Industrial Property Law

Article L. 411-4 of the Intellectual Property Code sets the framework for the powers of the INPI director general. The latter takes decisions relating to the issuance, maintenance or cancellation of industrial property certificates. He also rules on applications for revocation or invalidity of trademarks, within the framework of an administrative procedure newly created by Ordinance No 2019-1169 o …

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Article L. 411-4 of the Intellectual Property Code sets the framework for the powers of the INPI director general. The latter takes decisions relating to the issuance, maintenance or cancellation of industrial property certificates. He also rules on applications for revocation or invalidity of trademarks, within the framework of an administrative procedure newly created by Ordinance No 2019-1169 of 13 November 2019 on trademarks or service marks, as well as on objections filed against patents for invention. Rejection decisions must be supported by reasons ( Article L. 411-5 IP Code).

The director general of the INPI ascertains the formal regularity of the application and the payment of the fees. He also ensures that the conditions required by Article L. 711-2 of the Intellectual Property Code are met  and decides on the approval, rejection or modification of the specifications of the geographical indications of origin as defined in Article L. 711-2 of the Intellectual Property Code, or the withdrawal of approval.

Directive No 2015-2436 of 16 December 2015 introduced an administrative revocation and invalidity procedure before national offices, transposed into French law by Ordinance No 2019-1169 of 13 November 2019 on trademarks or service marks, in Articles L. 716-2 et seq. of the Intellectual Property Code. Prior to this reform, invalidity and revocation actions were brought before the ordinary courts.

According to Article L. 716-5 of the Intellectual Property Code, the director general of the INPI now has exclusive jurisdiction to hear most applications for trademark invalidity and revocation that are brought as principal claims . The judicial courts (tribunaux judiciaires) hear applications for invalidity based on certain grounds, such as infringement of copyright, design rights, personality rights, applications related to another application that falls within their jurisdiction, or applications related to measure to preserve or obtain evidence or provisional or protective measures.

Cass. com. 10 June 1997, LawLex202100006440JBJ.

The provisions relating to the jurisdiction of the director general of INPI became effective on 1 April 2020, subject to specific deadlines due to the Covid pandemic.

Industrial Property Law

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9. Types

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