intellectual-property trademark european-union ownership
Could a third party revive a dead trademark if another company has unlawfully been using it?
<p>Suppose Company "A" registered the trademark "John Doe" with the EUIPO. </p>

<p>Company "A" has declared bankruptcy and been liquefied, but the trademark was retained by Company "A"'s founder. </p>

<p>During this time, a local company began to illegally use the trademark "John Doe" in a singular jurisdiction, but was not sued by the trademark's owner, due to general indifference. </p>

<p>The trademark "John Doe" has just expired, and its owner has no intent to use it in the future.</p>

<p>Could a third party then come along and re-register the trademark "John Doe" (either in all EUIPO jurisdictions or all EUIPO jurisdictions except where the local company operates)? The question <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/25898/can-i-file-the-same-trademark-as-one-that-is-cancelled">Can I file the same trademark as one that is cancelled?</a> discusses how one cannot register a dead trademark if the owner intends to continue using it, etc. However, can the trademark also not be registered by a third party if another company has begun to unlawfully use it prior to its expiration?</p>

<p>The question appears to be directed at EU law, but I can answer only with respect to U.S. law.</p>

<p>In U.S. law, a trademark is something that arises from use and that registration only defines and recognizes. I don't know if this is true in the E.U.</p>

<p>In the U.S., a trademark lapses by operation of law when it ceases to be used and is infringed with impunity as some point, even if its registration is still in force. There would be no infringement if it was already abandoned as in the OP fact pattern.</p>

<p>In the U.S. a company that was actually using a trademark that had lapsed in the hands of another owner would have priority over someone who filed to use the trademark after the company that was actually using it, in the places and markets that the company actually using a trademark did so.</p>
