Trademark Definition by the EC Court of Justice
description
Transcript of Trademark Definition by the EC Court of Justice
11
Trademark Definition by the
EC Court of Justice
Trademark Definition by the
EC Court of Justice
22
PORT
ITFR
SPA
LUX
NE
BE
GERM AUS
ENG IRE
DEN SWE
FIN GR
COMMUNITY
TRADE
MARK+
(Design)
NONEU
EUROPEAN
PATEN
T
COMMUNITY
PATENT
33
Harmonisation of the various national trade mark laws
Harmonisation of the various national trade mark laws
Introduction of one comprehensive system
Introduction of one comprehensive system
Harmonisation and unification of trademark law in Europe
Harmonisation and unification of trademark law in Europe
Two complementary systemsTwo complementary systems
Directive 1988Directive 1988 REGULATION 1993 REGULATION 1993
44
55
Council Regulation n° 40/94 on the Community
Trademark, 20 December 1993
Council Regulation n° 40/94 on the Community
Trademark, 20 December 1993
Goal 1 : unificationGoal 1 : unification
= directly applicable= directly applicable
66
Annual report OHIM 1998Annual report OHIM 1998
1996 - 1998
+/- 102.000 applications
Statistics August 2002 : 278.000 (157.370)
1996 - 1998
+/- 102.000 applications
Statistics August 2002 : 278.000 (157.370)
“even the most optimistic forecasts have been exceeded”
“even the most optimistic forecasts have been exceeded”
77
Main features of the CTMMain features of the CTM
1. Autonomy (art. 14.1) subject only to Regulation
2. Uniformity (art. 1.2) same effect throughout the community
3. Co-existence Alternative for national systems
1. Autonomy (art. 14.1) subject only to Regulation
2. Uniformity (art. 1.2) same effect throughout the community
3. Co-existence Alternative for national systems
88
Goal 2 : harmonisationGoal 2 : harmonisation
“First Council directive to approximate the Laws of the
Member States relating to Trade Marks
of 21 December 1988 ”
“First Council directive to approximate the Laws of the
Member States relating to Trade Marks
of 21 December 1988 ”
99
Structure and contents TMDStructure and contents TMD
Protectable signs (nature of marks)
Grounds of refusal and cancellation
Scope of protection (exclusive rights)
Exhaustion
Licensees, acquiescense, use, revocation
Collective and certification marks
Protectable signs (nature of marks)
Grounds of refusal and cancellation
Scope of protection (exclusive rights)
Exhaustion
Licensees, acquiescense, use, revocation
Collective and certification marks
1010
Not regulated in TMDNot regulated in TMD
(differences in national law)
Kinds of marks to be registeredProcedural rules re:
application and registration proceedingsrefusalinvalidityinfringement
Application of other laws
(differences in national law)
Kinds of marks to be registeredProcedural rules re:
application and registration proceedingsrefusalinvalidityinfringement
Application of other laws
1111
1212
Court of Justice
Court of first Instance
Court of Justice
Court of first Instance
Board of appeal
Decision
National Court
1313
A Mark = a SignA Mark = a Sign
Article 4 CTM
A Community trade mark may consist of :any signcapable of being represented graphicallycapable of distinguishing goods/services
of one undertaking from those of other undertakings
Article 4 CTM
A Community trade mark may consist of :any signcapable of being represented graphicallycapable of distinguishing goods/services
of one undertaking from those of other undertakings
Function of a markFunction of a mark
1414
"Any sign" : art. 4 CTM"Any sign" : art. 4 CTM Personal names designs letters numerals shape of goods packaging of goods
Personal names designs letters numerals shape of goods packaging of goods
"including""including"
Art. 2 TMDArt. 15.2 TRIPS
1515
"Any sign" : art. 2 TMD & 4 CTM"Any sign" : art. 2 TMD & 4 CTM
Graphic Representation
VISUALLYVISUALLY
• Clear, precise
• Self-contained
• Easily accessible
• Intelligible
• Durable
• Objective
1616
Word marks, Figurative marksWord marks, Figurative marks
Word marksWord marks Figurative marksFigurative marks
“instantly perceived as a sign”
1717
Shape marksShape marks
Linde, Winward, Rado
8 April 2003
Philips/Remington
18 June 2002
1818
Shape marks Shape marks
Preliminary obstacle for particular shapes (3.1.e TMD = 7.1.e CTMR):
Nature of goodsNecessary for technical resultSubstantial value to the goods
Preliminary obstacle for particular shapes (3.1.e TMD = 7.1.e CTMR):
Nature of goodsNecessary for technical resultSubstantial value to the goods
Afterwards no stricter criteriaAfterwards no stricter criteria
1919
Colour marksColour marks
Combinations of colours: art.15 TRIPS
Element of complex marks
Single Colour
Combinations of colours: art.15 TRIPS
Element of complex marks
Single Colour
2020
YES NOYES NO
LIBERTELCA The Hague 4.06.98
LIBERTELCA The Hague 4.06.98
BELGACOMCass. 22.12.00
Colour marks:Benelux
Colour marks:Benelux
2121
LibertelLibertel06.052003
A colour per se is capable … if representation =clearpreciseself-containedeasily accessibleintelligibledurableobjective
A colour per se is capable … if representation =clearpreciseself-containedeasily accessibleintelligibledurableobjective
NO
YES : possibly
• + description • + intern. Colour code• + combinations
2222
Olfactory marksOlfactory marks
C6H5-CH=CHCOOCH3(chemical formula)
Description 'fruity balsamic smell with a light note of cinnamon'
Deposit of sample
Combination
C6H5-CH=CHCOOCH3(chemical formula)
Description 'fruity balsamic smell with a light note of cinnamon'
Deposit of sample
Combination
"Requirement ofgraphic representabilityis NOT satisfied by …
"Requirement ofgraphic representabilityis NOT satisfied by …
Case Sieckmann (C.J. 12.12.02)
2323
Sound marksSound marks
"The first 9 notes of Für Elise"
"The consecutive notes: e, dis, e, dis, e,b,d,c,a"
"The first 9 notes of Für Elise"
"The consecutive notes: e, dis, e, dis, e,b,d,c,a"
'kukelekuuuuu'
"the crow of a rooster"
'kukelekuuuuu'
"the crow of a rooster"
Shield Mark v. Joost Kist (C.J. ???)
2424
ANY SIGN = > 2 questionsANY SIGN = > 2 questions
Any sign capable ofgraphical representation
Any sign capable ofgraphical representation Protectability requirementsProtectability requirements
Protectability requirementsProtectability requirements
Distinctivecharacter
Not prohibited
Available
SIGNSIGN
Protectability requirementsProtectability requirements
Distinctivecharacter
Not prohibited
Available
SIGNSIGN
2727
Distinctive = NOT Distinctive = NOT
art. 7 (1) (b) : devoid of any distinctive character
art. 7 (1) (c) : descriptive descriptive of the essential characteristics of the
goods/services
art. 7 (1) (d) : genericconsists in the usual description of the specific
goods/services
art. 7 (1) (b) : devoid of any distinctive character
art. 7 (1) (c) : descriptive descriptive of the essential characteristics of the
goods/services
art. 7 (1) (d) : genericconsists in the usual description of the specific
goods/services
2828
Distinctive =Distinctive =
identifying the undertaking
essential function of any trademark
identifying the undertaking
essential function of any trademark
2929
No exclusion per seNo exclusion per se
Case law exclusion: Need to leave free (“Freihaltebedürfnis”) ?
As a matter of principle: NO Public interest concrete: YES
Legal text exclusion? 3.1.a TMD or 7.1.a CTMR as a preliminary abstract
exclusion : NO 3.1.e TMD or 7.1.e CTMR : YES
Case law exclusion: Need to leave free (“Freihaltebedürfnis”) ?
As a matter of principle: NO Public interest concrete: YES
Legal text exclusion? 3.1.a TMD or 7.1.a CTMR as a preliminary abstract
exclusion : NO 3.1.e TMD or 7.1.e CTMR : YES
The test is CONCRETE
3030
Assessment of distinctive character
Assessment of distinctive character
Word marks
3D marks (shapes)
Colour marks
Word marks
3D marks (shapes)
Colour marks
3131
Court of Justice 20.09.01: “any perceptible difference”
Court of Justice 20.09.01: “any perceptible difference”
“Baby-dry”“Baby-dry”
Distinctive character & word marksDistinctive character & word marksWORD COMBINATIONS
3232
Court of Justice 19.09.02: “an additional characteristic” is
needed
Court of Justice 19.09.02: “an additional characteristic” is
needed
Distinctive character & word marksDistinctive character & word marksWORD COMBINATIONS
"Companyline"
Application of art. 7.1.b"devoid of any distinctive character"
3333
Distinctive character & 3 D marksDistinctive character & 3 D marks
Exclusion grounds for shapes constitute a preliminary obstacle
Assessment of distinctiveness no stricter criteria than for other signs
BUT
in practice may be more difficult to establish
Exclusion grounds for shapes constitute a preliminary obstacle
Assessment of distinctiveness no stricter criteria than for other signs
BUT
in practice may be more difficult to establish
3434
Distinctive character & colours Distinctive character & colours
Court of Justice Libertel (6 May 2003)
“Yes … (if no prior use) … only in exceptional circumstances
Particularly where : number of goods or services = very restricted AND relevant market = very specific”
Court of Justice Libertel (6 May 2003)
“Yes … (if no prior use) … only in exceptional circumstances
Particularly where : number of goods or services = very restricted AND relevant market = very specific”
3535
Arigato Gozaimasu
Arigato Gozaimasu