Restriction on assignment or transmission when exclusive rights would be created in different parts of India

Section 41 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 deals with restriction on assignment or transmission when exclusive rights would be created in different parts of India. Notwithstanding anything in sections 38 and 39, a trade mark shall not be assignable or transmissible in a case in which as a result of the assignment or transmission there would in the circumstances subsist, whether under this Act or any other law-- (a) an exclusive right in one of the persons conc The Act came into force on 15 Sep 2003.

Notwithstanding anything in sections 38 and 39, a trade mark shall not be assignable or transmissible in a case in which as a result of the assignment or transmission there would in the circumstances subsist, whether under this Act or any other law--

(a) an exclusive right in one of the persons concerned, to the use of the trade mark limited to use in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in, in any place in India, or in relation to services for use, or services available for acceptance in any place in India; and

(b) an exclusive right in another of these persons concerned, to the use of a trade mark nearly resembling the first-mentioned trade mark or of an identical trade mark in relation to--

(i) the same goods or services; or

(ii) the same description of goods or services; or

(iii) services which are associated with those goods or goods of that description or goods which are associated with those services or services of that description,

limited to use in relation to goods to be sold or otherwise traded in, or services for use, or available for acceptance, in any other place in India:

Provided that in any such case, on application in the prescribed manner by the proprietor of a trade mark who proposes to assign it, or by a person who claims that a registered trade mark has been transmitted to him or to a predecessor in title of his since the commencement of this Act, the Registrar, if he is satisfied that in all the circumstances the use of the trade mark in exercise of the said rights would not be contrary to the public interest may approve the assignment or transmission, and an assignment or transmission so approved shall not, unless it is shown that the approval was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation, be deemed to be invalid under this section or section 40 if application for the registration under section 45 of the title of the person becoming entitled is made within six months from the date on which the approval is given or, in the case of a transmission, was made before that date.

Section 41, The Trade Marks Act, 1999 (Act 47 of 1999).