15 U.S. Code § 1125 - False designations of origin, false descriptions, and dilution forbidden
Any goods marked or labeled in contravention of the provisions of this section shall not be imported into the United States or admitted to entry at any customhouse of the United States. The owner, importer, or consignee of goods refused entry at any customhouse under this section may have any recourse by protest or appeal that is given under the customs revenue laws or may have the remedy given by this chapter in cases involving goods refused entry or seized.
Subject to the principles of equity, the owner of a famous mark that is distinctive, inherently or through acquired distinctiveness, shall be entitled to an injunction against another person who, at any time after the owner’s mark has become famous, commences use of a mark or trade name in commerce that is likely to cause dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment of the famous mark, regardless of the presence or absence of actual or likely confusion, of competition, or of actual economic injury.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair, modify, or supersede the applicability of the patent laws of the United States.
Acts March 3, 1881, and February 20, 1905, referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A)(iv), (6), are acts Mar. 3, 1881, ch. 138, 21 Stat. 502, and Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, 33 Stat. 724, which were repealed insofar as inconsistent with this chapter by act July 5, 1946, ch. 540, § 46(a), 60 Stat. 444. Act Feb. 20, 1905, was classified to sections 81 to 109 of this title.
Act Mar. 19, 1920, ch. 104, § 3, 41 Stat. 534.
2012—Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 112–190 added subpars. (A) and (B) and struck out former subpars. (A) and (B) which read as follows:
“(A)(i) is brought by another person under the common law or a statute of a State; and
“(ii) seeks to prevent dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment; or
“(B) asserts any claim of actual or likely damage or harm to the distinctiveness or reputation of a mark, label, or form of advertisement.”
2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–312, § 2(1), added subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which related to remedies for dilution of famous marks.
Subsec. (d)(1)(B)(i)(IX). Pub. L. 109–312, § 2(2), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (c)(1)”.
1999—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 106–43, § 5, added par. (3).
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 106–43, § 3(a)(2), inserted “as set forth in section 1116 of this title” after “relief” in first sentence.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–113 added subsec. (d).
1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–98 added subsec. (c).
1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–542 designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, and added par. (2).
1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–667 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Any person who shall affix, apply, or annex, or use in connection with any goods or services, or any container or containers for goods, a false designation of origin, or any false description or representation, including words or other symbols tending falsely to describe or represent the same, and shall cause such goods or services to enter into commerce, and any person who shall with knowledge of the falsity of such designation of origin or description or representation cause or procure the same to be transported or used in commerce or deliver the same to any carrier to be transported or used, shall be liable to a civil action by any person doing business in the locality falsely indicated as that of origin or in the region in which said locality is situated, or by any person who believes that he is or is likely to be damaged by the use of any such false description or representation.”
Pub. L. 112–190, § 1(b), Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1436, provided that:
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 applicable to all domain names registered before, on, or after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3010] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1117 of this title.
Pub. L. 104–98, § 5, Jan. 16, 1996, 109 Stat. 987, provided that:
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–542 effective with respect to violations that occur on or after Oct. 27, 1992, see section 4 of Pub. L. 102–542, set out as a note under section 1114 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.
Repeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chapter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under section 1051 of this title.
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3006], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–550, provided that:
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.