In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law

The thesis seeks to develop a normatively well-grounded and practically viable framework for the registration of product shapes under EU design and trade mark law, taking proper account of doctrinal overlaps. The institutional challenge is to develop a model which avoids unnecessary duplication of p...

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Main Author: Chave, Lynne
Format: Thesis (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53235/
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author Chave, Lynne
author_facet Chave, Lynne
author_sort Chave, Lynne
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The thesis seeks to develop a normatively well-grounded and practically viable framework for the registration of product shapes under EU design and trade mark law, taking proper account of doctrinal overlaps. The institutional challenge is to develop a model which avoids unnecessary duplication of protection while permitting each regime to function in a principled and complementary manner. The thesis adopts a multi-dimensional comparative approach focussing on four central criteria (subject-matter, subject-matter exclusions, protection thresholds and scope). Firstly, US Federal law is employed as a comparator for subsisting legal doctrine and theoretical rationales. Secondly, a comparative analysis is undertaken between the two regimes to pinpoint the aspects which distinguish between a ‘design’ and ‘trade mark’ right vesting in features of product shape. The thesis develops a normative model of protection and advances interpretations which EU tribunals should adopt to give effect to the underlying rationales of both registration regimes, as applied to product shapes, while mitigating against over-protection and 'regime clash'.
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spelling nottingham-532352025-02-28T14:12:10Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53235/ In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law Chave, Lynne The thesis seeks to develop a normatively well-grounded and practically viable framework for the registration of product shapes under EU design and trade mark law, taking proper account of doctrinal overlaps. The institutional challenge is to develop a model which avoids unnecessary duplication of protection while permitting each regime to function in a principled and complementary manner. The thesis adopts a multi-dimensional comparative approach focussing on four central criteria (subject-matter, subject-matter exclusions, protection thresholds and scope). Firstly, US Federal law is employed as a comparator for subsisting legal doctrine and theoretical rationales. Secondly, a comparative analysis is undertaken between the two regimes to pinpoint the aspects which distinguish between a ‘design’ and ‘trade mark’ right vesting in features of product shape. The thesis develops a normative model of protection and advances interpretations which EU tribunals should adopt to give effect to the underlying rationales of both registration regimes, as applied to product shapes, while mitigating against over-protection and 'regime clash'. 2018-10-15 Thesis (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en cc_by_nc_nd https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53235/1/Lynne%20Chave%20-%20Corrected%20Thesis.pdf Chave, Lynne (2018) In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. intellectual property; trade mark law; design law; product shape; shape marks; overlaps; eu european union
spellingShingle intellectual property; trade mark law; design law; product shape; shape marks; overlaps; eu
european union
Chave, Lynne
In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title_full In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title_fullStr In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title_full_unstemmed In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title_short In good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3D product forms as trade marks and designs under EU law
title_sort in good shape?: a comparative evaluation of the registration of 3d product forms as trade marks and designs under eu law
topic intellectual property; trade mark law; design law; product shape; shape marks; overlaps; eu
european union
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/53235/