Les armoiries dans le droit (1789-1989)
Institution:
Bordeaux 1Disciplines:
Directors:
Abstract EN:
The french revolution, regarding the coat of arms as a symbol of feudalism, forbade their use, but never succeeded in abolishing them definitely. So, napoleon the first could easily create a new nobility, with its own heraldry. Later, some of the following governments, such as the third republic, suppressed titles, but never prohibited the arms. The link between nobility and arms began to disappear little by little. The civil law courts recognized they were the authority concerned by heraldry, but hesitated about the real kind of arms. Are arms and nobility closely linked facts? arms are they simply an accessory of the surname, following the example of a pseudonym? nevertheless, there's only a few trial of cases. Since the end of the xixth century, the use of arms has been completely free for individuals noble or not, for towns, as well as for companies, these latter using them as a way of advertising. Because the political power refused to grant any arms, it became necessary to protect them by some new proper means, such as registering a trademark for instance. Anyone could take a legal action, based on civil liability, against the usurper of one's arms. Finally, arms are a particular right, very different from any other civil right.
Abstract FR:
La revolution, qui y voyait un symbole feodal, abolit les armoiries, mais ne parvint pas a les faire totalement disparaitre, c7est pourquoi il fut si aise a l'empire de recreer une heraldique, pour honorer la nouvelle noblesse, ou en decorer les villes, le droit des regimes ulterieurs fera disparaitre peu a peu le lien entre noblesse et armoiries : la troisieme republique, abolissant les titres, n'interdira pas les armoiries. Si la justice a etabli, par de rares decisions, la competence judiciaire pour les questions d'armes, elle n'a pas tranche sur leur nature. Sont-elles liees au titre, ou simple accessoire du nom patronymique? des la fin du xixeme siecle, les armes ne sont plus reglementees : leur creation et leur port deviennent totalement libres pour les particuliers. Les collectivites publiques et les entreprises, qui en font un moyen pulicitaire. L'etat ne concedant plus d'armoiries, une protection devint necessaire, que permettent diverses techniques preventives et l7assistance de professionnels. En cas d'usurpation, l7action judiciaire en contestation d'armoiries permet, sur le principe de la responsabilite civile, de faire cesser un trouble et de reparer un prejudice l'analyse de cette action eclaire mieux la veritable nature des armoiries, qui constituent un droit a part, et echappent radicalement a la classification traditionnelle des droits.