The Trade Marks Act,1999
113. Procedure where invalidity of registration is pleaded by the accused.—
(1) Where the offence charged under section 103 or section 104 or section 105 is in relation to a registered trade mark and the accused pleads that the registration of the trade mark is invalid, the following procedure shall be followed:—
(a) If the court is satisfied that such defence is prima facie tenable, it shall not proceed with the charge but shall adjourn the proceeding for three months from the date on which the plea of the accused is recorded to enable the accused to file an application before the Appellate Board under this Act, for the rectification of the register on the ground that the registration is invalid.
(b) If the accused proves to the court that he has made such application within the time so limited or within such further time as the court may for sufficient cause allow, the further proceedings in the prosecution shall stand stayed till the disposal of such application for rectification.
(c) If within a period of three months or within such extended time as may be allowed by the court the accused fails to apply to the Appellate Board for rectification of the register, the court shall proceed with the case as if the registration were valid.
(2) Where before the institution of a complaint of an offence referred to in sub-section (1), any application for the rectification of the register concerning the trade mark in question on the ground of invalidity of the registration thereof has already been properly made to and is pending before the tribunal, the court shall stay the further proceedings in the prosecution pending the disposal of the application aforesaid and shall determine the charge against the accused in conformity with the result of the application for rectification in so far as the complainant relies upon the registration of his mark.
Comments
This section provides that if the court is satisfied with the defence of invalidity of the registration, it may adjourn the proceedings for three months to enable an application for rectification of the register to be filed before the Appellate Board. If the accused proves that he has made such application, further proceedings shall stand stayed till the disposal of rectification application. On the other hand, if within the period allowed by the court, the accused fails to apply for rectification before the Appellate Board, the court is bound to proceed with the case as if registration is valid. It also provides that where any application for rectification is pending before the institution of the criminal proceedings, the court shall stay the proceedings in the prosecution pending the outcome of the rectification application and determine the charge in conformity thereof to the extent that the complainant relies on the registration of this mark.
