In trademark law, opposition is a procedure that allows a third party to challenge the registration of a trademark filed with a competent authority, such as the INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) in France or the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) at the European level. This procedure is used when the third party considers that the trademark infringes on its prior rights, such as an already registered trademark, a trade name, or other similar intellectual property rights. It is an administrative procedure, not a judicial one.
The opposition procedure generally begins after the trademark application is published in the official trademark register. The third party then has a set period of time to submit their objections to the relevant trademark office.
In the opposition procedure, the Trademark Office examines the arguments of the parties concerned and issues a decision. If the opposition is accepted, the trademark application may be rejected or modified. If the opposition is denied, the trademark may be registered.