{"id":9061,"date":"2022-02-01T16:39:35","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T15:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/opposition\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T08:57:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T07:57:26","slug":"opposition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/opposition\/","title":{"rendered":"Opposition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/\">Lexicon<\/a> <span style=\"color: #8ab6c1\">&gt; <span style=\"color: #8ab6c1\"><b>Opposition <\/b><\/span><\/span> <\/p>\n<p>IP Lexicon<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The opposition is an act by which a natural or legal person asks the body in charge of issuing the title concerned (for example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/inpi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">INPI<\/a> for a French trademark application and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/euipo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">EUIPO<\/a> for a European Union trademark application), the rejection of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/trademark-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> application for registration<\/a> on the grounds that it infringes his prior rights.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The entry into force of the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/brand-package\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Trademark Package<\/a>&#8221; following Regulation (EU) No. 2017\/1001 of June 14, 2017 and the transposition of Directive (EU) No. 2015\/2436) by the PACTE Act No. 2019-486 of May 22, 2019 and Ordinance No. 2019-1169 of November 13, 2019, has profoundly modified the opposition procedure of <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">trade<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/brand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mark<\/a> in front of the INPI.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong><u>Prior rights enforceable in an opposition <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Opposition to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/trademark-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">trademark application <\/a>filed in France, or to the French designation of an international registration, may now be based on <strong>one or more prior rights<\/strong> provided that they belong to the same owner.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Indeed, Article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legifrance.gouv.fr\/codes\/article_lc\/LEGIARTI000039381569\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">L.712-4 of the Intellectual Property Code<\/a> provides that a subsequent trademark application may be opposed:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>An earlier French or European Union trademark;<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">renowned<span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"> t<\/span><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">rademark<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">well-known trademark<\/a>, i.e. an unregistered sign that is well-known within the meaning of Article 6 of the Paris Convention;<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/company-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">corporate name<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/trade-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">trade name<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/sign\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sign<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/domain-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">domain name<\/a>, provided that their scope is not only local;<\/li>\n<li>The name, reputation or image of a local authority;<\/li>\n<li>The name of a public entity;<\/li>\n<li>A geographical indication (GI).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Before theEUIPO, it is possible to oppose an application for registration of a European Union trademark:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">An earlier European Union trademark ;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">An earlier national trademark, registered with an Office of a country of the European Union (e.g.: a French national trademark; a German national trademark; a Spanish national trademark etc);<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reputable<\/a> national or European Union <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trademark<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">well-known <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">t<\/span><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">rademark<\/span>;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">An unregistered sign, used in commerce and having a scope that is not only local, provided that these signs are considered opposable by the national law concerned (e.g.: a company name in France);<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">An appellation of origin or geographical indication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong><u>Conduct of the procedure<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The new opposition procedure before the INPI is similar to the one in force before the EUIPO:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">first step<\/span> is purely formal: within two months of the publication of the application for registration in France (three months from the publication of the application for registration filed in the European Union), any third party may oppose it before the competent Office.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Thus:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Identify the prior right(s) invoked <span>and the related proof(s): <\/span> this includes, for example, the number of the prior trademark invoked, but also the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/products-and-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> product(s) and service(s<\/a> ) invoked by the opponent (only part of the product(s) and service( s) can be invoked);<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Identify the disputed application for registration;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Identify the basis invoked: identical reproduction of the prior right for the same products and services? Or imitation of the prior right creating a risk of confusion in the mind of the public?<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Payment of the official opposition tax.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Second step<\/span>: the opponent has one month to complete the opposition by filing his arguments, explaining, for example, why he believes there is a risk of confusion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Third step<\/span><strong> <\/strong>: adversarial phase during which the applicant of the contested registration application is invited to respond to the opponent with observations in reply.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">There may be several exchanges of observations between the parties (up to 3 per party before theINPI), and the applicant may also request evidence of the use of the earlier trademark invoked when it has been registered for more than five years at the time of the application.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In such a case, if the opponent fails to demonstrate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/serious-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">genuine use<\/a> of the trademark he is opposing, his opposition will be considered inadmissible and will therefore be rejected.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Fourth step<\/span>, optional: presentation of oral observations in the context of a hearing set by theINPI, at the request of one of the parties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">If no party requests a hearing, the hearing phase is closed once the parties have exhausted their right to make submissions, or have missed a deadline to respond.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Before theEUIPO, there is no possibility to request oral observations.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Last step<\/span>: once the adversarial phase is over, the Office will issue its decision.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In France, the Director General of theINPI is obliged to render his decision at the latest within 3 months from the closing of the adversarial phase.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In the European Union, theEUIPO is not locked into a time limit to render its decision (6 to 9 months in practice, sometimes more).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong><u>Focus on the assessment of the risk of confusion<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The decision of the competent Office will be based on whether or not there is a likelihood of confusion (or infringement of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reputed trademark<\/a>, if applicable) between the earlier right invoked and the contested application.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">It will be up to the Agency to demonstrate the risk that the public may mistakenly believe that the contested product(s) and\/or service(s ) originate from the same company, or economically related companies, as the opponent. It can also be characterized in case of risk of association.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">It follows from the case law of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/teu-cjeu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CJEU<\/a> (CJEU, Sept. 29, 1998, Canon, C-39\/97) that the analysis of the likelihood of confusion results from taking into account the following elements:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>Consumer attention span;<\/li>\n<li>Degree of similarity of the designated product(s) and\/or service(s ) ;<\/li>\n<li>Degree of similarity of the conflicting signs and any other factors (including the reputation and\/or the degree of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/distinctiveness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">distinctiveness <\/a>of the earlier trademark)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The likelihood of confusion is thus established when the product(s) and\/or service(s ) in question are identical or, at the very least, similar, and the signs have visual, phonetic and\/or conceptual similarities.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">This comparison is also made in the context of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/invalidity-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">invalidity<\/a> and trademark <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/infringement-proceedings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">infringement <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/invalidity-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">actions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>In order to anticipate the legal and practical risk of third parties reacting against your trademark registration, it is recommended to carry out a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/prior-art-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search for prior<\/a> rights that may hinder it(trademarks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/company-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">company names<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/domain-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">domain names<\/a>, etc.). <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>A trademark is a major asset in business life and must therefore be protected and defended. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>Faced with the increase in fraudulent filings and the development of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/counterfeit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">counterfeiting <\/a>on the Internet, it is recommended to be accompanied by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/intellectual-property-lawyer-and-intellectual-property-counsel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawyer specialized in intellectual property <\/a><strong>(<\/strong>assessment of the chances of success in the context of a procedure, analysis of the opportunity of an amicable resolution, etc.). <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Update on time limits for filing objections<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Before the INPI, the time limit to oppose a French trademark application is 2 months from the publication of the application. Before the EUIPO, the time limit for opposing a European Union trademark application is 3 months from the date of the application.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify\">Point of jurisprudence<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The signs DOCTOLIB and DOCTOTEL have been considered similar by the INPI for the following reasons (INPI, October 25, 2021, Opposition n\u00b021-1481)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">common attack term DOCTO ;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">close physiognomies ;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">almost identical sounds;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">the suffix &#8220;TEL&#8221; in the contested application is weakly distinctive (abbreviation of the word &#8220;telephone&#8221;) and therefore does not constitute a sufficient difference to rule out the likelihood of confusion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>The opponent relied on its earlier corporate name DOCTOLIB and on the reputation of its French trademark DOCTOLIB.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>As the opposition based on the corporate name was deemed perfectly justified by the INPI, the Institute did not rule on the infringement of reputation and rejected the DOCTOTEL trademark application <em>(<\/em>INPI, October 25, 2021, decision n\u00b021-1481<em>)<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The Bouchara firm assists you in particular in :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Conducting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/prior-art-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">prior art searches<\/a> in order to identify the most important risks and\/or to try to minimize the risks of filing;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>The formalities of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/trademark-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trademark registration<\/a> (drafting the wording of the classes of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/products-and-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">product(s) and\/or service(s<\/a>), analysis of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/distinctiveness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">distinctive character of<\/a> the sign etc.);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/brand-monitoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Monitoring of<\/a> your <span>distinctive signs<\/span> in order to identify any new identical or similar filing that could infringe them;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The conduct of negotiations with the opposing party to try to reach an agreement if necessary (limitation of the wording of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/products-and-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">product(s) and\/or service(s<\/a>), signing of a letter of commitment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/coexistence-agreement\/\">coexistence agreement<\/a> etc.);<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>The protection and defense of your intellectual property assets before the Offices and the Courts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/opposition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(opposition<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/invalidity-action\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nullity action<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/lapse-of-trademark\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lapse <\/a>action for lack of exploitation or for loss of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/distinctiveness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">distinctive character<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/counterfeit-seizure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seizure for infringement<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/infringement-proceedings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">action for<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/unfair-competition-proceedings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">unfair competition<\/a> etc&#8230;);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><span>Preparation of proof-of-use files for lapse actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Other definitions<\/h2>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/brand\/\">Trademark<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/brand\/\">A trademark is a distinctive sign allowing its owner (natural or legal person) to differentiate its products and services&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/gdrp\/\">GDPR<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/gdrp\/\">The GDPR refers to Regulation (EU) 2016\/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Well-known t<\/span><\/a><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">rademark<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/renowned-or-well-known-trademark\/\">The concepts of reputed and well-known trademarks have been defined by the jurisprudence and designate a trademark that is widely known by the public&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/wipo\/\">WIPO<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/wipo\/\">The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is an international institution of the United Nations, located in Geneva&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/\">See the lexicon<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Fichier-24.svg\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1012 alignnone size-medium\" style=\"margin-left: 15px;margin-bottom: -6px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lexicon &gt; Opposition IP Lexicon The opposition is an act by which a natural or legal person asks the body in charge of issuing the title concerned (for example, the INPI for a French trademark application and the EUIPO for a European Union trademark application), the rejection of the application for registration on the grounds &#8230; <a title=\"Opposition\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/lexicon\/opposition\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Opposition\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":9175,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9061","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9061"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19572,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9061\/revisions\/19572"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cabinetbouchara.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}