For the whole decision click here: o25700
Result
Sections 47(1) & 3(6) - Invalidation failed
Sections 47(5) & 32(3) - Invalidation failed
Points Of Interest
Summary
The registered proprietors had filed for a wide specification reading "Provision of advertising and business information". It appeared from the applicants application that the registered proprietor had only provided advertising services relating to the sale of second-hand cars on the Internet. Subsequently the registered proprietor filed a formal request to amend his specification to read "Provision of advertising and business information in relation to the automotive industry".
The applicants principal evidence as to a claim to bad faith was the finding of fact of the registered proprietors trading activities and a report of a conversation between the applicants Trade Mark Agent and the Managing Director of the registered proprietor when it was claimed that the Managing Director had said "My Company has gone to some trouble to achieve registration and it wants to keep the specification as broad as possible". The Hearing Officer decided in all the circumstances that the words were somewhat ambiguous and without having a full report of the whole conversation to place the words in context, he was reluctant to draw an adverse influence from the words. He therefore, concluded that applicants failed on this ground.
The Hearing Officer went on to consider whether in the light of the evidence filed and the circumstances of this case, he should restrict the revised specification in any way in the context of the intention to use declaration under Section 32(3). In summary he decided that no partial invalidation was justified.