關的專利證書復印件等。
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