1. If use
is required to maintain a
registration, the
registration may be
cancelled only after an uninterrupted
period of at least three
years
of non-use, unless
valid reasons based on the existence of obstacles
to such use are shown by the
trademark owner.
Circumstances arising
independently of the will of the
owner of the
trademark which
constitute an obstacle to the use of the
trademark, such as
import
restrictions on or other
government requirements for
goods or
services protected by the
trademark, shall be recognized as
valid
reasons for non-use.
2. When
subject to the
control of its
owner, use of a
trademark by another
person shall be recognized as use of the
trademark for the
purpose of
maintaining the
registration.