声音商标显著性的认定

The Determination of the Distinctiveness of Sound Trademarks

摘要: 我国《商标法》在2023年进行了第五次修正，声音商标现在也可以被注册和保护。但到目前为止，我国的声音商标注册数量寥寥无几，与传统的商标注册数量相差很大。究其原因，是声音商标显著性的认定规则和方法不够完善彻底，从而导致了声音商标注册合并发展的脚步缓慢。目前现有的研究成果对声音商标显著性的认定的重要性达成了一致意见并且对进一步完善显著性认定标准提出了一些宝贵建议。然而，学术界对是否应该认可声音商标的固有显著性仍存在着很大的争议，因此声音商标制度目前还没有发展特别完善。该文章针对声音商标的显著性问题进行研究。首先对声音商标显著性的概念和类型进行了介绍，其次指出了声音商标显著性的认定的现状以及存在的一系列问题，最后提出相关的完善建议。

Abstract: China’s “Trademark Law” has been amended for the fifth time in 2023, and sound trademarks can now also be registered and protected. However, so far, the number of sound trademark registrations in China is very small, which is very different from the number of traditional trademark registrations. The reason for this is that the rules and methods for determining the distinctiveness of sound trademarks are not perfect and thorough, which leads to the slow pace of development of sound trademark registration and merger. At present, the existing research results have reached a consensus on the importance of determining the distinctiveness of sound trademarks, and put forward some valuable suggestions for further improving the criteria for determining distinctiveness. However, there is still a great deal of controversy in the academic community as to whether the inherent distinctiveness of sound marks should be recognized, so the sound mark system has not yet been developed and perfected. This paper examines the distinctiveness of sound trademarks. Firstly, the concept and types of distinctiveness of sound marks are introduced, secondly, the current status and a series of existing problems in the recognition of distinctiveness of sound marks are pointed out, and finally relevant suggestions for improvement are put forward.