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TRADE MARKS ORDINANCE 53. Declaration of invalidity of registration

(1) An application for a declaration of invalidity of the registration of a trade mark may be made by any person, and may be made either to the Registrar or to the court.

(2) In the case of bad faith in the registration of a trade mark, the Registrar himself may apply to the court for a declaration of the invalidity of the registration.

(3) The registration of a trade mark may be declared invalid on the ground that the trade mark was registered in contravention of section 11 (absolute grounds for refusal of registration).

(4) Where the trade mark was registered in contravention of section 11(1)(b), (c) or (d), it shall not be declared invalid if, in consequence of the use which has been made of it, it has after registration acquired a distinctive character in relation to the goods or services for which it is registered.

(5) Subject to subsections (6) and (7), the registration of a trade mark may also be declared invalid on the ground—
 * (a) that there is an earlier trade mark in relation to which the conditions set out in section 12(1), (2) or (3) (relative grounds for refusal of registration) apply; or
 * (b) that there is an earlier right in relation to which the condition set out in section 12(4) or (5) (relative grounds for refusal of registration) is satisfied.

(6) The registration of a trade mark may not be declared invalid under subsection (5) if the owner of the earlier trade mark or other earlier right has consented to the registration.

(7) Where a trade mark has been registered on the ground that there has been an honest concurrent use of the trade mark and the earlier trade mark or other earlier right, as provided for by section 13 (honest concurrent use, etc.), the registration of a trade mark may not be declared invalid under subsection (5) unless the Registrar or the court is satisfied that in fact there had been no honest concurrent use of the trade mark and the earlier trade mark or other earlier right.

(8) Where the grounds of invalidity exist in respect of only some of the goods or services for which the trade mark is registered, the trade mark shall be declared invalid as regards those goods or services only.

(9) Without affecting transactions past and closed, where the registration of a trade mark is declared invalid under this section to any extent, the registration shall to that extent be deemed never to have been made.

54. Variation of registration

(1) An application for the variation of the registration of a trade mark may be made by any person, and may be made either to the Registrar or to the court.