기술적 상표의 효력범위에 대한 문제점과 해결방안의 모색 - 상표법 제6조 제2항과 제51조의 충돌과 해결방안 -
The Scope of a Registered Descriptive Trademark Right Restricted by Competitors’ Fair Use
Descriptive trademarks cannot be registerable in general. However, according to Korea Trademark Law (KTL) article 6.2, they can be registered when they have acquired distinctiveness by use. On the other hand, the KTL article 51.1 stipulates that the scope of descriptive trademarks does not include descriptive marks. In 1987 the Korea Supreme Court (KSC) in 86 hu 4 decided that the scope of registered descriptive trademarks do not include descriptive marks and thus, the allegedly infringing mark does not constitute infringement. However, the KSC in 88 hu 974, 981, 998 in 1992 and many other cases decided that once descriptive trademarks have been registered by being recognized as having distinctiveness, they obtain exclusive rights and the scope of them includes marks stipulated at KTL article 51.1. The problem in these decisions is that they do not explain the reason why the scope of a registered descriptive trademark right includes marks stipulated at KTL article 51.1. These contradictive KTL articles (article 6.2 and article 51.1) and the KSC decisions make it uncertain whether the scope of a descriptive trademark right includes marks stipulated at KTL article 51.1. Even if whether the scope of the right of a registered descriptive trademark includes marks designated at KTL article 51.1 is a critical factor in solving cases related to descriptive trademarks, it is not clear yet. This article examines the relationship between the scope of a descriptive trademark right and KTL article 51.1 from the economic perspective. It enlightens the relationship between a right-holder of a registered descriptive trademark, competitors and consumers. Especially, because the right-holder has decided to submit to the risk of consumer confusion in order to enjoy the advantages in using a descriptive trademark that is not distinctive inherently, it is fair to regard competitors’ use of the descriptive trademark as a fair use even if it may cause consumer confusion. In conclusion, because competitors’ use of a descriptive trademark as its first meaning has more advantages than disadvantages.
목차
I. 서론 II. 기술적 상표에 대한 상표법 규정과 대법원 판례 1. 서론 2. 상표법상 기술적 상표의 정의와 의미 3. 기술적 상표의 상표등록 요건으로서의 이차적 의미 4. 상표법상 기술적 상표의 효력범위 - 제6조 제2항과 제51조 간의 충돌의 문제 5. 등록된 기술적 상표의 효력범위에 관한 대법원 판례의 검토 6. 정리와 시사점 III. 상표법 제51조 적용의 장단점 1. 서론 2. 제51조의 적용에 따른 장단점 IV. 기술적 상표의 효력범위와 관련한 문제점에 대한 해결방안 1. 결론 2. 법원에 대한 제안 3. 향후 전망과 조치 참고문헌
본 학회는 지식재산 및 관련 제도(특허, 실용신안, 상표, 디자인, 영업비밀, 저작권, 반도체칩, 컴퓨터프로그램, 데이터베이스, 디지털콘텐츠 등)에 관한 국내외 이론과 실무에 대한 연구를 촉진하여 지식재산분야의 학문간 융합발전과 국제적 유대를 강화하고, 지식재산에 관한 지식을 보급하여 인적 네트워크 구축과 정책제언을 추진하며 이를 통해 국가발전에 이바지하는 것을 목적으로 한다.