This book is a thoroughly updated and augmented second edition of Certification Marks, first published in 2002, and remains the only complete volume devoted to these increasingly significant types of trademarks.

A comprehensive, wide-ranging and insightful inquiry, this new edition compares the certification and collective mark systems of the UK, EU and US, whilst also referring to other systems.

In addition to the laws and policies impacting ownership and use of these marks, also addressed are their historical development, registration and protection, certifiers' liability, legal and commercial significance, and use in regulatory and technical standardization frameworks. This book is especially timely in light of the advent of the EU certification mark and the controversial EU proposals to extend the Geographical Indications system to include non-agri-food products.

Key features include:







the only complete volume devoted to the law of certification and collective marks
discussion of leading cases

analysis of liability exposure of product certifiers

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 book will be 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 will also provide a helpful reference resource and a platform for further research and policy recommendations to academics in intellectual property and commercial law.