0001| SENATE BILL 605 | 0002| 43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997 | 0003| INTRODUCED BY | 0004| MICHAEL S. SANCHEZ | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| AN ACT | 0011| RELATING TO TRADEMARKS; ENACTING THE TRADEMARK ACT; REPEALING | 0012| AND ENACTING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978. | 0013| | 0014| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0015| Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the | 0016| "Trademark Act". | 0017| Section 2. PURPOSE AND INTENT OF ACT.--The purpose of the | 0018| Trademark Act is to provide a system of state trademark | 0019| registration and protection substantially consistent with the | 0020| federal system of trademark registration and protection under | 0021| the Trademark Act of 1946, as amended. It is the intent that | 0022| the construction given the federal act should be examined as | 0023| persuasive authority for interpreting and construing the | 0024| Trademark Act. | 0025| Section 3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Trademark Act: | 0001| A. "applicant" includes the person filing an | 0002| application for registration of a mark under the Trademark Act | 0003| as well as the legal representatives, successors or assigns of | 0004| the person; | 0005| B. "dilution" means the lessening of the capacity | 0006| of the registrant's mark to identify and distinguish goods or | 0007| services regardless of the presence or absence of: | 0008| (1) competition between the parties; or | 0009| (2) the likelihood of confusion, mistake or | 0010| deception; | 0011| C. "mark" includes any trademark or service mark | 0012| entitled to registration under the Trademark Act whether | 0013| registered or not; | 0014| D. "person" and any other word or term used to | 0015| designate the applicant or other party entitled to a benefit or | 0016| privilege or rendered liable under the provisions of the | 0017| Trademark Act, includes a juristic person as well as a natural | 0018| person; "juristic person" includes a firm, partnership, | 0019| corporation, union, association or other organization capable | 0020| of suing and being sued in a court of law; | 0021| E. "registrant" includes the person to whom the | 0022| registration of a mark under the Trademark Act is issued as | 0023| well as the legal representative, successors or assigns of the | 0024| person; | 0025| F. "secretary" means the secretary of state or the | 0001| secretary's designee charged with the administration of the | 0002| Trademark Act; | 0003| G. "service mark" means any word, name, symbol, | 0004| device or any combination of these used by a person to identify | 0005| and distinguish the services of one person, including a unique | 0006| service, from the services of other persons and to indicate the | 0007| source of the services, even if that source is unknown; | 0008| provided, titles and character names used by a person and other | 0009| distinctive features of radio or television programs may be | 0010| registered as service marks notwithstanding that they or the | 0011| programs may advertise the goods of the sponsor; | 0012| H. "trademark" means any word, name, symbol, device | 0013| or any combination of these used by a person to identify and | 0014| distinguish the goods of the person, including a unique | 0015| product, from those manufactured or sold by others, and to | 0016| indicate the source of the goods, even if that source is | 0017| unknown; | 0018| I. "trade name" means any name used by a person to | 0019| identify a business or vocation of the person; and | 0020| J. "use" means the bona fide use of a mark in the | 0021| ordinary course of trade and not made merely to reserve a right | 0022| in the mark. For the purposes of the Trademark Act, a mark is | 0023| deemed to be in use: | 0024| (1) on goods when it is placed in any manner | 0025| on the goods or on the containers or the displays associated | 0001| with it or on the tags or labels affixed to them, or if the | 0002| nature of the goods makes the placement impracticable, then on | 0003| documents associated with the goods or their sale, and the | 0004| goods are sold or transported in commerce in this state; and | 0005| (2) on services when it is used or displayed | 0006| in the sale or advertising of services and the services are | 0007| rendered in this state. | 0008| Section 4. REGISTRABILITY.-- | 0009| A. A mark by which the goods or services of any | 0010| applicant for registration may be distinguished from the goods | 0011| or services of others shall not be registered if it: | 0012| (1) consists of or comprises immoral, | 0013| deceptive or scandalous matter; | 0014| (2) consists of or comprises matter that may | 0015| disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons living | 0016| or dead, institutions, beliefs or national symbols or that may | 0017| bring them into contempt or disrepute; | 0018| (3) consists of or comprises the flag, coat of | 0019| arms or other insignia of the United States or of any state, | 0020| municipality, foreign nation or any simulation of these; | 0021| (4) consists of or comprises the name, | 0022| signature or portrait identifying a particular living | 0023| individual, except by the individual's written consent; | 0024| (5) consists of a mark that: | 0025| (a) when used on or in connection with | 0001| the goods or services of the applicant, is merely descriptive | 0002| or deceptively misdescriptive of them; | 0003| (b) when used on or in connection with | 0004| the goods or services of the applicant, is primarily | 0005| geographically descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive of | 0006| them; | 0007| (c) is primarily merely a surname; | 0008| provided, however, nothing in this subsection shall prevent the | 0009| registration of a mark used by the applicant that has become | 0010| distinctive of the applicant's goods or services. The | 0011| secretary may accept as evidence that the mark has become | 0012| distinctive as used on or in connection with the applicant's | 0013| goods or services, proof of continuous use of it as a mark by | 0014| the applicant in this state for the five years before the date | 0015| on which the claim of distinctiveness is made; or | 0016| (d) consists of or comprises a mark that | 0017| so resembles a mark registered in this state or a mark or trade | 0018| name previously used by another and not abandoned, as to be | 0019| likely, when used on or in connection with the goods or | 0020| services of the applicant, to cause confusion or mistake or to | 0021| deceive. | 0022| B. A mark is deemed to be abandoned when either of | 0023| the following occurs: | 0024| (1) when its use has been discontinued with | 0025| intent not to resume that use. Intent not to resume may be | 0001| inferred from circumstances; nonuse for two consecutive years | 0002| shall constitute prima facie evidence of abandonment; or | 0003| (2) when any course of conduct of the owner, | 0004| including acts of omission as well as commission, causes the | 0005| mark to lose its significance as a mark. | 0006| Section 5. APPLICATION OF REGISTRATION.-- | 0007| A. Subject to the limitations set forth in the | 0008| Trademark Act, any person who uses a mark may file in the | 0009| office of the secretary on a form prescribed by the secretary | 0010| an application for registration of that mark setting forth, but | 0011| not limited to, the following information: | 0012| (1) the name and business address of the | 0013| person applying for the registration; and if a corporation, the | 0014| state of incorporation; if a partnership, the state in which | 0015| the partnership is organized and the names of the general | 0016| partners, as specified by the secretary; | 0017| (2) the goods or services on or in connection | 0018| with which the mark is used and the mode or manner in which the | 0019| mark is used on or in connection with the goods or services and | 0020| the class in which the goods or services fall; | 0021| (3) the date when the mark was first used | 0022| anywhere and the date when it was first used in this state by | 0023| the applicant or a predecessor in interest; | 0024| (4) a written description of the mark; and | 0025| (5) a statement that the applicant is the | 0001| owner of the mark, that the mark is in use and that, to the | 0002| knowledge of the person verifying the application, no other | 0003| person has registered, either federally or in this state, or | 0004| has the right to use the mark either in the identical form of | 0005| it or in the near resemblance thereto as to be likely, when | 0006| applied to the goods or services of the other person, to cause | 0007| confusion, mistake or to deceive. | 0008| B. The secretary may also require a statement as to | 0009| whether an application to register the mark or portions of it | 0010| or a composite of it, has been filed by the applicant or a | 0011| predecessor in interest in the United States patent and | 0012| trademark office; and, if so, the applicant shall provide full | 0013| particulars with respect to it including the filing date, | 0014| serial number of each application, its status and, if any | 0015| application was finally refused registration or has otherwise | 0016| not resulted in a registration, the reason for the refusal or | 0017| for not being registered. | 0018| C. The secretary may also require that a drawing of | 0019| the mark or three specimens showing the mark as it is actually | 0020| used accompany the application and that it complies with the | 0021| requirements specified by the secretary. | 0022| D. The application shall be signed and verified by | 0023| oath, affirmation or declaration subject to perjury laws by the | 0024| applicant or by a member of the firm or an officer of the | 0025| corporation or association applying for registration. | 0001| E. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of | 0002| twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each application. | 0003| Section 6. FILING OF APPLICATION.-- | 0004| A. Upon the filing of an application for | 0005| registration and payment of the application fee, the secretary | 0006| may cause the application to be examined for conformity with | 0007| the Trademark Act. | 0008| B. The applicant shall provide any additional | 0009| pertinent information requested by the secretary, including a | 0010| description of a design mark and may make, or authorize the | 0011| secretary to make, any reasonable amendments to the application | 0012| as may be requested by the secretary or deemed by the applicant | 0013| to be advisable to respond to any objection or rejection of the | 0014| application. | 0015| C. The secretary may require the applicant to | 0016| disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark that would | 0017| otherwise be registrable, and an applicant may voluntarily | 0018| disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered. No | 0019| disclaimer shall prejudice or affect the applicant's or | 0020| registrant's rights then existing or thereafter arising in the | 0021| disclaimed matter or the applicant's or registrant's rights of | 0022| registration on another application if the disclaimed matter is | 0023| or becomes distinctive of the applicant's or registrant's goods | 0024| or services. | 0025| D. The secretary may amend the application upon the | 0001| applicant's written agreement, or the secretary may require a | 0002| new application to be submitted. | 0003| E. If the applicant is found not to be entitled to | 0004| registration, the secretary shall advise the applicant of the | 0005| reasons for non-registration. The applicant shall have a | 0006| reasonable period of time as specified by the secretary in | 0007| which to reply or to amend the application for reexamination. | 0008| This procedure may be repeated until the secretary makes a | 0009| final refusal of registration of the mark or the applicant | 0010| fails to reply or amend the application within the period | 0011| specified by the secretary, in which case the application shall | 0012| be deemed to have been abandoned. | 0013| F. The secretary shall grant priority to the | 0014| applications in order of filing. In the case of any | 0015| application rejected because of a prior-filed application of | 0016| the same or confusingly similar mark for the same or related | 0017| goods or services, the applicant may bring an action for | 0018| cancellation of the registration on grounds of prior or | 0019| superior rights to the mark as provided in Section 11 of the | 0020| Trademark Act. | 0021| Section 7. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION.-- | 0022| A. Upon compliance by the applicant with the | 0023| requirements of the Trademark Act, the secretary shall issue | 0024| and deliver a certificate of registration to the applicant. | 0025| The certificate of registration shall be issued under the | 0001| signature of the secretary and the seal of the state, and it | 0002| shall show: | 0003| (1) the name and business address; | 0004| (2) if a corporation, limited liability | 0005| company or partnership, the state of incorporation, or if a | 0006| partnership, the state in which the partnership is organized; | 0007| (3) the date claimed for the first use of the | 0008| mark anywhere; | 0009| (4) the date claimed for the first use of the | 0010| mark in New Mexico; | 0011| (5) the class and description of goods or | 0012| services on or in connection with which the mark is used; and | 0013| (6) the registration date and the term of | 0014| registration. | 0015| B. A certificate of registration issued by the | 0016| secretary or a copy of the certificate of registration duly | 0017| certified by the secretary shall be admissible in evidence as | 0018| competent and sufficient proof of the registration of the mark | 0019| in any actions or judicial proceedings in this state. | 0020| Section 8. DURATION AND RENEWAL.-- | 0021| A. A registration of a mark is effective for ten | 0022| years from the date of registration. An application for | 0023| renewal shall be filed within six months prior to its | 0024| expiration in the manner required by the secretary. The | 0025| renewed registration shall be effective for ten years from the | 0001| date of expiration of the original registration. The | 0002| application for renewal shall be accompanied by the renewal | 0003| fee. A registration of a mark may be renewed for successive | 0004| periods of ten years as provided in this section. | 0005| B. All applications for renewal, whether of | 0006| registrations made under the Trademark Act or of registrations | 0007| made under any act prior to the effective date of that act, | 0008| shall include a verified statement that the mark has been and | 0009| is still in use and include a specimen showing actual use of | 0010| the mark on or in connection with the goods or services. | 0011| Section 9. ASSIGNMENTS--CHANGES OF NAME AND OTHER | 0012| INSTRUMENTS.-- | 0013| A. A mark and its representation shall be | 0014| assignable with the good will of the business in which the mark | 0015| is used, or with that part of the good will of the business | 0016| connected with the use of and symbolized by the mark. The | 0017| assignment shall be by instruments in writing duly executed and | 0018| may be recorded with the secretary upon payment of a twenty- | 0019| five dollar ($25.00) recording fee. The secretary, upon | 0020| recording the assignment, shall issue in the name of the | 0021| assignee a new certificate for the remainder of the term of the | 0022| registration or the last renewal of the registration. An | 0023| assignment of a registration shall be void as against any | 0024| subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration without notice | 0025| unless it is recorded with the secretary within three months | 0001| after its date or unless it is recorded prior to the subsequent | 0002| purchase. | 0003| B. A registrant or applicant effecting a change of | 0004| the name of the person to whom the mark was issued or for whom | 0005| an application was filed may record a certificate of change of | 0006| name of the registrant or applicant with the secretary upon | 0007| payment of the recording fee specified in Subsection A of this | 0008| section. The secretary may issue to the owner a certificate of | 0009| amendment of registration for the remainder of the term of | 0010| registration or the last renewal of that registration. | 0011| C. Other instruments that relate to a mark | 0012| registered or a pending application include licenses, security | 0013| interests or mortgages, and they may be recorded in the | 0014| discretion of the secretary provided the instrument is in | 0015| writing and has been duly executed. | 0016| D. Acknowledgment shall be prima facie evidence of | 0017| the execution of an assignment or other instrument and, when | 0018| recorded by the secretary, the record shall be prima facie | 0019| evidence of execution. A photocopy of an instrument specified | 0020| in this section shall be accepted for recording if it is | 0021| certified by any of the parties thereto or their successors. | 0022| Section 10. RECORDS.--The secretary shall keep for public | 0023| examination a record of all marks registered or renewed under | 0024| the Trademark Act and a record of all documents recorded | 0025| pursuant to Section 9 of the Trademark Act. | 0001| Section 11. CANCELLATION.--The secretary shall cancel | 0002| from the register, in whole or in part: | 0003| A. a registration where the secretary shall receive | 0004| a voluntary request for cancellation from the registrant or the | 0005| assignee of record; | 0006| B. a registration granted under the Trademark Act | 0007| and not renewed in accordance with its provisions; | 0008| C. a registration of which a court of competent | 0009| jurisdiction finds that: | 0010| (1) the registered mark has been abandoned; | 0011| (2) the registrant is not the owner of the | 0012| mark; | 0013| (3) the registration was granted improperly; | 0014| (4) the registration was obtained | 0015| fraudulently; | 0016| (5) the mark is or has become the generic name | 0017| for the goods or services or a portion of them, for which it | 0018| has been registered; or | 0019| (6) the registered mark is so similar as to | 0020| likely cause confusion or mistake or to deceive, to a mark | 0021| registered by another person in the United States patent and | 0022| trademark office prior to the date of the filing of the | 0023| application for registration by the registrant and not | 0024| abandoned; or | 0025| D. when a court of competent jurisdiction orders | 0001| the cancellation of a registration on any ground. | 0002| Section 12. CLASSIFICATION.--The secretary shall by | 0003| regulation establish a classification of goods and services for | 0004| convenience of administration of the Trademark Act but not to | 0005| limit or extend the applicant's or registrant's rights. A | 0006| single application for registration of a mark may include any | 0007| or all goods upon which, or services with which, the mark is | 0008| actually being used indicating the appropriate class or classes | 0009| of goods or services. When a single application includes goods | 0010| or services that fall within multiple classes, the secretary | 0011| shall require payment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each | 0012| class. As far as practical the classification of goods and | 0013| services should conform to the classification adopted by the | 0014| United States patent and trademark office. | 0015| Section 13. FRAUDULENT REGISTRATION.--A person who, for | 0016| himself on or behalf of any other person, procures the filing | 0017| or registration of any mark in the office of the secretary by | 0018| knowingly making any false or fraudulent representation or | 0019| declaration, orally or in writing or by any other fraudulent | 0020| means, shall be liable to pay all damages sustained as a | 0021| consequence of that filing or registration recoverable by or on | 0022| behalf of the injured party in any court of competent | 0023| jurisdiction. | 0024| Section 14. FEES.--The secretary shall charge twenty-five | 0025| dollars ($25.00) for the various applications and filing fees | 0001| required by the Trademark Act and for related services. The | 0002| fees required by the Trademark Act are not refundable. | 0003| Section 15. REPEAL.--Sections 57-3-1, 57-3-2 and 57-3-4 | 0004| through 57-3-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 142, | 0005| Section 1, Laws 1959, Chapter 345, Sections 1 and 2, Laws 1969, | 0006| Chapter 142, Section 2, Laws 1959, Chapter 345, Sections 3 and | 0007| 4, Laws 1969, Chapter 142, Sections 4 through 7 and Laws 1959, | 0008| Chapter 345, Section 6, as amended) are repealed. | 0009| Section 16. SEVERABILITY.--If any part or application of | 0010| the Trademark Act is held invalid, the remainder or its | 0011| application to other situations or persons shall not be | 0012| affected. | 0013| Section 17. APPLICABILITY.--Any registration of a mark in | 0014| force upon the effective date of the Trademark Act shall | 0015| continue in effect for the remainder of its unexpired term and | 0016| may be renewed under the provisions of that act within six | 0017| months prior to the expiration specified in its registration. | 0018| The provisions of the Trademark Act shall not affect any | 0019| application, suit, proceeding or appeal pending on the | 0020| effective date of the Trademark Act. | 0021| Section 18. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the | 0022| provisions of this act is July 1, 1997. | 0023|  | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0002| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0003| | 0004| | 0005| March 15, 1997 | 0006| | 0007| Mr. President: | 0008| | 0009| Your JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0010| | 0011| SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0012| SENATE BILL 605 | 0013| | 0014| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0015| recommendation that it DO PASS. | 0016| | 0017| Respectfully submitted, | 0018| | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| __________________________________ | 0023| Fernando R. Macias, Chairman | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| | 0002| Adopted_______________________ Not | 0003| Adopted_______________________ | 0004| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| Date ________________________ | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| The roll call vote was 6 For 0 Against | 0012| Yes: 6 | 0013| No: 0 | 0014| Excused: Tsosie, Vernon | 0015| Absent: None | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| S0605JU1 | 0019| State of New Mexico | 0020| House of Representatives | 0021| | 0022| FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE | 0023| FIRST SESSION, 1997 | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| March 21, 1997 | 0002| | 0003| | 0004| Mr. Speaker: | 0005| | 0006| Your CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to | 0007| whom has been referred | 0008| | 0009| SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0010| SENATE BILL 605 | 0011| | 0012| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0013| recommendation that it DO PASS. | 0014| | 0015| Respectfully submitted, | 0016| | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| | 0020| Gary King, Chairman | 0021| | 0022| | 0023| Adopted Not Adopted | 0024| | 0025| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0001| | 0002| Date | 0003| | 0004| The roll call vote was 6 For 0 Against | 0005| Yes: 6 | 0006| Excused: Rios, Sandel, Vaughn, Vigil | 0007| Absent: None | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| G:\BILLTEXT\BILLW_97\S0605 |