15 U.S. Code § 1125 - False designations of origin, false descriptions, and dilution forbidden
(a)
Civil action
(1)
Any person who, on or in connection with any goods or services, or any container for goods, uses in commerce any word, term, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof, or any false designation of origin, false or misleading description of fact, or false or misleading representation of fact, which—
(A)
is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive as to the affiliation, connection, or association of such person with another person, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of his or her goods, services, or commercial activities by another person, or
(B)
in commercial advertising or promotion, misrepresents the nature, characteristics, qualities, or geographic origin of his or her or another person’s goods, services, or commercial activities,
shall be liable in a civil action by any person who believes that he or she is or is likely to be damaged by such act.
(2)
As used in this subsection, the term “any person” includes any State, instrumentality of a State or employee of a State or instrumentality of a State acting in his or her official capacity. Any State, and any such instrumentality, officer, or employee, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.
(b)
Importation
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.
(c)
Dilution by blurring; dilution by tarnishment
(1)
Injunctive relief
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.
(2)
Definitions
(A)
For purposes of paragraph (1), a mark is famous if it is widely recognized by the general consuming public of the United States as a designation of source of the goods or services of the mark’s owner. In determining whether a mark possesses the requisite degree of recognition, the court may consider all relevant factors, including the following:
(i)
The duration, extent, and geographic reach of advertising and publicity of the mark, whether advertised or publicized by the owner or third parties.
(B)
For purposes of paragraph (1), “dilution by blurring” is association arising from the similarity between a mark or trade name and a famous mark that impairs the distinctiveness of the famous mark. In determining whether a mark or trade name is likely to cause dilution by blurring, the court may consider all relevant factors, including the following:
(iii)
The extent to which the owner of the famous mark is engaging in substantially exclusive use of the mark.
(3)
Exclusions
The following shall not be actionable as dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment under this subsection:
(4)
Burden of proof
In a civil action for trade dress dilution under this chapter for trade dress not registered on the principal register, the person who asserts trade dress protection has the burden of proving that—
(5)
Additional remedies
In an action brought under this subsection, the owner of the famous mark shall be entitled to injunctive relief as set forth in section
1116 of this title. The owner of the famous mark shall also be entitled to the remedies set forth in sections
1117
(a) and
1118 of this title, subject to the discretion of the court and the principles of equity if—
(A)
the mark or trade name that is likely to cause dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment was first used in commerce by the person against whom the injunction is sought after October 6, 2006; and
(6)
Ownership of valid registration a complete bar to action
The ownership by a person of a valid registration under the Act of March 3, 1881, or the Act of February 20, 1905, or on the principal register under this chapter shall be a complete bar to an action against that person, with respect to that mark, that—
(d)
Cyberpiracy prevention
(1)
(A)
A person shall be liable in a civil action by the owner of a mark, including a personal name which is protected as a mark under this section, if, without regard to the goods or services of the parties, that person—
(i)
has a bad faith intent to profit from that mark, including a personal name which is protected as a mark under this section; and
(ii)
registers, traffics in, or uses a domain name that—
(I)
in the case of a mark that is distinctive at the time of registration of the domain name, is identical or confusingly similar to that mark;
(B)
(i)
In determining whether a person has a bad faith intent described under subparagraph (A), a court may consider factors such as, but not limited to—
(II)
the extent to which the domain name consists of the legal name of the person or a name that is otherwise commonly used to identify that person;
(III)
the person’s prior use, if any, of the domain name in connection with the bona fide offering of any goods or services;
(IV)
the person’s bona fide noncommercial or fair use of the mark in a site accessible under the domain name;
(V)
the person’s intent to divert consumers from the mark owner’s online location to a site accessible under the domain name that could harm the goodwill represented by the mark, either for commercial gain or with the intent to tarnish or disparage the mark, by creating a likelihood of confusion as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the site;
(VI)
the person’s offer to transfer, sell, or otherwise assign the domain name to the mark owner or any third party for financial gain without having used, or having an intent to use, the domain name in the bona fide offering of any goods or services, or the person’s prior conduct indicating a pattern of such conduct;
(VII)
the person’s provision of material and misleading false contact information when applying for the registration of the domain name, the person’s intentional failure to maintain accurate contact information, or the person’s prior conduct indicating a pattern of such conduct;
(VIII)
the person’s registration or acquisition of multiple domain names which the person knows are identical or confusingly similar to marks of others that are distinctive at the time of registration of such domain names, or dilutive of famous marks of others that are famous at the time of registration of such domain names, without regard to the goods or services of the parties; and
(C)
In any civil action involving the registration, trafficking, or use of a domain name under this paragraph, a court may order the forfeiture or cancellation of the domain name or the transfer of the domain name to the owner of the mark.
(2)
(A)
The owner of a mark may file an in rem civil action against a domain name in the judicial district in which the domain name registrar, domain name registry, or other domain name authority that registered or assigned the domain name is located if—
(i)
the domain name violates any right of the owner of a mark registered in the Patent and Trademark Office, or protected under subsection (a) or (c) of this section; and
(ii)
the court finds that the owner—
(I)
is not able to obtain in personam jurisdiction over a person who would have been a defendant in a civil action under paragraph (1); or
(II)
through due diligence was not able to find a person who would have been a defendant in a civil action under paragraph (1) by—
(C)
In an in rem action under this paragraph, a domain name shall be deemed to have its situs in the judicial district in which—
(D)
(i)
The remedies in an in rem action under this paragraph shall be limited to a court order for the forfeiture or cancellation of the domain name or the transfer of the domain name to the owner of the mark. Upon receipt of written notification of a filed, stamped copy of a complaint filed by the owner of a mark in a United States district court under this paragraph, the domain name registrar, domain name registry, or other domain name authority shall—
Source
(July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title VIII, § 43,60 Stat. 441; Pub. L. 100–667, title I, § 132,Nov. 16, 1988, 102 Stat. 3946; Pub. L. 102–542, § 3(c),Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 3568; Pub. L. 104–98, § 3(a),Jan. 16, 1996, 109 Stat. 985; Pub. L. 106–43, §§ 3(a)(2),
5,Aug. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 219, 220; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3002(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–545; Pub. L. 109–312, § 2,Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1730; Pub. L. 112–190, § 1(a),Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1436.)
References in Text
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.
Prior Provisions
Act Mar. 19, 1920, ch. 104, § 3,41 Stat. 534.
Amendments
2012—Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 112–190added 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. 106–113added subsec. (d).
1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–98added subsec. (c).
1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–542designated 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. 100–667amended 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.”
Effective Date of 2012 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–190, § 1(b),Oct. 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 1436, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to any action commenced on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2012].”
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113applicable 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.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–98, § 5,Jan. 16, 1996, 109 Stat. 987, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section
1127 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section
1051 of this title] and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 16, 1996].”
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–542effective with respect to violations that occur on or after Oct. 27, 1992, see section 4 ofPub. L. 102–542, set out as a note under section
1114 of this title.
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 ofPub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section
1051 of this title.
Repeal and Effect on Existing Rights
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.
Study on Abusive Domain Name Registrations Involving Personal Names
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3006], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–550, provided that:
“(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1999], the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Election Commission, shall conduct a study and report to Congress with recommendations on guidelines and procedures for resolving disputes involving the registration or use by a person of a domain name that includes the personal name of another person, in whole or in part, or a name confusingly similar thereto, including consideration of and recommendations for—
“(1) protecting personal names from registration by another person as a second level domain name for purposes of selling or otherwise transferring such domain name to such other person or any third party for financial gain;
“(2) protecting individuals from bad faith uses of their personal names as second level domain names by others with malicious intent to harm the reputation of the individual or the goodwill associated with that individual’s name;
“(3) protecting consumers from the registration and use of domain names that include personal names in the second level domain in manners which are intended or are likely to confuse or deceive the public as to the affiliation, connection, or association of the domain name registrant, or a site accessible under the domain name, with such other person, or as to the origin, sponsorship, or approval of the goods, services, or commercial activities of the domain name registrant;
“(4) protecting the public from registration of domain names that include the personal names of government officials, official candidates, and potential official candidates for Federal, State, or local political office in the United States, and the use of such domain names in a manner that disrupts the electoral process or the public’s ability to access accurate and reliable information regarding such individuals;
“(5) existing remedies, whether under State law or otherwise, and the extent to which such remedies are sufficient to address the considerations described in paragraphs (1) through (4); and
“(6) the guidelines, procedures, and policies of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and the extent to which they address the considerations described in paragraphs (1) through (4).
“(b) Guidelines and Procedures.—The Secretary of Commerce shall, under its Memorandum of Understanding with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, collaborate to develop guidelines and procedures for resolving disputes involving the registration or use by a person of a domain name that includes the personal name of another person, in whole or in part, or a name confusingly similar thereto.”
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