The Community Trade Mark Office

Abstract

In order to solve the latent conflict between trade marks and the Community principle of free movement of goods, a Community trade mark system has been set up. This is a unified trade mark system with effects extending to all the states forming the EU which is not subject to the national rules of each state, but to a body of legislation of a Community nature. Actions for violations of Community Trade Marks (CTM) shall be brought before the Community Trade Marks Court. The invalidity and revocation of CTMs are questions which, in principle, are decided by the Community Office, based in Alicante, Spain. The Community Office's processes for opposition, invalidation, and revocation are explained in detail.