Certification and Collective Marks

This book is a thoroughly revised and updated third edition of what has become the go-to reference on collective marks and certification marks and remains the only complete volume devoted to these increasingly significant types of trademarks. Offering a comprehensive, practical account of the topic, and comparing the systems in the EU, UK and US (as well as other jurisdictions) the book sets out the legal and commercial frameworks of certification and collective marks amid growing diversification of their applications. In addition to the laws and policies impacting ownership and use of these marks, Jeffrey Belson also addresses their historical development, registration and protection, certifiers’ liability, legal and commercial significance, and use in regulatory and technical standardisation frameworks. Key features: The only complete volume devoted to the law of certification and collective marks Discussion of leading cases Analysis of liability exposure of product certifiers Discussion of new technologies for the verification of certification indicia. Comparison of certification and collective mark protection of geographical indications with the EU sui generis system Examination of emergent forms of certification marks, namely ecolabels and electronic authentication marks in digital content. This updated edition is of primary interest to trademark practitioners who require a thorough explanation of the statutory protection, registration, and legal and commercial significance of certification and collective marks. It also provides scholars in the field of intellectual property with a useful reference resource and a platform for further research and policy recommendations.