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BORDER PROTECTION IN THE BALKANS


While it is not stipulated that each contracting state must establish a register of famous marks, a number of different countries have opted to meet these international obligations in this way. As there are no established international guidelines regarding the creation and maintenance of such registers, this issue is leſt more or less solely to each country.


A register of famous marks would improve not only customs seizure proceedings in cases where such marks are involved, but would also improve the trademark system in general. From the perspective of the customs authorities, such a register would enable the holders of marks to proceed with the destruction of goods via the simplified procedure. Te customs officer in charge, instead of having to make a decision on the ground, would simply apply the holder’s rights as they appear in the official register of famous marks, while the holder would be relieved of the burden of proving the reputation of the mark in question in customs seizure proceedings.


Te importer would still have the option to object to the mark’s famous status under the same conditions as in regular customs seizure proceedings. However, such an objection might result in court proceedings. Should this occur, the holder would have to prove the mark’s reputation, but from a strong procedural


position, given that the mark will have already been entered in the register of famous marks.


Failure by the holder to prove the mark’s reputation in court proceedings would result in its removal from the register of famous marks and the release of the detained products. However, if the holder is successful in showing that the mark in question is indeed famous, the importer would bear the costs of the proceedings. In addition to this, the decision confirming the reputation of the mark would be officially added to the register, joining all other decisions recognising the reputation of that particular mark. Tis would also be a way of keeping the famous status of the mark in the register ‘alive’.


Implementing any of the above options would not by any means exclude liability on the part of the holder claiming reputation for its marks for expenses and damages arising from the storage, the delayed release of goods, the legal costs incurred in the proceedings, damage to reputation and so on. 


Vladimir Marenović is a senior associate in the legal group of Zivko Mijatovic & Partners. He can be contacted at: vladimir@zm-p.com


Vladimir Marenovi has worked at Zivko Mijatovic & Partners for eight years. He has extensive experience in advising international clients on all matters relating to copyright, trademarks, designs, domains and unfair competition and he is a registered agent before the Serbian IP office, as well as being an attorney at law specialising in IP litigation. Marenovi is one of the creators of the firm’s anti-counterfeit strategy for the Balkans, and is currently handling several ground-breaking court cases in the region.


www.worldipreview.com


World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2014


89


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