AUSTRIA


THE COURT HELD THAT THE PUBLIC GENERALLY KNOWS THAT INSTITUTIONS, FORMERLY RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT, BECOME COMMERCIALLY INDEPENDENT AND ARE BOUND TO GET ADDITIONAL INCOME FROM ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MERCHANDISING.


opposition is limited to three months of the publication date of an Austrian trademark (this is always the 20th day of a month, usually during the same month of the registration date or the month after). For international trademarks covering Austria, opposition is also limited to three months but the time period starts on the first day of the month that immediately follows publication. There is no opportunity for reinstatement provided by statute if the time limit is missed because cancellation requests can be filed.


An opposition shall only be based on a senior trademark application or registered trademark (ie, Austrian trademark, international trademark valid in Austria, or Community trademark). The proceedings are generally conducted in written form. However, on request of one of the parties, oral hearings have to be scheduled. An oral hearing may also be scheduled ex officio. A lack of use plea, against the trademark on which the opposition is based, may be brought forward. In this case the opposing party does not need to provide full proof of use but


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must show prima facie evidence of use. In case of an action (eg, based on non-use) against the trademark on which the opposition is based, the opposition proceedings shall be suspended. The most promising opposition may be continued and the rest suspended when several oppositions are active against the same trademark.


The decision on an opposition is rendered by a single member of the legal department of the Austrian Patent Office. If an opposition is partly or fully granted, the opposed trademark is quashed (not cancelled) from the beginning of its duration of protection. An opposition decision may be appealed against before the patent office’s Remedies Department. Each party has to bear its own costs during an opposition proceeding. This is in contrast to a cancellation proceeding in which the losing party has to refund the statutory costs of the proceeding and representation to the successful party.


Legal practice has to adapt to changing economic climates and public opinion. In 1994, the Spanish Riding School, owner of the trademark


World Intellectual Property Review e-Digest 2012 45


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