又一个国家加入马德里并实施新法
据悉，马来西亚将于2019年12月27日执行新商标法令，1976年的旧商标法将被取代。同时，马来西亚加入《马德里议定书》，允许马德里商标申请途径。新法令将为商标所有人提供更广泛的保护范围，并增强对假冒和恶意抢注行为的惩戒。
Effective 27th December 2019, new Trade Mark Bill 2019 will replace the Trade Marks Act 1976. Overall, the changes are positive as it offers better protection for proprietors by widening the scope of infringement as well as introducing new registration options that was not made available before.
新法令主要涉及实质性和程序性方面的改变，具体内容如下：
This update is mainly to highlight the key changes in terms of substantive and procedural changes that made by the new Act.
1、加入《马德里议定书》，支持马德里协议商标注册申请
对于希望将商标注册保护范围扩展到海外的人来说，这或许是一个期待已久的改变。马来西亚已正式加入了《马德里议定书》，马来西亚公司可通过一个国际申请在120个国家/地区保护其商标。此外，这一途径也为更多的国际公司在马来西亚注册品牌打开了大门。
1. Provisions to allow the accession to the Madrid Protocol
This would be one of the much awaited change for trademark owners who wanting to extend their registration overseas. With this in place, Malaysia has now officially acceded to Madrid Protocol. Malaysian companies can now protect their trademarks internationally in 120 countries with a single International Application. Further, it also opens doors for more international companies to register their brands into Malaysia via this option.
2、驰名商标的认定
驰名商标被明确定义为是公约国国民，在公约国有住所，或拥有真实有效的工业或商业机构的人。此外，任何在马来西亚被认定为驰名的商标均落入此范围，不论其持有人是否在马来西亚经营业务，或享有任何商誉。
2. Clarity on well-known trademarks
Well-known marks are clearly defined as person who is a national of a Convention country or is domiciled, or has a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment, in a Convention country. Further, any mark wellknown in Malaysia may fall within that definition regardless whether or not that person carries on business, or has any goodwill, in Malaysia.
3、商标审查规则
目前，马来西亚商标实质审查主要基于绝对理由和相对理由。绝对理由的审查要求与旧法令有些类似，但同时也包含了立体商标注册的具体要求。
3. Examination rules
Substantive Examination now would be based on Absolute and Relative grounds. The requirements for absolute grounds are somewhat similar to the old act. However, it has included specific qualifications for a shape mark to be registered.
另外，相对理由驳回的范围已扩大到驰名商标，及根据假冒商品相关法律对未注册商标的普通法权利的认定，以及对侵犯版权和工业外观设计的商标的认定。
On the other hand, for relative grounds of objection, the scope has been expended to include well-known marks and recognition is given to common law rights under the law of passing off for unregistered marks and trademarks which offend copyright and industrial design laws.
4、一标多类商标申请
在马来西亚，申请人可以提交一标多类商标申请。同时，新法令允许商标申请分割与合并。
4. Multiple Class
Trade mark owners will be able to register their marks in multiple classes with a single trade mark application. The new Act also allows the application to be divided or merged for better management of rights.
5、商标许可备案
新法令将“商标注册权利人”改为“许可人”，并引进“再许可”制度，这在旧法令中是不可能的。此外，新法令还明确规定了被许可人在侵权诉讼程序中的权利。
5. Recording of License
The new Act has replaced the Registered User with License and introduced the option to Sub-license which under the old act it was not possible. Further, the act also clearly defines right of the licensee in an infringement proceeding.
6、商标申请日期
根据旧法令，为获得申请日期，商标申请人必须在申请时提交所有文件，以满足形式审查的要求，比如公证的法定声明书、商标中外文的翻译文件、优先权证明文件等等。新法令将废除商标申请所需的法定声明书或委托书，申请阶段无需再公证。
6. Date of filing
In order to obtain a filing date, it is now mandatory for the Applicant to submit all formalities documents (such as Statutory Declaration, Translation document, Priority Document, etc.) at the time of filing.
此外，商标申请日即在马来西亚提交的日期，无论是否要求优先权。优先权日期仅用于商标检索和审查时考虑。
Further, the filing date will be the date the application is lodged in Malaysia regardless of whether there is a priority claim. The priority date will only be relevant or considered for search and examination purposes.
7、商标注册证书
商标注册流程完成后，商标局不再签发纸质证书，而是下发一个注册通知。若要获得纸质证书，申请人需向商标局缴纳相关费用。
7. Certificate of Registration
The Registrar will no longer issue a certificate of registration upon completion of the registration process. Instead, a notification of registration will be issued. However, if the applicant wishes to obtain a certificate, it shall be issued upon payment of prescribed fee.
8、非传统商标
新法令允许非传统商标的申请注册，如声音商标、气味商标、颜色商标、动态商标和立体商标，但必须满足特定条件。
8. Non-Traditional Marks
The provisions of the Act allow the registration of non-traditional marks such as, among others, sound, scent, color, motion and shapes. However, there are subject to certain qualification.
9、集体商标
新法令规定可以申请注册集体商标，而旧法令则没有这项规定。
9. Collective trade marks
Collective trademarks are now registrable which was not provided under the current Trade Marks Act.
10、商标驳回复审/诉讼程序
根据旧法令，申请人有两次机会对官方驳回做出答复，即可延期一个月提交答复。新法令下，申请人仅有一次机会，可选择提交书面答复，亦可向审查员申请要求听证。若驳回复审未通过，申请人只能向法院提起诉讼，要求对审查员的裁定进行再审。
10. Single Appeal process at the Registry
Under the old Act, the applicant is provided with two opportunities to file response against the Registrar’s refusal. However, the new act has limited this process to a single appeal process whereby you may choose to file a written Appeal or request for hearing before the Examiner. Where the objection is maintained, the Applicant is only allowed to file an appeal to court to review the Registrar’s decision.
根据新法令，商标有效期限在新法实施后到期的，续展将采用新的费用结构。因此，若续展日期在新法实施之后，马来西亚商标局会要求申请人在续展流程完成时补交新法与旧法的费用差额。在马来西亚，自续展提交日起，需2-3个月才能下发续展证书。因此，申请人可现在提交续展申请，并在续展流程完成时补交费用差额（若有，根据续展完成的时间），也可在新法实施后再提交续展申请（前提是在商标保护期限内）。
According to the New Act, all expiry dates that falls after implementation of the Act, will subject to the new fee structure. Therefore, if the current renewal date falls after the implementation of the act, MyIPO may request us to pay the difference between the old and new fee upon completion of the renewal process. In view of that, you may file the renewal now and pay the difference (if any) after completion of the renewal or file the renewal after implementation of the Act.
关于新法的实施细节，我们会及时跟进并告知大家。
We will follow and keep you updated about the implementation of the New Act.
