Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:23:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carlos Eduardo Neves de Carvalho.pdf: 1819884 bytes, checksum: 743f5d09de2989d46ea6b1219468c007 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-09-30 / This essay is dedicated to the study of two empiric phenomena resulting from the use of the mark in the consumer market: acquisition and loss of trademark distinctiveness. The first part is dedicated of the study of acquisition of trademark distinctiveness which could happen in two possibilities: secondary meaning and notoriety. First of all, is addressed the distinctiveness, as the main trademark function and its condition of validity for granting the trademark registration. In the first case, the acquisition of distinctiveness of a trademark occurs by the factual phenomenon known as secondary meaning, in which a descriptive sign, apparently not distinctive, through its prolonged use on the market, acquired a secondary meaning as a distinctive brand, being therefore susceptible for trademark registration. In the second type of acquired distinctiveness, a common trademark can become notorious, renowned and with high commercial prestige within the consumer market through the trademark owner´s advertising investments, which receives special trademark protection: well-known mark within its commercial activity branch, and famous mark, which receives legal protection in all classes of goods and services. The Second Part of this work is dedicated to the study of the loss of distinctiveness of a trademark which may occur in two situations: genericism and dilution. The first situation, genericism, is the factual phenomenon opposed to the secondary meaning, in which, the trademark owner's behavior to promote its brand, results into semantic synonymous and descriptive of the product or service marked by the renowned trademark. The second situation of the loss of trademark distinctiveness is called the dilution phenomenon, which can occurs in three situations: the improper use of a high-renowned trademark in different goods and services marked by the original brand (blurring), the harm to a high-renowned trademark reputation (tarnishment) and the disparagement of a high-renowned trademark in promotional campaigns made by competitors / A presente dissertação analisa dois fenômenos fáticos decorrentes da utilização de uma marca no mercado consumidor: a aquisição e a perda de distintividade marcária. A Primeira Parte dedica-se ao estudo da aquisição de distintividade marcária que pode acontecer em duas hipóteses: significado secundário e notoriedade. Primeiramente, é abordada a distintividade como principal função marcária e condição de validade para a concessão do registro marcário. Na primeira hipótese, a aquisição de distintividade de um sinal marcário ocorre pelo fenômeno fático conhecido como secondary meaning, na qual um sinal descritivo, aparentemente não distintivo, face ao uso prolongado no mercado, adquire uma significação secundária como marca distintiva no mercado consumidor, tornando-se passível para registro. Na segunda hipótese, um sinal marcário comum, face aos elevados investimentos publicitários do titular, torna-se tão conhecido dentro do mercado consumidor, que recebe proteção especial: marca notoriamente conhecida dentro de seu ramo de atividade comercial, e marca de alto renome que possui proteção legal em todas as classes de produtos e serviços. A Segunda Parte deste trabalho dedica-se ao estudo da perda de distintividade de uma marca, o que poderá ocorrer em duas hipóteses: degeneração e diluição. A primeira situação, que é o fenômeno fático oposto ao significado secundário, ocorre pela degeneração, na qual, face ao comportamento do titular, ao promover sua marca, esta se transforma em sinônimo semântico do produto ou serviço assinalado por ela. A segunda situação de perda de distintividade ocorre pelo fenômeno da diluição, que pode se dar em três possibilidades: uso indevido de uma marca de renome em bens diversos daqueles assinalados pela marca original (ofuscação ou turvação), ofensa à reputação da marca de renome (maculação), ou adulteração desta marca em campanhas promocionais feita pelos concorrentes (propaganda comparativa)

The thesis investigates the concept of trademark dilution under international and regional trademark law, and under the laws of selected jurisdictions; namely, the United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa. The investigation includes measures undertaken to prohibit the internet-based dilution of famous marks through the registration of confusingly similar domain names. It is noted that dilution is imprecisely formulated under international trademark treaty law. In fact, the term "dilution" does not appear in international trademark treaties. To fill the gap of international trademark treaties, various policy initiatives, or `soft law' have been developed, which to some extent clarify both the concept of dilution, the type of mark protected from dilution, and the scope of such protection. The problem is that the policy initiatives are non-binding on States, so that different States have adopted different common law and statutory approaches to the protection of marks against dilution. This is demonstrated, for example, by the fact that the European Union and its Member States provide protection from dilution to "marks with a reputation", while the United States of America provides such protection only to "famous" marks, and the Republic of South Africa protects "marks which are well-known in the Republic" from dilution. The thesis analyses the protection granted in these jurisdictions, to determine the similarities and differences of approach, and to make appropriate law reform proposals to achieve uniformity of protection. In the final analysis, it is concluded that the burden of enforcing dilution provisions rest on the judiciary. This being so, the judiciary is urged to engage in a balancing exercise in deciding dilution cases. The courts should recognize that dilution provisions are powerful tools at the disposal of owners of trademarks with advertising value. At the same time, the courts should be steadfast in ensuring that protection from dilution does not stultify freedom of trade, or create absolute monopolies or a form of copyright in a trademark. / Jurisprudence / LL.D.

The thesis investigates the concept of trademark dilution under international and regional trademark law, and under the laws of selected jurisdictions; namely, the United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Republic of South Africa. The investigation includes measures undertaken to prohibit the internet-based dilution of famous marks through the registration of confusingly similar domain names. It is noted that dilution is imprecisely formulated under international trademark treaty law. In fact, the term "dilution" does not appear in international trademark treaties. To fill the gap of international trademark treaties, various policy initiatives, or `soft law' have been developed, which to some extent clarify both the concept of dilution, the type of mark protected from dilution, and the scope of such protection. The problem is that the policy initiatives are non-binding on States, so that different States have adopted different common law and statutory approaches to the protection of marks against dilution. This is demonstrated, for example, by the fact that the European Union and its Member States provide protection from dilution to "marks with a reputation", while the United States of America provides such protection only to "famous" marks, and the Republic of South Africa protects "marks which are well-known in the Republic" from dilution. The thesis analyses the protection granted in these jurisdictions, to determine the similarities and differences of approach, and to make appropriate law reform proposals to achieve uniformity of protection. In the final analysis, it is concluded that the burden of enforcing dilution provisions rest on the judiciary. This being so, the judiciary is urged to engage in a balancing exercise in deciding dilution cases. The courts should recognize that dilution provisions are powerful tools at the disposal of owners of trademarks with advertising value. At the same time, the courts should be steadfast in ensuring that protection from dilution does not stultify freedom of trade, or create absolute monopolies or a form of copyright in a trademark. / Jurisprudence / LL.D.