Collective trade marks

Collective trade marks are trade marks owned by an organisation whose members use them to identify themselves with a level of quality or accuracy, geographical origin, or other characteristics set by the association.

Examples of collective trade marks include the "CA" device used by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Many jurisdictions have been required to amend their trade mark legislation in order to accommodate the requirement of protection of collective marks under TRIPs. Art. 7 bis of the Paris Convention also requires signatories "to accept for filing and to protect collective marks belonging to associations the existence of which is not contrary to the law of the country of origin, even if such organisations do not possess an industrial or commercial establishment."

Cases involving collective trade marks

• The Parma Ham case [1991] RPC 251, in which the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma sued for passing off their unregistered collective mark;
• Association of Certified Public Accountants v. Trade Secretary [1998] 1 WLR 164.