Trademarks Act

Any natural or legal person may acquire an exclusive right to use a trademark as a distinctive sign for goods or services in an industrial or commercial undertaking pursuant to the provisions of this Act (trademark right).

A society or other association of producers, service providers or other businesses, as well as legal persons governed by public law may acquire an exclusive right to use a trademark capable of distinguishing the goods or services origination from the members of the association from the goods or services of other businesses (collective mark). A public authority, foundation, company or anyone else may acquire an exclusive right to use a trademark capable of distinguishing goods or services that has been controlled with regard to material, production methods, performance of services, quality, accuracy or other characteristics from goods and services which have not been controlled (guarantee or certification mark). The proprietor of the mark may not carry on a business involving the supply of goods or services of the kind controlled.

Any person who uses his own name or a protected business name as a sign for his goods or services enjoys protection pursuant to the rules of this Act against unlawful use of the name as a trademark by other persons within the same geographical territory.

A trademark may consist of any sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of another, such as words and combinations of words, including slogans, names, letters, numerals, figures and pictures, colours and sounds or the shape of the goods, their get-up or their packaging.

A trademark right may not be acquired for signs that consist exclusively of a shape or another characteristic that results from the nature of the goods themselves, is necessary to obtain a technical result or adds substantial value to the goods.

A trademark right may be acquired for the whole of Norway by registering the trademark in the Trademark Register according to the provisions in Chapter 2.

A trademark right may also be acquired for the whole of Norway by international registration according to the provisions in Chapter 10.

A trademark right is acquired without registration when the trademark is established by use. A trademark is considered to be established by use when and for as long as it is well known in the circle of trade in Norway for the relevant goods and services as someone’s sign. If such use is established only in part of Norway, the exclusive right has effect only in this territory.

A trademark right has the effect that no one, without the consent of the proprietor of the trademark right (the trademark proprietor), may use in the course of trade, in relation to goods or services:

a. any sign which is identical with the trademark for goods or services for which the trademark is protected
b. any sign which is identical with or similar to the trademark for identical or similar goods or services if there exists a likelihood of confusion, such as if the use of the sign may give the impression that there is a link between the sign and the trademark.

For a trademark which is well known in Norway, the trademark right implies that no one, without the consent of the trademark proprietor, may use in the course of trade, in relation to goods or services a sign that is identical with or similar to the trademark for similar or any other goods or services, if the use of that sign without due cause takes unfair advantage of, or is detrimental to, the distinctive character or repute (goodwill) of the well-known trademark.

Use is considered to include the following:

a. affixing the sign to goods or to the packaging thereof
b. offering goods for sale or otherwise putting them on the market, stocking or delivering them under the sign, or offering or supplying services thereunder
c. importing or exporting goods under the sign
d. using the sign on business papers and in advertising.
e. using the sign as a company name or tradename, or part of a company or trade name
f. using the sign in comparative advertising in a manner that is contrary to the Regulation under the Marketing Act Section 26

Verbal use of the sign is also considered as use.

A trademark right has the effect that no one, without the consent of the trademark proprietor, may bring goods, in the course of trade, into the Norwegian customs territory even without being released for free circulation here, where such goods, including the packaging thereof, bear without authorisation a trademark which is identical or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from a Trademark registered in Norway in respect of goods of the same kind. This does not apply if the owner or recipient of the goods can prove that the trademark proprietor does not have the right to prohibit the offering of the goods on the market in the destination country.

Where the risk exists that the packaging, labels, tags, security or authenticity features or devices, or any other means to which the trademark may be affixed, could be used in relation to goods or services and that use would constitute an infringement of the rights of the proprietor of a trademark under Section 4, the proprietor of that trademark shall have the right to prohibit the following acts if carried out in the course of trade:

a. affixing a sign identical with, or similar to, the trademark on packaging, labels, tags, security or authenticity features or devices, or any other means to which the mark may be affixed;
b. offering or placing on the market, or stocking for those purposes, or importing or exporting, packaging, labels, tags, security or authenticity features or devices, or any other means to which the mark is affixed.

Where a trademark is registered in the name of an agent or trade representative without the consent of the trademark proprietor, and without justified cause for his action, the trademark proprietor may demand the trademark registration assigned in his favour and oppose the use of the trademark by the agent or trade representative.

A trademark right acquired by registration does not cover any part of a trademark which could not be registered separately.

The trademark right does not prevent others from using the following in accordance with honest practices in industrial or commercial matters:

a. his name or address
b. signs or indications which are not distinctive or which concern the kind, quality, quantity, purpose, value, geographical origin, the time of production of goods or rendering of the service, or other characterististics of the goods or services.
c. the trademark for the purpose of identifying or referring to goods or services as those of the proprietor of that trademark, in particular, where the use of the trademark is necessary to indicate the intended purpose of a good or service, such as when the trademark indicates the intended purpose of the goods as accessories or spare part.

An exclusive right to a geographical indication of origin acquired by registration as a collective mark or as a guarantee or certification mark does not prevent others from using the indication when such use is in accordance with honest practices in industrial or commercial matters.

A trademark right does not prevent the use of the trademark for goods put on the market under the trademark within the European Economic Area (EEA) by the proprietor or with his consent.

Paragraph one does not apply if the proprietor has legitimate reasons to oppose further commercialisation of the goods, such as if the condition of the goods has changed or impaired after they were put on the market.

If more than one party make separate claims to an exclusive right to identical or similar trademarks cf. Section 4, the proprietor with the earlier right has priority, provided this is not contrary to the provisions in Section 8.

The right to a registered trademark shall coexist with an earlier right to a sign if the proprietor of the earlier right was aware of and tolerated the use in Norway of the later trademark for five consecutive years following registration and the application for registration of the later trademark was filed in good faith. If the later trademark was in use only for some of the goods or services for which it was registered, the right applies only to these goods or services. The right to a registered trademark shall also coexist with an earlier right pursuant to Sections 29 a. 35 a or 35 b.

The right to a trademark established by use shall coexist with an earlier right to a distinctive sign if the proprietor of the earlier right has taken no steps to prevent the use of the later trademark within reasonable time. The proprietor of an earlier right to a trademark which is well known, cf. Section 4, paragraph two, is considered to have acted within reasonable time if he takes steps to prevent the use within five years after he became aware of the use.

In cases such as those mentioned in Section 8 and Section 35, paragraph two, sentence two, the proprietor of the later right may not oppose the use of the earlier distinctive sign even if the proprietor of the earlier right is no longer entitled to invoke his right against the use of the later trademark.

In cases such as those mentioned in Section 8, paragraph two, a court may, if it considers it reasonable, decide that one or both distinctive signs may only be used in the future in a particular manner, for instance in a certain shape or form or with a clarifying addition such as the name of the proprietor or a location, or may only be used for specific goods or services or within a specific territory.

Paragraph two applies correspondingly to cases in which the same or similar trademarks are established by use for different proprietors in different parts of Norway.

If a trademark is of such nature as to deceive or is used by the trademark proprietor or by any other person with the consent of the trademark proprietor in a manner capable to deceive, a court may prohibit the use of the trademark or such forms of use that are considered deceiving and may issue other injunctions that are considered necessary.

Legal actions pursuant to paragraph one may be brought by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and by anyone who has a legal interest in doing so.

If the reproduction of a trademark in a dictionary, encyclopaedia or similar reference work, in print or electronic form, gives the impression that the trademark constitutes the generic name of the goods or services for which it is registered, the publisher of the work shall, at the request of the proprietor of the trademark, ensure that the reproduction of the trademark is, without delay, accompanied by an indication that it is a registered trademark. In the case of works in printed form this shall be indicated at the latest in the next edition of the publication.

An application for registration of a trademark shall be filed in writing with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

The application shall include:

a. the name and address of the applicant
b. a clear and concise representation of the trademark, cf. Section 14, paragraph one, first sentence.
c. a list of the goods or services in respect of which the registration is requested.

An application for registration of a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark shall also indicate whether it concerns a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark, and include the regulations established for the use of the mark, cf. Section 12 a.

The application is subject to the requirements set forth by the King in regulations. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the application shall be shelved.

The regulations governing the use of a collective mark shall specify:

a. the persons authorized to use the collective mark
b. the conditions for membership of the association
c. the conditions for use of the collective mark, including sanctions
d. the obligations of the proprietor of the mark to take action against whoever uses the mark contrary to the regulations
e. the rights and obligations of the proprietor of the mark towards the users, such as the right to perform controls, if applicable by certain control authorities.

If a collective mark consist of a designation of geographical origin, the regulations for the use of the mark shall entitle any person whose goods or services originate in the geographical area, to become a member of the association, provided that that person fulfils all other conditions set forth in the regulations.

The regulation governing the use of a guarantee or certification mark, shall meet the conditions specified in paragraph 1, letters a, c, d and e.

An application shall be considered as filed on the date that the following information has been received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office (filing date):

a. a request for registration
b. information identifying the applicant
c. a clear and precise reproduction of the trademark, cf Section 14, paragraph one, first sentence
d. a list of goods and services for which the trademark registration is requested

Insignificant changes may be made to a trademark for which an application has been filed for registration, provided that such changes do not affect the overall impression of the trademark.

The list of the goods or services for which application is made for registration of a trademark may be limited.

A trademark to be registered shall consist of a sign which is capable of being protected pursuant to Section 2 and is capable of being represented on the register in a manner which enables the competent authorities and the public to determine the clear and precise subject matter of the protection afforded to its proprietor. It shall have distinctive character as a sign for the relevant goods or services.

A trademark cannot be registered if it exclusively, or only with insignificant changes or additions, consists of signs or indications that:

a. indicate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value or geographical origin of the goods or services, the time of production of the goods or of the rendering of the services or other characteristics of the goods or services, or
b. constitute customary designations for the goods or services according to normal linguistic usage or to loyal, established business practice.

The conditions in paragraphs one and two shall be met on both the date of application and the date of registration. When assessing a proposed trademark pursuant to paragraph one, sentence two, and paragraph two, it is necessary to take into consideration all circumstances that prevailed on the date of application, in particular effects of use of the trademark prior to this time.

A mark that is used in an industrial or commercial undertaking to designate the geographical origin of a product or service may, notwithstanding the second paragraph letter a), be registered as a collective mark or as a guarantee or certification mark. A sign requested to be registered as a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark shall meet the conditions of Section 1, paragraph two.

A trademark cannot be registered if it:

a. is contrary to law or public order or morality,
b. is liable to deceive, for example in respect of the nature, quality or geographical origin of the goods or services, or
c. contains, without authorisation, escutcheons or another sign covered by Section 165, letter b and Section 166 of the Norwegian Penal Act, a national flag or anything that is liable to be understood as such a sign or flag.
d. is excluded from registration pursuant to regulation under the Norwegian Food Act concerning Protected Designation of Origin or Protected Geographical Designation or Traditional Terms for Wine.
e. consists of, or reproduces in its essential elements a plant variety designation protected by a plant variety right, and which concerns a plant variety of the same or closely related species, or
f. is applied for in bad faith.

For wines and spirits, a trademark consisting of or containing anything that is liable to be understood as a geographical designation of origin cannot be registered, unless the geographical origin of the goods is in accordance with the designation.

A collective mark or guarantee or certification mark cannot be registered if it is liable to deceive as to the character or meaning of the mark, such as if it is understood as something else than a collective mark or guarantee- and control mark.

A trademark cannot be registered without the consent of the relevant proprietor of rights if:

a. use of the trademark would infringe the right of another in this country to a trademark or business name or another business sign,
b. registration of the trademark is applied for by an agent or representative in his own name without the consent of the trademark proprietor and without due justification for his action
c. the trademark contains something that is liable to be perceived as another person’s name, stage name or portrait, unless it obviously refers to a person who is long dead,
d. the trademark contains something that is liable to be perceived as the distinctive title of another’s protected creative or intellectual work or it infringes another’s right in Norway to a creative or intellectual work or a photography or a design, or
e. the trademark infringes another’s right in Norway to a designation protected in regulations pursuant to the Norwegian Food Act.

If a trademark contains a component that cannot be registered separately, then, to avoid uncertainty about the scope of the trademark right, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may make registration subject to an indication, by means of a disclaimer, to the effect that this component is not covered by the protection afforded by registration. The fact that a disclaimer has not been made is of no significance to the scope of the trademark right.

If it later proves that the component of the trademark that has been excluded from protection could be registered separately, the trademark proprietor may make a new application for registration of that part or of the trademark as a whole without the disclaimer.

Trademarks are registered for specific goods or services within specified classes of goods or services. The classification of goods and services shall be set forth by the King.

Any person or legal person who has filed an application for registration of a trademark in a foreign state that is a party to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property or the WTO Agreement of 15 April 1994 Establishing the World Trade Organization and who, within six months thereafter, applies for registration of the trademark in Norway, may claim that the new application be considered to have been filed at the same time as the first application.

Anyone who has used a trademark for goods for the first time in connection with displaying it at an international exhibition, as stated in the Convention of 22 November 1928 on international exhibitions and who, within six months thereafter applies for registration of the trademark in Norway, may claim that the application be considered to have been filed on the date on which the trademark was first displayed at the exhibition.

The King may, in regulations, establish further conditions for the right to claim priority. The King may also establish that priority may be claimed in cases other than those specified in paragraphs one and two.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall ensure that the application meets the requirements in Sections 12 to 15, that any requirements for disclaimers have been complied with and that there are no registered trademarks or applications for registration that constitute obstacles to the registration of the trademark applied for.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office does not examine specifically whether there are other obstacles as mentioned in Section 16 to prevent registration. However, if the Norwegian Industrial Property Office becomes aware of such obstacles, the application shall be examined in relation to them.

For collective marks and guarantee and certification marks, the Norwegian Industrial Property further ensures that the regulations established for the use of the mark are not contrary to public order or morality.

Anyone who can prove that he is entitled to a trademark in an application filed by another party, may request that the Norwegian Industrial Property Office transfer the application. In such case, the person in question shall pay a new application fee, or the request shall be shelved.

If there is doubt as to who is entitled to the right, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may request that the party requesting the application be transferred to him bring legal actions within a time limit fixed by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. If no such legal actions are brought within the time limit, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may disregard the request. The party requesting the transfer shall be notified of this.

While a transfer case is being examined by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, the application may not be amended, shelved, refused or granted until the question of transfer has been finally decided.

If legal actions have been brought concerning the right to the trademark, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall postpone examination of the case concerning registration or transfer until the proceedings have been decided with legally binding effect.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall notify the applicant and the party who has requested that the application be transferred to him of the decision in the transfer case. A final decision that the application is to be transferred shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published.

If the application meets the conditions in Section 20, the trademark shall be registered, and a letter of registration sent to the applicant. Notice of the registration shall be published.

When a collective mark or guarantee or certification mark is registered, the regulations established for the use of the mark shall be registered and published with it. If the regulations are subsequently altered, the amended text shall immediately be submitted to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office for to registration and publishing. The amendments shall be recorded in the register if the requirements of Section 12 a, Section 15, paragraphs three and Section 20, paragraph three are met. The amendments enter into force on the date they are entered into the register.

If the application does not meet the conditions in Section 20, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall notify the applicant hereof and provide information about the possible effects of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be given a reasonable time limit to respond and, if possible, remedy the deficiencies.

If the deficiencies are remedied within the time limit prescribed by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, the application shall be considered to have been filed on the date on which it was received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. However, the application is not considered to have been filed until the requirements in Section 12 b are met (filing date).

If the applicant has not commented on or remedied the deficiencies before the time limit expires, the application shall be shelved.

The processing of a shelved application shall be resumed if the applicant responds to or remedies the deficiencies within two months after the expiry of the time limit. The stipulated fee shall be paid. The processing of an application can only be resumed once.

If the application has deficiencies that are not remedied according to Section 23, the application shall be refused unless the Norwegian Industrial Property Office considers that the applicant should be given a new time limit for correction.

Anyone may, as from the date of application, demand access to the application, including the enclosures and all the documents pertaining to the case, unless specified otherwise in paragraphs two and three.

Information on business secrets may be excluded from public access if the applicant so requests. When such a request has been filed, the information will not be available to the public before the request has been refused by a final decision. Information that is significant to whether the trademark can be registered or to the scope of the trademark right may not be excluded from public access. The regulations for use of a collective mark or gurantee or certification mark may not be excluded from public access. Section 12 of the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act applies correspondingly.

Documents prepared by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office for its internal case preparation may be excluded from public access.

When the registration of a trademark is published, any person may file an opposition to the registration. An opposition shall be filed in writing and shall be received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office within three months of the date of publication.

The opposition shall include:

a. the name and address of the person filing the opposition
b. a specification of the registration to which the opposition applies
c. the grounds on which the opposition is based
d. necessary documentation of circumstances invoked in support of the opposition.

The opposition shall also meet the requirements set forth by the King in regulations.
When an opposition has been received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, it shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and a notice thereof published.

If the opposition does not meet the conditions in Section 26, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall set a reasonable time limit to comment on it and, if possible, remedy the deficiencies. If the deficiencies are not remedied before the expiry of the time limit, the opposition shall be rejected, unless the Norwegian Industrial Property Office considers that a new time limit should be set for correction.

The trademark proprietor shall be notified of the opposition as soon as possible and be given the opportunity to comment.

If two or more oppositions have been filed to the same registration, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may join the cases as one case if no reasoned objection to this is made.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall only consider factors that invoked in the opposition. If an opposition is withdrawn, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may continue the processing of the opposition if there are special reasons for doing so.

When the parties are negotiating for a memorable solution and hand in a joint request for postponed processing of the opposition, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall grant such postponement for at least two months.

If an appellant requests that the registration of a trademark be transferred to him, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall transfer the registration if the right to the trademark is substantiated. In such case, the appellant shall pay a new application fee. Section 21, paragraphs two to five, shall apply correspondingly.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall cancel the registration of a trademark in full or in part if it was registered in contravention of Sections 14 to 16 and the obstacles to registration still exist, unless the registration may remain according to Sections 29 a or 35 b. The registration of a collective mark or guarantee or certification mark shall also be cancelled if the regulations governing the use of the mark were not submitted with the application and the deficiency was not corrected during the processing of the application, or if the registration was made in contravention of Section 12 a, Section 15, paragraph three or Section 20, paragraph three and the proprietor does not correct the deficiency by amending the regulations governing the use of the mark. The registration of a trademark shall, nevertheless, not be cancelled for contravening with Section 14, paragraph one, first sentence or Section 14, paragraph two where these requirements were met at the time of the filing of the opposition.

If there is no obstacle to the registration, the opposition shall be dismissed.

The trademark proprietor and the appellant shall be notified of the decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. When a final decision has been made in the case, the outcome shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and a notice thereof published.

If the opposition is based on an earlier trademark or company name, and at least five years had passed from the final decision on registration of this sign on the filing date for the later trademark, or the earlier priority date, the proprietor of the earlier trademark shall at the request of the applicant, furnish proof of genuine use of the earlier trademark pursuant to Section 37 during the five year period leading up to the said filing date or priority date, or that there are proper reasons for non-use. In the absence of such proof, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall not cancel the registration based on infringement of the right to the earlier trademark or company name.

If an earlier trademark or company name has been put to genuine use in relation to only part of the goods or services or part of the business for which it is registered, it shall, for the purpose of the processing of the opposition, be deemed to be registered in respect of that part of the goods or services or business only.

If, after an application for registration of a trademark has been granted, another application, according to Section 19, has been filed before the first mentioned application, and the Norwegian Industrial Property Office presumes that the earlier filed application would have constituted a full or partial obstacle to the registration of the first mentioned application, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall notify the trademark proprietor hereof and afford him the opportunity to file observations within a reasonable time limit. If the application with the better priority is granted, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall, after the expiry of the mentioned time limit, cancel the first registration to the extent to which the application with the best priority is an obstacle to the upheld registration.

Paragraph one applies correspondingly if the Norwegian Industrial Property Office presumes that an earlier application that is resumed according to Section 23, paragraph four, or is processed according to Section 80, would have comprised an obstacle to registration for a later application for registration that has already been granted.

Paragraph one also applies correspondingly if the Norwegian Industrial Property Office receives notification that an international trademark registration is to take effect in Norway pursuant to Section 70 and assumes that the international registration would have comprised an obstacle to registration for an application that has been granted and that is considered to have been filed on a date later than the date from which the international registration is to take effect in Norway, cf. Section 72.

The final decision in cases under this Section shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and published.

Anyone may request access to documents in cases concerning opposition and cancellation. The provisions in Section 25, paragraphs two and three, apply correspondingly.

A trademark registration is valid for ten years from the filing date. Registration may subsequently be renewed fully or in part for ten years at a time. Each period runs from the expiration of the previous period.

A request for renewal shall be filed in writing with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office no earlier than six months before and no later than six months after the expiration of the registration period. The stipulated fee shall be paid. If the request for renewal is filed after the end of the registration period, an additional fee shall be paid.

Payment of the renewal fee with an indication of the trademark’s registration number, made within the time limits set forth in paragraph one, shall be regarded as a request for renewal.

Renewal of a registration shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and a notice hereof published. In the case of a partial renewal, the renewal shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and be published only for the relevant goods or services.

The trademark proprietor may request that the Norwegian Industrial Property Office make alterations to a registered trademark if the alterations are insignificant and do not affect the overall impression of the trademark. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the request shall be considered not to be received.

Alteration of a registered trademark shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and published. A new letter of registration shall be sent to the trademark proprietor.

The registration of a trademark shall be declared invalid in full or in part by a court ruling or by a decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office (administrative review) according to Sections 38 to 40 if the registration took place in contravention of Sections 14 to 16 and cannot remain in force according to Section 8, paragraph one, Section 35 a or Section 35 b. The registration of a collective mark or guarantee or certification mark shall be declared invalid if the regulations on the use of the mark were not submitted with the application and the deficiency was not remedied during the processing of the application, or if the registration took in place in contravention of Section 12 a, Section 15, paragraph three or Section 20, paragraph three, and the proprietor does not remedy the deficiency by amending the regulations for use of the mark.

However, the registration shall not be declared invalid for contravening with Section 14, paragraph one, first sentence or Section 14, paragraph two if these conditions were met when the request for invalidation was filed. Nor shall a registration be declared invalid on the grounds that use of the trademark would infringe the right to a trademark established by use if the establishment by use exists only within a small part of the realm.

If the request for invalidity is based on an earlier registered trademark or company name, the proprietor of the earlier sign shall, at the request of the proprietor of the later trademark registration, furnish proof that the earlier sign during the five-year period leading up to the date of the request for invalidation has been put to genuine use pursuant to Section 37 for the goods or services or the business it is registered for and which are cited as justification for the request for invalidation, or that there are proper reasons for non-use. This only applies when at the date of the request for invalidity, at least five years had passed from the final decision for registration of the earlier trademark or company name.

If, at the filing date of the earlier trademark, or the earlier priority date, at least five years had passed from the date of the final decision for registration of the earlier trademark or company name, the proprietor of the earlier trademark or company name shall additionally furnish proof that the sign has been put to genuine use during the five-year period leading up to the said filing or priority date, or that there were proper reasons for non-use.

If the proprietor of the earlier trademark or company name cannot submit proof of use of the sign as prescribed in paras 1 and 2, the request for invalidity based on infringement of the earlier trademark or company name shall be dismissed.

If an earlier trademark or company name has been put to genuine use in relation to only part of the goods or services or part of the business for which it is registered, it shall, for the purpose of the processing of the request for invalidity, be deemed to be registered in respect of that part of the goods or services or business only.

A request for declaration of invalidity based on an earlier trademark shall not succeed if the request would not have been successful at the filing date or priority date of the later mark because:

a. the earlier trademark did not meet the requirements of Section 14, paragraph one, first sentence or Section 14, paragraph two and had not yet acquired a distinctive character as referred to Section in 14, paragraph three, second sentence.
b. the request for invalidity is based on Section 4, paragraph one, letter b, and the earlier trademark had not yet acquired sufficiently distinctive character to support a finding of likelihood of confusion, or
c. the request for invalidity is based on Section 4, paragraph two and the earlier trademark was not yet well-known.

A registration of a trademark shall be revoked in full or in part by a court ruling or by administrative review according to the provisions in Sections 38 to 40 if:

a. the trademark, due to the acts or inactivity by the trademark proprietor har become the common name in the trade for the product or service for which it is registered
b. the trademark as a consequence of its use by the trademark proprietor or someone with his consent for goods or services for which it is registered, the trademark has become liable to deceive, in particular in respect of the kind, quality or geographical origin,
c. the collective mark or guarantee or certification mark has been used contrary to the regulations governing use of the mark, including possible amendments recorded in the Trademark register, without the proprietor taking reasonable steps to prevent such use,
d. the collective mark or guarantee or certification mark has been used by those entitled to use it in a way that has made the mark become liable to deceive as to the character or meaning or the mark as prescribed in Section 15, paragraph three, or
e. the amendments in the regulations for use of a collective mark or guarantee or certification mark is recorded in the Trademark register in breach of Section 22, paragraph two, third sentence, unless the proprietor corrects the breach by a further amendment of the regulations.

A registration of a trademark shall be revoked in full or in part by a court ruling or by administrative review pursuant to Sections 38 to 40 if the trademark proprietor has not, within five years of the date on which a final decision on registration of the trademark was made, made actual use of the trademark in Norway for the goods or services for which it is registered, or if the use has been discontinued for five consecutive years. However, the registration shall not be revoked if there are reasonable grounds for the non-use or discontinuation.

Use of the trademark according to paragraph one also includes use of the trademark in a form that differs from the form in which it is registered only in details that do not affect its distinctive character, regardless of if the trademark in this form is protected by specific registration by the trademark proprietor, and use of the trademark in the realm on goods or on their packaging destined for export. Use by the trademark proprietor also includes use by another person with the consent of the trademark proprietor. For collective marks and guarantee and certification marks, use by any entitled user of the mark is considered use by the proprietor of the mark.

A registration shall not be revoked if use of the trademark is started or resumed after the end of the five-year period, but before legal actions are brought or a request is made for an administrative review to have the registration revoked. However, use in the last three months before legal actions are brought or a request is made for an administrative review shall be disregarded, if the preparations for use were begun only after the trademark proprietor learned that legal action may be brought or a request for a review made.

A decision of registration of the mark becomes final when the time limit for filing oppositions pursuant to Section 26 has expired, or, in the case that an opposition has been lodged, when a final decision in the opposition proceedings has been made, or the opposition was withdrawn. With regard to international trademark registrations, a decision on registration becomes final where it is finally determined that the registration takes effect in this country pursuant to Sections 70 and 71. The date of commencement of the five year period shall be entered into the register by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

If a basis for invalidity or revocation set forth in Sections 35 to 37 only applies to some of the goods or services for which the trademark is registered, the registration shall be invalidated or revoked with effect only for these goods or services.

Legal action or a request for an administrative review based on Sections 35 to 37 may be brought or made by any person who has a legal interest in the matter. A request for an administrative review may also be made by the trademark proprietor. Legal action based on Section 14, 15 or 36 may also be brought by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

A request for an administrative review under Sections 35 to 37 may be made when the opposition time limit has expired, and any opposition cases have been settled with a final decision. The request shall be filed in writing with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and include:

a. the name and address of the person who has filed the request
b. a specification of the trademark registration to which the request applies
c. the grounds on which the request is based
d. necessary documentation of circumstances invoked in support of the request.

The request shall also meet the conditions in provisions set forth by the King in regulations. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the request shall be considered not to be received.

If the request does not meet the conditions set forth in paragraph one and Section 39, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall set a reasonable time limit for comments on and, if possible, remedy of the deficiencies. If the deficiencies are not remedied before the expiry of the time limit, the request shall be rejected unless the Norwegian Industrial Property Office considers that a new time limit for correction should be set. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office may also reject the request if the case cannot be decided by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, especially because the factual matters are disputed or unclear.

If the request has been made by persons other than the proprietor of the registration, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall notify the proprietor of the request as soon as possible, with a reasonable time limit for comments. The person requesting an administrative review shall notify all licensees and lienholders registered in the Trademark Register with an address of this by registered post. If it is not documented that such notification has been given, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may set a time limit for giving notification. If the time limit is not met, the request shall be rejected.

If two or more requests have been filed for reviews of the same trademark registration, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may combine the cases if no reasoned objection to this is made. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office can only consider factors that are referred to in the request.

A request for an administrative review may not be made until legal proceedings concerning invalidity or revocation have been decided with legally binding effect. If legal action concerning invalidity or revocation are brought before a final decision has been made in a matter concerning an administrative review, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall await further procedure of the matter the matter until the legal proceedings have been decided with legally binding effect if the request for an administrative review was made by persons other than the trademark proprietor.

A person who has made a request for an administrative review may not bring legal action concerning invalidity or revocation while the case is being processed by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

A request for an administrative review may not be made by a party who has previously brought legal actions concerning invalidity or revocation if the rules on force of law prevent legal actions being brought again in the same matter.

If the trademark proprietor and the person challenging the registration of the trademark agree, the matter of the validity or revocation of the registration may be decided with final effect by the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the request shall be considered not to be received.

If there is reasonable doubt whether a trademark proprietor exists, anyone may request the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, in writing, to revoke the registration. The same applies if the trademark proprietor’s address is unknown. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the request shall be considered not to be received.

Before a registration may be revoked pursuant to paragraph one, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall request the trademark proprietor to report within a reasonable time limit. This request shall be made by registered post or in some other satisfactory manner. If the trademark proprietor’s address is unknown, the request is made by publication in Norsk Varemerketidende (the Norwegian Trademark Journal).

If the trademark proprietor has not reported within the time limit, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall decide whether to revoke the registration of the trademark.

A legally binding decision by a court or final decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to invalidate a registration in full or in part takes effect from the date on which the application for registration was filed.

A legally binding decision by a court or a final decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to revoke a registration fully or in part takes effect from the time at which legal action were brought or a request for revocation was filed with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. However, following a request from a party to the case, it may be established in a court ruling or a decision based on Section 36 that the decision will take effect from an earlier time at which a basis for revocation existed.

If a registration of a trademark, a renewal or an alteration of a registration has taken place by obvious mistake, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may cancel the registration fully or partly on its own initiative.

The trademark proprietor shall be notified, with a reasonable time limit for comments, before cancellation is carried out.

The registration of a trademark shall be revoked after the expiry of the registration period if the registration is not renewed or if the trademark proprietor requests in writing that the registration be revoked.

If legal action has been brought concerning the right to the trademark, or if the trademark right has been used as a lien, the registration may not be revoked following a request from the trademark proprietor until the legal action has been decided with legally binding effect or the lien has been removed.

If a request has been made for administrative review of a trademark registration or legal action have been brought concerning the invalidity or revocation of such a registration, this shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published. When a final decision has been made in the case, the outcome shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published.

A final decision concerning the cancellation of a registration pursuant to Section 45 shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published. The same applies to a final decision concerning invalidity or revocation pursuant to Section 42 and revocation pursuant to Sections 43 and 46.

Any person may request access to documents in cases for the Norwegian Industrial Property Office pursuant to this Chapter. The provisions in Section 25, paragraphs two and three, apply correspondingly.

A decision of the Norwegian Industrial Property Office on an application for trademark registration or a request for an international trademark registration to have effect in Norway may be appealed by the applicant to the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights (Board of Appeal) if the decision went against the applicant. The same applies to a decision of the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to reject an application for international trademark registration pursuant to Section 68, paragraph three.

The decision in an opposition case may be appealed to the Board of Appeal by the party against whom the decision was made. If a request for a transfer of an application pursuant to Section 21 or a registration pursuant to Section 28 is granted, the decision may be appealed to the Board of Appeal by the applicant or the trademark proprietor.

The decision in a case concerning an administrative review pursuant to Sections 35 to 37, cf. Section 40, may be appealed to the Board of Appeal by the party against whom the decision was made. This does not apply to a decision to reject a request pursuant to Section 40, paragraph two, sentence three.

The trademark proprietor may appeal to the Board of Appeal against a decision to cancel a registration pursuant to Section 30 or 45 or to revoke a registration pursuant to Section 43.

A decision to reject or refuse a request to:

1. resume processing pursuant to Section 23, paragraph four
2. exclude information from public access pursuant to Section 25, paragraph two, Sections 31, 48, 51, paragraph five, and 76
3. access documents in matters concerning this Act
4. renew a trademark registration pursuant to Section 33
5. alter a trademark pursuant to Section 34
6. have a case processed pursuant to Section 80 may be appealed to the Board of Appeal by the person who made the request.

Other decisions of the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may not be appealed.

An appeal shall be filed in writing with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office within two months after the date on which notification of the decision was sent to the party in question. The appeal shall include:

a. the name and address of the appellant
b. the decision being appealed
c. the amendment to the decision requested
d. the grounds on which the appeal is based.

The appeal shall also meet the conditions set forth by the King in regulations. The stipulated appeal fee shall be paid, or the appeal shall not be admitted for examination.

Other parties in the case shall be notified of the appeal as soon as possible, with a reasonable time limit for comments.

Provided that the conditions for processing the appeal are met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may revoke or amend the decision if it considers it obvious that the appeal will succeed. If no such decision is made, the case shall be referred to the Board of Appeal. If the Norwegian Industrial Property Office makes a comment to the Board of Appeal, a copy shall be sent to the parties.

If the conditions for processing the appeal are not met, the appellant shall be given a reasonable time limit for comments on and, if possible, correction of the deficiencies. If the deficiencies are not remedied before the expiry of the time limit, the appeal shall be rejected unless the Board of Appeal considers that a new time limit for correction should be set.

If the appeal is processed, the Board of Appeal shall make the investigations occasioned by the appeal. It may consider factors that are not referred to in the appeal. If the appeal is withdrawn, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may continue processing the case if there are special reasons for doing so. In case of an appeal of a decision on an opposition or administrative review, the Board of Appeal may only consider the merits mentioned in the opposition or request. In the case of an administrative review, the processing of the appeal cannot continue if the appeal has been withdrawn.

Any person may request access to documents in appeal cases. The provisions in Section 25, paragraphs two and three, apply correspondingly.

A decision from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may only be brought before the courts if the right of appeal pursuant to Section 49 has been exercised and the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights (Board of Appeal) has made a decision on the appeal. Paragraph one does not concern the right to bring legal proceedings concerning invalidity or revocation pursuant to Sections 35 to 37 or concerning the right to the trademark.

The decision in the Board of Appeal in an appeal case may be brought before the courts by the party against whom the decision was made, unless paragraph three specifies otherwise. Legal proceedings shall be brought within two months after the date on which notification of the decision was sent to the party in question. Information on the time limit for bringing legal proceedings shall be included in the notification of the decision.

The decision of the Board of Appeal in a case concerning the transfer of an application or registration may not be brought before the courts. The same applies to a decision by which the Board of Appeal rejects or dismisses an opposition, rejects or refuses a request for an administrative review pursuant to Section 40 or upholds a decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office on such a rejection, dismissal or refusal.

A trademark right or the right to an application for trademark registration may be transferred fully or in part, separately or together with the undertaking to which the trademark is linked.

If an undertaking changes ownership, the right to trademarks linked to the undertaking transfers with it, unless agreement to the contrary or circumstances clearly dictate otherwise.

A proprietor of a trademark or application for trademark registration may grant another person the right to use the trademark in an industrial or commercial undertaking (license). The licensee may not transfer his right further, unless agreed otherwise. The license may be exclusive or non-exclusive, concern all or some of the goods and services for which the mark is registered, and the whole or parts of the realm.

The proprietor of a trademark may invoke the provisions in Chapter 8 in relation to a licensee who fails to comply with the provisions of the license agreement with regard to the duration of the license, the form in which the trademark may be used, the goods or services for which it may be used, the geographical territory in which the trademark may be used or the quality of the goods or services for which the trademark may be used.

A trademark right only protected by use pursuant to Section 3, paragraph three, may not be subject to attachment or any other separate enforcement proceedings on the part of creditors.

Legal proceedings concerning a registered trademark may always be brought against the person registered as the trademark proprietor in the Trademark Register, and notifications from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to the proprietor of the trademark may always be sent to this person.

If the right to a trademark which is registered or for which registration has been applied for has been assigned to another person, this shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published if one of the parties so requests. Section 78 applies correspondingly.

A license for a trademark that has been registered or for which an application for registration has been filed shall be entered in the Trademark Register and published if one of the parties so requests. The same applies if a registered license has been assigned or has lapsed.

A lien in a trademark pursuant to Section 4-11 of the Mortgage Act shall by request from the lienholder or the proprietor of the application or the right subject to the lien, be recorded in the Trademark Register. This also applies to assignments of and sub-liens in such lien. Documentation of the lien or assignment shall accompany the request for recording. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall assume the recorded proprietor to an application or right in the Trademark Register to be entitled to approve the lien, unless circumstances clearly indicate otherwise. This also applies to any party having assigned or established a sub-lien in a lien. The removal of the lien shall be recorded.

Section 7-20, paragraph nine of the Enforcement Act, cf. Section 33-7, paragraph two of the Civil Procedures Act apply to the recording in the Trademark Register of attachments and arrests in registered trademarks and trademark applications.

The parties may appeal the denial by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office to conduct the recording pursuant to this Section to the Board of Appeal. The appeal must be received by The Norwegian Industrial Property Office within two months from the date on which the notice of the denial was sent to the party. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the appeal will not be admitted for processing. Are the requirements for processing the appeal met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office may change its decision if it finds the appeal to be well-founded. In the case that no such decision is made, the appeal will be transmitted to the Board of Appeal. The director of the Board of Appeal may always decide on appeals pursuant to this paragraph in his own capacity.

In the case of a conflict between a right established by voluntary transfer of a registered trademark, including trademark application, the grant of a license, the transfer of a license, a lien in a trademark as mentioned in the Mortgage Act Section 4-11, including transfer of and sub-liens in such liens, and arrest and distraint, rights for which the request for recording in the Trademark Register has been received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall prevail over rights for which request for recording has not been received on the same date or earlier.

Rights for which the request for recording has been received on the same date have equal priority. Distraints and arrests shall, however, prevail over rights established otherwise. Are more distraints and arrests received for recording on the same date, the earlier shall prevail.

Notwithstanding paragraphs one and two, an older right prevails, if the later right is based on a voluntary transfer of rights and the transferee knew, or should have known about the earlier right at the time when the request for recording was received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

Sections 23 to 26 and 30 to 32 a of the Land Registration Act applies as applicable.

In a case of conflict between a right mentioned in paragraph one and a lien on operating accessories under Sections 3-4 or 5-4 of the Mortage Act including a right in a trademark application, registered trademark or license in such rights, a right for which request for recording has been received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office prevails over a lien on operating accessories for which a request for recording in the Register of Mortgaged Moveable Property has not been received on the same date or earlier. The second paragraph applies correspondingly. An earlier lien on operating accessories for which a request for recording in the Register of Mortgaged Moveable Property has not been received prevails over later legal transfers as mentioned in the first paragraph as long as the later right is based on a voluntary legal transfer and the transferee knew, or should have known about the lien on operating accessories at the time when the request for recording was received by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

Any person who has infringed another person's rights pursuant to this Act, or aided and abetted thereto, may by judgment be prohibited from repeating this action. Any person who has made significant preparations with a view to carrying out an action that would constitute an infringement, or who has in some other manner acted in a way that gives particular grounds for fearing that the person in question will commit an infringement, may be prohibited by judgment from carrying out the action.

If the conditions for revocation of the trademark of the appellant pursuant to Section 37 were fulfilled at the time when the infringement proceedings were brought, such prohibition cannot be decided. If, at the time of the initiation of the infringement proceedings, more than five years had passed from the final decision on registration of the mark, and the defendant so requests, the appellant shall furnish proof that the trademark in the five year period leading up to the proceedings has been put to genuine use pursuant to Section 37 for the goods or services for which it is registered and which the proceedings concerns, or that there are proper reasons for non-use.

For trademark infringements committed with intent or through negligence, the infringer shall pay the rightholder:

a) compensation corresponding to a reasonable license fee for the exploitation, as well as damages for any loss resulting from the infringement that would not have arisen in connection with licensing,
b) damages for any loss resulting from the infringement, or
c) compensation corresponding to the gain obtained as a result of the infringement.

The compensation and damages are stipulated on the basis of the provision in letters a to c that is most favourable for the rightholder.

If the infringement was committed intentionally or through gross negligence, the infringer shall, if the rightholder so demands, pay compensation corresponding to double a reasonable license free for the exploitation instead of compensation and damages stipulated pursuant to the first paragraph.

The first and second paragraphs apply correspondingly to aiding and abetting.

For infringements that have taken place in good faith, the infringer shall, insofar as this is not seen as unreasonable, pay compensation corresponding to a reasonable license fee for the exploitation or corresponding to the gain procured as a result of the infringement.

The liability under the first to third paragraphs may be reduced pursuant to the Act of 13 June 1969 No 26 on compensatory damages Section 5-2.

The holder of a collective mark or guarantee or certification mark may also claim damages for losses incurred by others who have a right to use the mark.

In order to prevent an infringement, the court may, insofar as this is deemed to be reasonable, order preventive measures to be taken in relation to products that constitute an infringement of a trademark right, and in relation to materials and implements that are principally used, or intended to be used, for the manufacture of such products. Such measures can, among other things, entail products and materials and implements being:

a) recalled from the channels of commerce,
b) definitively removed from the channels of commerce,
c) destroyed, or
d) handed over to the rightholder.

The decision concerning whether such measures shall be imposed and the choice between possible measures shall be made on the basis of an assessment of proportionality. Among other things, account shall be taken of the gravity of the infringement, the effects of the measures and third-party interests.

The first paragraph applies correspondingly in cases as mentioned in Section 57 second sentence.

Measures imposed pursuant to this section shall not be contingent on the rightholder paying compensation to the party against whom the measure is directed, and they do not affect the rightholder's right to compensation or damages pursuant to Section 58. Measures shall be carried out for the defendant's account unless special grounds indicate otherwise.

In a judgment in an infringement case, the court may order that information about the judgment shall be communicated in a suitable manner for the infringer's account. This applies correspondingly to aiding and abetting infringement and in cases as mentioned in Section 57 second sentence.

In civil cases concerning infringement of a registered trademark, it can only be presumed that the registration is invalid or can be revoked pursuant to the provisions in Sections 35 to 37 or transfer demanded if invalidity, revocation or transfer has already been decided by a court or a final decision by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

Any person who commits a trademark infringement is liable to fines or imprisonment for a term of up to one year.

If especially aggravating circumstances exist, the penalty shall be fines or imprisonment for a term of up to three years. When assessing whether especially aggravating circumstances exist, particular importance shall be attached to the damage inflicted on the rightholder, including any damage to the rightholder's commercial reputation, the gain procured by the infringer, and the extent of the infringement in other respects.

In the case of infringements of a collective mark or a guarantee or certification mark, only the mark holder is deemed to be the aggrieved party.

If any person, without the consent of the applicant, exploits a trademark for which an application for registration has been submitted during the period between the application being submitted and the announcement of the registration, Section 57, Section 58 first to third and fifth and sixth paragraphs, Sections 59 and 59 a shall apply correspondingly insofar as the application leads to registration.

The limitation period for claims pursuant to this section does not start to run until the trademark is registered.

The following actions must be brought before Oslo District Court:

a) actions concerning a review of a decision made by the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights as mentioned in Section 52
b) actions concerning invalidity or revocation of a trademark registration pursuant to Section 35 to 37
c) civil actions concerning infringements of a registered trademark.

Oslo District Court is the venue for applicants and trademark proprietors who are not domiciled in Norway.

If a license has been granted to use a trademark, the licensee may only bring legal proceedings concerning trademark infringement with the consent of the trademark proprietor, unless agreed otherwise. The holder of an exclusive license may, nevertheless, bring such legal proceedings if the trademark proprietor, after having been informed of the legal proceedings, does not himself raise such infringement proceedings within reasonable time.

The licensee may enter as party to the legal proceedings concerning trademark infringement brought by the trademark proprietor and raise claims pursuant to Section 58 for the part of the infringement that afflicts the licensee.

The first and second paragraphs applies correspondingly to whoever has the right to use a collective mark. In the event of infringement of the right to a guarantee or control mark, only the trademark proprietor may bring legal proceedings.

A person who brings legal proceedings concerning invalidity or revocation of a trademark registration pursuant to Sections 35 to 37 shall also give notification of this to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and by registered letter to each licensee and lienholder recorded in the Trademark Register with an address. A licensee or lienholder or user of a collective mark who brings legal proceedings concerning trademark infringement shall notify the trademark proprietor by means of registered letter.

If the plaintiff does not prove that the necessary notifications have been given, the court may set a time limit for giving such notification. If the time limit is not met, the case shall be rejected.

The court shall transmit to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office a transcript of decisions in civil cases concerning trademark registrations or applications.

An international trademark registration is a registration of a trademark by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks of April 14, 1891, adopted at Madrid on June 27, 1989 (the Madrid Protocol).

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office is the trademark authority in Norway in cases concerning the international registration of trademarks.

A person who is a Norwegian citizen or domiciled or operating an industrial or commercial establishment in Norway and has a trademark registration or has filed an application for such a registration in Norway, may apply for international registration of the trademark by filing an application with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

The application shall be in writing and in English and include an indication of:

a. the name and address of the applicant
b. the number(s) and date(s) of the Norwegian trademark registration(s) or application(s) on which the international registration is to be based
c. a representation of the trademark
d. a list of the goods or services for which the trademark is to be registered
e. a list of the designated countries or international organisation for which registration is requested

The application shall further meet the requirements set forth by the King in regulations. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the application shall be considered not to be received.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall ensure that the conditions set forth in Section 67 are met and that the information in the application is in accordance with the information stated in the Norwegian trademark registration(s) or application(s) on which the international application is based.

If the application meets the requirements specified in paragraph one, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall transmit the application to the International Bureau.

If the application does not meet the requirements specified in paragraph one, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall notify the applicant of this and provide information about the possible effects of the deficiencies. The applicant shall be given a reasonable time limit to comment on and, if possible, remedy the deficiencies. If the applicant has not commented on or remedied the deficiencies within the prescribed period, the application shall be rejected.

Any person or legal person who is a Norwegian citizen or domiciled or operating an industrial or commercial establishment in Norway and has an international registration based on a Norwegian registration or application and wants the international registration to take effect in other countries or in international organisations may file an application for this to the International Bureau or the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.

The application filed with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall be in writing in English and include an indication of:

a. the name and address of the applicant
b. the number of the international registration
c. the country or countries or international organisations for which the registration is requested
d. whether the application applies to all of the goods or services the international registration covers or only specified goods or services.

When the Norwegian Industrial Property Office receives notification from the International Bureau with a request from the proprietor for an international trademark registration to take effect in Norway, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall examine whether the requirements for registration set forth in Sections 14 to 16 are met.

If the requirements for registration are met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall record the international trademark registration in the Trademark Register and publish a notification stating that it has taken effect in Norway.

If the requirements for registration have not been met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall refuse, in full or in part, to grant the international registration effect in Norway. The International Bureau shall be notified of such refusal within 18 months after the Norwegian Industrial Property Office received notification as stated in paragraph one.

In the event of refusal, the proprietor of the international registration may, subject to the requirements set forth in regulations, request that the Norwegian Industrial Property Office reassess whether the international registration is to take effect in Norway.

Section 23 applies correspondingly to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office’s processing of a request for an international trademark registration to take effect in Norway. Section 19 applies if the proprietor of the international registration has invoked priority.

Any person may, within three months after the publication date, file an opposition against an international trademark registration taking effect in Norway. Section 26 applies correspondingly to the filing and publication of oppositions. Sections 27, 27 a and 28 apply correspondingly to the processing of oppositions.

If a condition for registration pursuant to Sections 14 to 16 has not been met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall rule that the international registration will not take effect, in full or in part, in Norway if the time limit pursuant to Section 70, paragraph three, sentence two, has not expired, or the Norwegian Industrial Property Office has, within the prescribed period, given the International Bureau notification that an opposition may be filed after the expiry of the time limit and notification of the opposition has been sent within one month after the expiry of the time limit for opposition. Section 29, paragrpah one, second and third sentence and Section 29 a applies correspondingly.

If the conditions for registration have been met, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall reject the opposition.

The proprietor of the international registration and the person making the opposition shall be notified of the Norwegian Industrial Property Office’s decision in opposition cases. When a final decision has been made in the case, the outcome shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and published.

A recording in the Trademark Register that an international trademark registration has effect in Norway shall have the same effect as if the trademark was registered in this country. The recording is effective from the date on which the registration is deemed to have been made with the International Bureau, or from the date of a subsequent designation of Norway. Until the international registration is recorded in the trademark register and published according to Section 70, second paragraph, the registration or a subsequent designation of Norway has the same effect as an application for trademark registration in Norway. If anyone uses the trademark without consent from the international trademark holder after the registration with the international bureau or a subsequent designation of Norway, Sections 57, 58 first to third paragraph and sixth paragraph, Sections 59 and 59 a shall apply accordingly if the registration is later recorded in the Trademark Register. The limitation period for a request according to paragraph four shall not start to run until the registration is recorded in the Trademark register.

The registration is effective for ten years from the date on which the registration with the International Bureau is deemed to have been made. It may be renewed for ten years at a time as set forth in the Madrid Protocol. When the Norwegian Industrial Property Office receives notification from the International Bureau of renewal of an international registration, this shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and a notice thereof published.

An entry in the Trademark Register that an international registration has effect in Norway may be cancelled pursuant to Sections 30 and 45 and declared invalid or revoked pursuant to the provisions in Chapter 5. Cancellation pursuant to Sections 30 and 45 shall take place within the prescribed period pursuant to Section 70, paragraph three, sentence two.

The International Bureau shall be notified of the assignment and licensing of the right to international trademark registrations. Legal actions concerning the trademark may always be brought against the person registered as the proprietor in the international register.

If a person has both an international registration which is effective in Norway and a Norwegian registration of the same trademark, the international registration replaces the Norwegian registration if the international registration has effect in Norway from a later date than the Norwegian registration, and all goods or services covered by the Norwegian registration are included in the list of goods or services covered by the international registration as it applies to Norway. This entails no restrictions to rights already acquired on the basis of the Norwegian registration.

Following a request from the trademark proprietor, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall record the replacement of the Norwegian registration with the international registration in the Trademark Register and publish a notice thereof.

If an international registration ceases to apply in full or in part, its effect in Norway ceases at the same time to the corresponding extent. This shall be recorded in the Trademark Register and a notice thereof published.

If an international registration that has effect in Norway ceases to apply in full or in part as a result of the lapse of the national registration or application on which it is based, and the proprietor subsequently files an application with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office requesting to register the trademark in Norway, such registration shall take effect from the date on which the international registration took effect in Norway if the request is filed within three months after the date on which the international registration ceased, and the goods or services specified in the application were covered by the international registration as it applied in Norway.

If an international registration that has effect in Norway ceases to apply in full or in part as a result of termination of the Madrid Protocol and the proprietor subsequently files an application with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office requesting to register the trademark in Norway, such registration shall take effect from the date on which the international registration took effect in Norway if the application is filed within two years after the date on which the termination took effect in Norway, and the goods or services specified in the application were covered by the international registration as it applied in Norway.

Any person may request access to documents at the Norwegian Industrial Property Office in cases under this Chapter. Section 25, paragraphs two and three, apply correspondingly.

Notifications from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office or the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights to an applicant, a registration proprietor, an opposing party or a party requesting an administrative review under Section 40 are always considered to have been submitted when they have been sent to the address that the person in question specified most recently to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office or the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights. The address is recorded in the Trademark Register. For applicants and trademark proprietors who have a representative, notification may be sent to the representative.

If the registered address proves to be incorrect, the notification or a summary of it, including information that the document is available with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office or the Norwegian Board of Appeal for Industrial Property Rights, shall be included in Norsk Varemerketidende (the Norwegian Trademark Journal),

If service or any other procedural notification cannot be submitted at the registered address or the representative, paragraph two applies correspondingly to a court. In such case, the document shall be considered to have been served or notification to have been given four weeks after publication in Norsk Varemerketidende (the Norwegian Trademark Journal).

If an applicant or registration proprietor has otherwise appointed a representative to represent him in matters concerning the application or registration, the name and address of the representative shall be recorded in the Trademark Register. The same applies if an opposition party or a party requesting an administrative review has appointed a representative to represent him in matters concerning the opposition or the review request.

A person who applies to register a trademark without operating an industrial or commercial establishment in Norway and who is not domiciled in a state that is a party to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property or the WTO Agreement of 15 April 1994 Establishing the World Trade Organization shall prove that the trademark is registered for the person in question in his country of origin for the goods or services to which the application applies.

Paragraph one does not apply if the applicant’s country of origin does not require corresponding proof for trademarks for which registration is applied for there by the owners of industrial or commercial undertakings in Norway.

The King may set forth in regulations that a trademark that is registered in a foreign state may be registered in Norway on specific conditions in the same way as it is registered in the foreign state.

If a trademark is registered under paragraph one that could not otherwise have obtained protection by registration in Norway, the registration protection does not apply to any greater extent or for any longer period than in the foreign state.

A party who, in relation to the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, has failed to comply with a time limit set forth in or in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 2, 4 or 6 or Section 68, paragraph three, and has consequently suffered a loss of rights shall, if he so requests, nevertheless have a case processed if it is substantiated that the failure to comply with the time limit was unintentional. The request shall be filed in writing with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office within two months after the obstacle that led to the non-compliance with the time limit ceased and no later than six months after the expiry of the time limit. The action omitted shall be carried out within the same time limit. The stipulated fee shall be paid, or the request shall be considered not to be received.

Paragraph one does not apply to time limits referred to in Section 19 on priority, the time limit for appealing decisions as specified in Section 49, paragraphs two and three, or the time limit for legal proceedings under Section 52, paragraph two, sentence two.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office shall keep the Trademark Register and publish a journal in which registrations, etc. are published.

Any person shall be entitled to view the Trademark Register and receive certified printouts of it. The stipulated fee shall be paid for printouts.

The stipulated fee shall be paid for copies of documents that are public under this Act. The fee rates for printouts and copies according to this paragraph shall be set to a level where the total income does not exceed the actual costs of communicating the information, with reasonable level of profit added.

The King may, in regulations, issue further provisions to supplement and implement this Act. The King may, inter alia, issue provisions on:

a. filing and processing applications and oppositions, including the right to use a language other than Norwegian in correspondence with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office
b. international applications and registrations
c. dividing and merging applications and registrations and fees for this
d. the length of time limits set according to this Act
e. keeping of and access to the Trademark Register, including requests for recordings in the register and the processing of such
f. publications under the Act
g. the journal published by the Norwegian Industrial Property Office
h. fee rates and payment of these.

This Act takes effect from the time determined by the King.1 From the time at which the Act enters into force, Act no. 4 of 3 March 1961 on trademarks and Act no. 5 of 3 March 1961 on collective marks are repealed.

Section 32, sentence one, applies only to applications filed after this Act has entered into force.

Applications to register trademarks and collective marks that are filed before the Act enters into force shall be considered to meet the requirements for the content of the application if the provisions on this in Act no. 4 of 3 March 1961 on trademarks and Act no. 5 of 3 March 1961 on collective marks and their regulations are met.

A registration of a trademark or collective mark that is made before the Act enters into force may only be cancelled following an opposition or invalidated to the extent to which this would be justified in accordance to Act no. 4 of 3 March 1961 on trademarks and Act no. 5 of 3 March 1961 on collective marks. However, the provisions on revocation in Sections 36, 37, 42 and 43 also apply to registrations made before the Act enters into force. Except from this the Act also applies to registrations made before the Act enters into force.

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