Industrial Property Law

Infringement constitutes a legal fact and, as such, can be proven by any means ( Article L. 716-4-7, para. 1, IP Code). The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff in an infringement action under the general law of evidence, according to which it is incumbent upon each party to prove the facts necessary for the success of their claim (Article 9 Code of Civil Procedure). A defendant who raises a de …

Rules of evidence

Infringement constitutes a legal fact and, as such, can be proven by any means ( Article L. 716-4-7, para. 1, IP Code). The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff in an infringement action under the general law of evidence, according to which it is incumbent upon each party to prove the facts necessary for the success of their claim (Article 9 Code of Civil Procedure). A defendant who raises a defense or counterclaim must establish its merits.

In order to establish proof of infringement, the plaintiff may, independently of any judicial authorization, use investigative measures. In particular, witnesses can be called or an independent expert appraisal or a bailiff's report can be made. The latter, which includes the record of purchase, must be purely factual, exclusive of any opinion on the consequences in fact or in law that may result from it  and in accordance with the right to a fair trial and the principle of properly obtained evidence (loyauté de la preuve). Its validity is not subject to any court order or prior notice to the alleged infringer.

The findings of sworn officials of the Agency for the Protection of Programs, whose substantive competence is governed by Article L. 331-2 of the Intellectual Property Code, constitute admissible evidence in an action for trademark infringement as simple information . As long as they are not carried out in execution of a court order, they are not subject to the rules governing the invalidity of acts of bailiffs  and the defendant cannot rely on the fact that the officials exceeded the limits of their authorization .

The judicial courts may also order, at the request of the plaintiff in the infringement action or on their own motion, investigations as provided for in Articles L. 716-4-7 to L. 716-4-9 of the Intellectual Property Code.

Ordinance No 45-2592 of 2 November 1945 on the status of bailiffs, Art. 1, para. 2, amended by decree on 20 May 1955.

CA Paris, 2 February 2011, LawLex201100000349JBJ; Cass. com, 3 May 2012, LawLex201200000677JBJ.

CA Paris, 1 February 2008, LawLex200800000418JBJ.

CA Paris, 2 February 2011, LawLex201100000349JBJ.

Industrial Property Law

150. Rules of evidence

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150. Rules of evidence

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Les décisions de justice citées dans ce paragraphe :

Les notions juridiques connexes

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