Trade Marks Act, 1999
113. Procedure where invalidity of
registration is pleaded by the accused .-
(1) Where the offence charged under section
103 or section 104 or section 105 is in relation to a registered trade mark and
the accused pleads that the registration of the trade mark in invalid, the
following shall be followed:-
(a) If the court is
satisfied that such defense is prima facie tenable, it shall not proceed with
the charge but shall adjourn the proceeding for three months from the date on
which the plea of the accused is recorded to enable the accused to file an
application before the Appellate Board under this Act, for the rectification of
the register on the ground that the registration in invalid.
(b) If the accused
proves to the court that he has made such application within the time so
limited or within such further time as the court may for sufficient cause
allow, the further proceedings in the prosecution shall stand stayed till the
disposal of such application for rectification.
(2) Where before the institution of a
complaint of an offence referred to in sub section (1) any application for the
rectification of the register concerning the trade mark in question on the
ground of invalidity of the registration thereof has already been properly made
to and is pending before the tribunal the court shall stay the further
proceedings pending the disposal of the application aforesaid and shall
determine the charge against the accused in conformity with the result of the
application for rectification in so far as the complainant relies upon the
registration of his mark.