Navigationsändamål

Navigationsändamål refers to the legal concept of using a trademark or brand name for purposes that indicate the origin of goods or services, rather than solely as a decorative element. This distinction is crucial in trademark law, particularly when determining infringement. If a trademark is used merely as an ornament or to denote a style without signifying the source of the product or service, it may not be considered a lawful trademark use. For instance, using a company's logo on a t-shirt as a design element, without the intention of suggesting that the t-shirt is made or endorsed by that company, might fall outside the scope of navigationsändamål. Conversely, placing the same logo on the t-shirt to indicate that it is an authentic product from that company would constitute use for navigationsändamål. This principle helps protect the core function of trademarks, which is to distinguish the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others. Courts often examine the context in which a mark is used, the prominence of the mark, and the overall impression it creates on consumers to ascertain whether it serves a navigational purpose. The concept is designed to prevent the dilution of trademark rights and ensure that consumers can rely on marks to identify the source of goods and services.