the Trademarks Law Review · the mergers and acquisitions review the restructuring review the private competition enforcement review the dispute resolution review the employment law

Trademarks Law Review

EditorJonathan Clegg

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EditorJonathan C

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© 2017 Law Business Research Ltd

Trademarks Law ReviewFirst Edition

EditorJonathan Clegg

lawreviews

Reproduced with permission from Law Business Research LtdThis article was first published in December 2017 For further information please contact [email protected]


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i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARMENGAUD-GUERLAIN

BAKER MCKENZIE

BIRD & BIRD LLP

CHRISTOS CHRISSANTHIS & PARTNERS

CLEVELAND SCOTT YORK

ECKERT SEAMANS CHERIN & MELLOTT, LLC

ELZABURU

GORODISSKY & PARTNERS

LUNDGRENS

NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT

O’CONOR & POWER

PETILLION

SALOMONE SANSONE

TREVISAN & CUONZO AVVOCATI

VEIRANO ADVOGADOS

The publisher acknowledges and thanks the following law firms for their learned assistance throughout the preparation of this book:


iii

EDITOR’S PREFACE ...................................................................................................................................... vJonathan Clegg

Chapter 1 ARGENTINA .......................................................................................................................1

Santiago R O’Conor and Agustin Castro

Chapter 2 AUSTRALIA .........................................................................................................................7

Frances Drummond and Sophie Lees

Chapter 3 BELGIUM ...........................................................................................................................18

Flip Petillion, Jan Janssen, Diégo Noesen and Alexander Heirwegh

Chapter 4 BRAZIL ...............................................................................................................................29

Mauricio Maleck Coutinho

Chapter 5 DENMARK .........................................................................................................................42

Jakob Krag Nielsen and Søren Danelund Reipurth

Chapter 6 EUROPEAN UNION OVERVIEW .................................................................................55

Christos Chrissanthis, Xenia Chardalia and Antonia Vasilogamvrou

Chapter 7 FRANCE .............................................................................................................................78

Catherine Mateu

Chapter 8 GERMANY .........................................................................................................................89

Richard Dissmann

Chapter 9 GREECE .............................................................................................................................96

Christos Chrissanthis, Xenia Chardalia and Antonia Vasilogamvrou

Chapter 10 ITALY .................................................................................................................................118

Julia Holden and Giacomo Desimio

CONTENTS


iv

Contents

Chapter 11 MALTA ..............................................................................................................................130

Luigi A Sansone

Chapter 12 NETHERLANDS .............................................................................................................138

Steffen Hagen and Ischa Gobius du Sart

Chapter 13 RUSSIA ..............................................................................................................................147

Alexander Nesterov, Sergey Medvedev and Ilya Goryachev

Chapter 14 SPAIN ................................................................................................................................158

Marta Rodríguez and Patricia García

Chapter 15 UNITED KINGDOM .....................................................................................................169

Peter Houlihan

Chapter 16 UNITED STATES ............................................................................................................184

Roberta Jacobs-Meadway

Appendix 1 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ..............................................................................................195

Appendix 2 CONTRIBUTING LAW FIRMS’ CONTACT DETAILS .........................................203


v

EDITOR’S PREFACE

I am very pleased to be able to introduce this new title from the long-established Law Review series, dedicated to issues around trademark law. Its objective is an ambitious one: to provide an annual snapshot of the law in this area across a broad range of jurisdictions, not only summarising key legal provisions but also examining recent developments and trends coming from the courts, and identifying areas of expected legal activity and legislative change going forward.

To this end, we have invited a geographically diverse group of leading trademark practitioners each to provide a chapter of commentary on their own jurisdiction. The broad structure of each chapter is similar, allowing for clear points of comparison, while leaving enough space for issues of particular relevance to a given country to be explored. Our authors have therefore all struck a balance between conveying the key elements of the trademark landscape in their respective countries, and giving a flavour of the current and commercially active issues they face. The former must necessarily be concise – this book does not in any sense aim to provide an exhaustive analysis – but each author has been encouraged to explore the latter with appropriate weight depending on what has been happening recently in his or her country.

The commercial importance of trademarks to the business community continues to grow, and the tools available for securing international protection (for example, the European Union Trademark system (EUTM) and international registration under the Madrid Protocol) are still improving and providing businesses with ever broader choices in how to develop effective international protection. For many years, there has been considerable harmonisation of trademark laws and practices across many jurisdictions, most obviously in the EU but also in other countries that have adopted new trademark laws that closely reflect the EU model. While harmonisation continues to be the direction of travel in some quarters, there are still many significant differences in the legal treatment of trademarks when viewed globally.

It goes without saying that the online environment, including social media platforms, continues to grow as a dominant force in the business world. This is reflected in a significant increase in trademark (and related) law suits around the world, whether relating to key word advertising, metatags, ‘traditional’ trademark infringement, unfair competition, copyright or a myriad of other legal issues. At the most fundamental level, the only mechanism for tackling legal issues that arise on the internet is on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, but this is heavily at odds with the internet operating without reference to geographical borders. So the areas of trademark law that remain far from harmonised can dramatically increase the complexity of tackling determined international infringers. Some of these issues come through in this publication: readers will note the many references to recent and pending legal


Preface

vi

actions surrounding the internet and social media, and the different treatment some issues receive in courts across different jurisdictions is clear to see.

The continuing efforts to increase the degree of substantive and procedural harmonisation internationally in the trademark arena are therefore certainly in the interests of the business community, and worth pursuing.

There are many other issues dealt with in the chapters of this book which are not focused on the internet, including parallel imports, registering and enforcing non-traditional trademarks, counterfeit products, and the interplay between trademarks, company names and domain names. The nature of the publication is such that not all these areas are addressed in every chapter: they arise in jurisdictions where they have been the subject of recent legal scrutiny and are therefore current issues.

Our hope is that readers will find this book a valuable resource and that – since its content is up to date, business-focused and in the form of a snapshot of each jurisdiction – one which our colleagues in the trademark field will want to consult regularly.

Jonathan CleggCleveland Scott YorkLondonNovember 2017


42

Chapter 5

DENMARK

Jakob Krag Nielsen and Søren Danelund Reipurth1

I OVERVIEW

The Danish trademark registration landscape is, for obvious reasons, centred around the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), which is a competent, efficient and consistent authority.

The Danish enforcement landscape, on the other hand, is much more complex, and as this chapter explains, trademark rights may be enforced in a number of ways in Denmark. Obviously, the Danish courts are the cornerstone of the Danish enforcement landscape, but they do not work alone. For instance, practitioners consider the Danish Complaints Board for Domain Names to be a great alternative to the courts, when trademark disputes involve domain names.

II LEGAL FRAMEWORK

i Legislation

The principal Danish legislation related to trademarks consists of the Trademarks Act,2 which, inter alia, serves to incorporate the Trademarks Directive3 into Danish law. In addition, the Registration Order4 sets out supplementary provisions pertaining primarily to the application for and registration of trademarks in Denmark. Denmark has acceded to the TRIPS Agreement.5 Also, Denmark has acceded to the WIPO Convention and is a contracting party to numerous WIPO-administered treaties, including, by way of example, the Madrid Protocol6 and the Paris Convention.7

1 Jakob Krag Nielsen is an attorney and partner and Søren Danelund Reipurth is an attorney and director at Lundgrens law firm.

2 Consolidate Trademarks Act (Denmark), No. 223 of 26 February 2017 (the Trademarks Act).3 Directive 2008/95/EC to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trademarks, of the

European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 (the Trademarks Directive).4 Order on Application and Registration, etc. of Trademarks and Collective Marks (Denmark) No. 364 of

21 May 2008 (the Registration Order).5 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement).6 Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, adopted

at Madrid on 27 June 1989, as amended on 3 October 2006 and on 12 November 2007 (the Madrid Protocol).

7 The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 1983, of 20 March 1883, as amended on 28 September 1979 (the Paris Convention).


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ii Authorities

DKPTO

The DKPTO forms part of the Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.8 It works to help companies protect and exploit their ideas and inventions and thus aims to be the Danish centre of intellectual property.9 One of the core tasks of the DKPTO encompasses the activities undertaken in relation to trademarks, including trademark registration in particular. The powers of the DKPTO are primarily set out in the Trademarks Act.

Danish Complaints Board for Domain Names

The Danish Complaints Board for Domain Names (the Complaints Board) hears cases concerning the right to .dk domain names.10 The Complaints Board claims to be an easy, faster and cheaper alternative to the courts in domain name disputes,11 and most practitioners would probably agree with this claim. The Complaints Board may, inter alia, decide to suspend, delete or transfer the .dk domain name that is subject to a complaint.12

DK Hostmaster

DK Hostmaster maintains the Danish internet infrastructure and administers the database of all .dk domain names on behalf of the Danish government.13

Although DK Hostmaster does not hear domain name complaints, such complaints may nevertheless, in certain special situations, be submitted to DK Hostmaster.14 These special situations include, inter alia, situations where there is evidently a likelihood of confusion, and where interests of safety or general public interests justify not waiting for a decision from the Complaints Board or from the courts. Moreover, DK Hostmaster is competent in matters concerning typosquatting or persistent infringements of good domain name practice. In such cases, DK Hostmaster may suspend and, subsequently, block, delete or transfer a domain name.15

The Danish Business Authority

The Danish Business Authority (the Authority) registers the names of companies, including the names of limited companies and private limited companies. All company names must be registered with the Authority.16 When a company name is registered, the Authority examines whether an identical name is registered. However, the Authority does not examine whether similar names are registered, let alone if identical or confusingly similar trademarks have been registered.17 As such, the registration of a company name with the Authority does not entail

8 See: http://em.dk/nyheder/2017/08-08-ny-direktoer-for-pvs. 9 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/media/1736667/maal-og-resultater-2017.pdf. 10 Internet Domains Act, (Denmark) No. 164 of 26 February 2014 (the Domain Names Act), Section 28(1).11 See: https://www.dk-hostmaster.dk/en/how-submit-complaint-about-right-domain-name. 12 The Domain Names Act, Section 28(4)(1).13 Ibid., Sections (4);(12); https://www.dk-hostmaster.dk/en/dk-hostmaster. 14 DK Hostmaster’s General Conditions for the Assignment, Registration and Administration of .dk Domain

Names, version 08 of 31 January 2016, paragraph 8.3; https://www.dk-hostmaster.dk/en/how-submit -complaint-about-right-domain-name.

15 Ibid., Nr. 13. 16 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/media/1107/beskyttelseafforretningskendetegn.pdf. 17 Ibid.


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any extinctive acquisition of rights.18 The Authority does not hear complaints pertaining to the registration of business names. However, if a court of law has concluded that a company name has been registered in violation of Section 2 of the Danish Companies Act,19 the Authority will remove the name from the register.20

iii Substantive law

Registered trademarks

Registered trademarks are, inter alia, protected pursuant to the Danish Trademarks Act, namely Section 4(1), which implements Article 5(1) of the Trademarks Directive, and which entitles the proprietor of a trademark to the right to prohibit any person not having consent from using any sign in the course of trade, if the sign is (1) identical to the trademark and is used for identical goods and services, or (2) identical or similar to the trademark, and the goods or services are identical or similar, if there exists a likelihood of confusion, including a likelihood of association with the trademark.

Reputed trademarks

Reputed trademarks enjoy, inter alia, protection pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Trademarks Act, which implements Article 5(2) of the Trademarks Directive, and which stipulates that, regardless of the limitation in Section 4(1) to identical or similar goods and services, the trademark proprietor may also prohibit use for goods or services which are not similar, if the trademark has a reputation in Denmark, and if use would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the trademark.

Collective marks and certification marks

Collective marks and certification marks are protected by the Collective Marks Act.21 With the exception of certain provisions, the Act refers to the provisions of the Danish Trademarks Act.

Unregistered trademarks

In Denmark, trademark rights may also be acquired through use in the course of trade. This follows explicitly from Section 3(1)(2) of the Trademarks Act. Case law indicates that the use requirement is interpreted leniently by the Danish courts. Even use within a group of companies may qualify as use for the purposes of Section 3(1)(2) of the Trademarks Act.22 If trademark rights are acquired through use, the trademark is, by and large, entitled to the same protection as registered trademarks outlined above.

Well-known trademarks

Well-known trademarks – within the meaning of Article 6(b) of the Paris Convention – are protected pursuant to Sections 15(2)(4) and 15(3(2) of the Trademarks Act.

18 Companies Act, with comments, (Denmark), Nr. 322 of 4 November 2011, 2nd Ed. 2014, Comment No. 8. 19 Consolidated Companies Act, (Denmark), No. 1089 of 14 September 2015 (the ‘Danish Companies Act’).20 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/media/1107/beskyttelseafforretningskendetegn.pdf. 21 The Consolidate Collective Markets Act, (Denmark), No. 103 of 24 January 2012 (the Collective Marks Act). 22 Trademarks Act with comments, (Denmark), No. 223 of 26 January 2017, Comment No. 12.


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The first provision, read in conjunction with Section 15(1), states that a mark that is identical or confusingly similar to an earlier trademark that is ‘well-known in this country in the meaning stipulated in Article 6(b) of the Paris Convention’ is not registrable. Section 15(2)(4) essentially implements Article 4(2)(d) of the Trademarks Directive.

The latter provision states that a mark is also not registrable if it is identical or similar to a well-known trademark within the meaning of Section 15(2)(4), even if it is applied for different goods and services than those for which the mark is well-known, if the use of the earlier mark would imply that there is a connection between the marks, and the use would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the trademark. This provision is worded in accordance with Article 16(3) of the TRIPS Agreement.23

Company names

Company names may be registered as trademarks in Denmark. Moreover, if use of a company name qualifies as trademark use, trademark rights may also be acquired through use. Outside the world of trademarks, company names are primarily protected pursuant to Section 2 of the Danish Companies Act. Most importantly, Section 2(2) essentially states that company names must differ from other company names registered in the Danish Business Authority’s IT system and must not include a family name, company name, distinctive name for real estate, trademark, trade name and the like, which is not the (intellectual) property of the company, or which may cause confusion on the part of the public.

Trade names and business names

As with company names, trade names and business names may qualify for trademark protection without trademark registration, if trademark rights may be said to have been acquired through use. In addition, Section 22 of the new Danish Marketing Practices Act,24 which came into force on 1 July 2017, stipulates that no person carrying on a trade or business shall make use of any trademark or other distinctive business mark to which that person is not legally entitled or make use of his or her own distinctive business marks in a manner likely to cause such marks to be confused with those of other traders.

The provision is intended to offer supplemental protection to Section 4 of the Trademarks Act for marks – or use of marks – that, for whatever reason, do not qualify for trademark protection. As such, the provision is often invoked in trademark disputes. However, the provision appears to have been gradually ‘outmatched’ by the Trademarks Act, the Domain Names Act, the Companies Act and other specific legislation.25 Section 22 is a national Danish rule that does not implement or reflect EU legislation.26

Geographical indications

The Danish Trademarks Act protects geographical indications in various ways. Sections 5 and 13 stand out. Pursuant to Section 5(2), which implements Article 6(1)(b) of the Trademarks

23 Knud Wallberg, Varemærkeret, (Djøf Forlag, 5th edition 2017) p. 344.24 Marketing Practices Act, (Denmark), No. 426 of 3 May 2017 (the Marketing Practices Act).25 Proposal for the Marketing Practices Act as put forward on 12 October 2016 by the Minister for Economic

and Business Affairs (Troels Lund Poulsen), comments to Section 22. 26 Ibid.


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Directive, the proprietor of a trademark shall not be entitled to prohibit a third party from using, in the course of trade, indications concerning geographical origin. Moreover, pursuant to Section 13(2)(1), which implements Article 3(1)(c) of the Directive, a trademark lacks distinctive character and therefore shall not be subject to registration, if it consists exclusively of signs or indications that may serve, in trade, to designate the geographical origin.

Domain names

Like many of the intellectual property rights described above, domain names may qualify for trademark protection. Moreover, a domain name may be equivalent to a company name, or it may be protected pursuant to the Danish Marketing Practices Act as a trade name or business name. It may also be a graphical indication. Additionally, the Domain Names Act offers primary protection for domain names or, if domain names are protected by other legislation, supplemental protection. Pursuant to Section 25 of the Domain Names Act, domain name registrants must not register and use internet domain names contrary to good domain name practice.27 Moreover, registrants must not register and maintain registrations of internet domain names solely for the purpose of selling or renting such domain names to other parties.28 Section 25 serves as a general clause within the area of domain names and, according to the preparatory works, allows for decision-making out of consideration of fairness.29

III REGISTRATION OF MARKS

i Inherent registrability

In Denmark, trademark applications are filed with the DKPTO. Online application is available, and an application may be filed in English.30 In the latter case, the application should be accompanied by a Danish translation of the list of goods and services.31 There is no requirement to appoint a representative in Denmark, but in certain cases, the DKPTO may invite the applicant to appoint a representative.32

Once the application is filed, an application number is added to the application and a receipt is issued.33 The application fee may be paid along with the application, or it may be paid within a period of one month, in which case an invoice will be generated.34 The application fee for an application that covers three classes is currently 2,350 kroner. For every additional class, an additional fee of 600 kroner is payable. Additional fees, as of 1 March 2017, may be found on the DKPTO website.35

Once an application is lodged with the DKPTO and the fee has been paid, the office examines whether the list of goods and services, including the classification, is correct and

27 The Domain Names Act, Section 25(1). 28 Ibid., Section 25(2). 29 Consolidated Domain Names Act with Comments, (Denmark) No. 164 of 26 January 2014,

Comment No. 49. 30 The Registration Order, Section 5(1); http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/how-to-file.aspx.31 Ibid., Section 5(3).32 Ibid., Section 35(1).33 The Registration Order, section 7(1); http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/how-to-file.aspx. 34 Ibid., Section 2(4). 35 http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/prices-and-payment.aspx.


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accurate, and whether the formal requirements are satisfied. Also, and perhaps even more interestingly, the DKPTO examines whether there are any absolute or relative grounds for refusing the application.36

If any absolute grounds for refusal are identified, such as a lack of distinctive character, the office will inform the applicant of its intention to reject the application. The applicant may submit its observations, but if these are not sufficiently persuasive, the office will proceed with rejecting the application.37

See Section III.ii, below, regarding grounds for refusal. If no absolute grounds are identified, and all formal requirements are satisfied, the DKPTO proceeds to publish the registration (not the application) in Dansk Varemærketidende (Danish Trademarks Gazette) when a registration certificate is issued.38

ii Prior rights

The DKPTO examines for various prior rights.39 The DKPTO searches for confusingly similar marks in its database, which contains current Danish applications and registrations as well as EU and international trademarks, provided they have validity in Denmark.

The DKPTO also searches the Central Business Register, which is the Danish state’s master register of information about business. The search focuses on company names, which the trademark may infringe, including particularly names that are identical or almost identical to the applied mark, provided that the company is active within the same area of commerce as the goods or services covered by the application that is subject to examination. Finally, the DKPTO searches for rare family names, which are protected against commercial use by others pursuant to the Family Names Act.40

The results of the search conducted by the DKPTO are compiled in a search report, which the DKPTO sends to the applicant with a deadline by which the applicant should respond.41 The evaluation is only guidance, meaning that even if numerous, persuasive prior rights are identified, the applicant is free to decide to proceed with the registration, provided that no absolute grounds for refusal have been raised against the application.

iii Inter partes proceedings

Oppositions

Anyone may oppose a trademark registration on the basis of absolute grounds for refusal.42 No particular legal interest is required.43 On the other hand, oppositions claiming relative

36 The Registration Order, Sections 8 and 9; http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/our-examination-of-your-application.aspx.

37 Ibid., Section 10.38 Ibid., Section 11.39 Ibid., Section 9. 40 Family Names Act, (Denmark), No. 1816 of 23 December 2015 (the Family Names Act).41 The Registration Order, Section 10(4); http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/our-examination-of-your-

application.aspx. 42 The Registration Order, Section 13; The Trademarks Act, Section 23. 43 See: http://vmguidelines.dkpto.dk/aa/aaa/sagsbehandlingsprocedurer/behandling-af-indsigelser.aspx.


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grounds for refusal may only be submitted by the proprietor of the prior rights on which the opposition is based.44 An opposition must be filed within two months of the date of publication in the Danish Trademarks Gazette.45 This is an absolute deadline.46

Anonymous oppositions are not allowed. Moreover, an opposition must be reasoned, although not much is required of the reasoning.47 The opposition fee (2,500 kroner) may be paid in a number of ways.48

Invalidity actions

In Denmark, revocation and invalidation actions may be submitted to the DKPTO pursuant to Section 30 of the Trademarks Act or, pursuant to Section 29 of the Danish Trademarks Act, to the Danish courts. If an application for revocation or invalidation is lodged with the DKPTO, it must satisfy certain conditions.49 The starting point is that anyone may apply for revocation or invalidation. However, as is the case with regard to oppositions, it is not possible to base an application on third party rights. Moreover, the application must be reasoned, and the applicant must pay a fee of 2,500 kroner, which may be paid in a number of ways.50 If an application is lodged with the Danish courts, the parties will be subject to the rules pertaining to civil procedures.

iv Appeals

Any decision rendered by the DKPTO may be appealed to the Board of Appeals for Patents and Trademarks within two months.51 Moreover, decisions rendered by the DKPTO and the Board of Appeals for Patents and Trademarks may be submitted to the courts.52

IV CIVIL LITIGATION

i Forums

Trials concerning national trademarks may, at first instance, be submitted to the city courts as well as the Maritime and Commercial High Court, although either party to such a dispute may demand that the case be referred to the Maritime and Commercial High Court.53

Disputes concerning EU trademarks must, at first instance, be submitted to the Maritime and Commercial High Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction in such matters.54

44 Ibid. 45 The Registration Order, Section 13; the Trademarks Act, Section 23. 46 See: http://vmguidelines.dkpto.dk/aa/aaa/sagsbehandlingsprocedurer/behandling-af-indsigelser/

minimumskrav-til-indsigelsen.aspx. 47 Ibid. 48 See: http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/prices-and-payment.aspx. 49 See: http://vmguidelines.dkpto.dk/aa/aaa/sagsbehandlingsprocedurer/behandling-af

-administrative-ophaevelser/minimumskrav-til-anmodningen-om-ophaevelse.aspx. 50 See: http://iprights.dkpto.org/trademark/prices-and-payment.aspx. 51 The Registration Order, Section 13(7); the Trademarks Act, Section 46.52 Ibid.53 Consolidated Administration of Justice Act, (Denmark), No. 1257 of 13 October 2016

(the Administration of Justice Act), Section 225(3).54 Ibid., Section 225(1).


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Judgments in trademark disputes rendered by the city courts may be appealed to the high courts.55 Certain monetary thresholds apply, but these thresholds are generally not relevant to trademark disputes.

Judgments rendered by the Maritime and Commercial High Court in trademark disputes may be appealed to the high courts.56 Also, such judgments may be appealed to the Supreme Court if the matter is of principal relevance and is of general significance to the administration of justice and the legal development or has a significant social scope; or if other special reasons justify that the case be heard by the Supreme Court in the second instance.57

In addition to ordinary trials, trademark disputes may also be submitted to the courts in the form of preliminary injunction actions.58 An action for preliminary measures in a trademark dispute may submitted, even if a trial concerning the same dispute is current. Pursuant to Section 43b of the Trademarks Act, such actions may be submitted to the city courts or the Maritime and Commercial High Court, although either party to such a dispute may demand that the case be referred to the Maritime and Commercial High Court.59 Section 43c of the Trademarks Act, on the other hand, stipulates that if the preliminary measures are to have effect in all EU Member States, an action for preliminary measures must be submitted to the Maritime and Commercial High Court.

Decisions on preliminary measures rendered by the city courts may be appealed to the high courts, whereas decisions on such measures rendered by the Maritime and Commercial High Court must be appealed to the high courts.60 Decisions on preliminary measures with effect in all Member States rendered by the Maritime and Commercial High Court must, however, be appealed to the Eastern High Court.61 If some sort of preliminary measure is awarded, a trial on the merits must be submitted within 14 days.62

ii Pre-action conduct

Before civil litigation is commenced, the infringed trademark proprietor will often approach the infringer, often in the form of a cease and desist letter or similar. Obviously, such a letter serves the purpose of avoiding legal proceedings. However, under Danish law there are other advantages to approaching the infringer in this way. Firstly, a cease and desists letter ensures that the infringer may no longer be said to act in good faith.63 Secondly, if the trademark proprietor does not approach the infringer, the proprietor risks not being awarded (full) costs, even if the subsequent action for preliminary measures or trial is successful.

No specific legislation covers the sending of cease of desist letters. However, pursuant to Section 126 of the Danish Administration of Justice Act, Danish lawyers must adhere to

55 Ibid., Section 368(1).56 Ibid., Section 368(4).57 Administration of Justice Act, Section 368(4).58 Ibid., Chapter 40.59 Ibid., Section 225(3)60 Ibid., Section 427.61 The Trademarks Act, Section 43c(2). 62 The Administration of Justice Act, Section 425.63 Jens Jakob Bugge et al.: Dansk Immaterialret II, bind II, Sanktioner og Håndhævelse, (Gads Forlag, 1st Ed.

2015) p. 157.


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‘good lawyer conduct’. This means that a lawyer acting on behalf of a trademark proprietor must disclose information essential to the infringer’s assessment of risk, including as part of a cease and desist letter.64

Before civil litigation is commenced, a trademark proprietor may also apply for the securing of evidence pursuant to Section 653 of the Administration of Justice Act. As opposed to actions for preliminary measures, securing of evidence actions must be submitted to the bailiff’s courts.

In Denmark, there are generally three alternatives to civil litigation in trademark disputes, namely arbitration, mediation and court mediation. All share one common characteristic, namely that they only come into play if the parties to a trademark dispute agree to pursue a path that is different from civil litigation.

iii Conduct of proceedings

Discovery and disclosure as part of proceedings

Pursuant to Chapter 29a of the Danish Administration of Justice Act, a party to an intellectual property infringement trial may ask the court to order the opposing party as well as a third party to disclose certain infringement information under certain circumstances, provided that it has already been fully established that an infringement has occurred. In addition, pursuant to Sections 298 and 299, a party to an intellectual property infringement trial may ask the court to order the opposing party as well as a third party to produce evidence, on which the asking party intends to rely. If the opposing counsel fails to comply with such orders, the court may assume that the factual circumstances are as the party asking for disclosure has presented them to the court. If a third party fails to comply, the third party may face various sanctions, including fines. Chapter 29a of the Danish Administration of Justice Act does not apply to actions for preliminary measures.65

Submission of legal and factual evidence

In the context of actions for preliminary measures, there are very few restrictions on submissions of legal and factual evidence. In most cases, the courts will allow examinations of party representatives and witnesses, submissions of various documents, submissions of products and other physical forms of evidence, expert opinions (including one-sided expert opinions). However, the court may restrict evidence, which will prolong the injunction case unreasonably.66

In the context of trials at first instance, various evidence restrictions apply. First of all, evidence must be submitted within certain time frames that are normally fixed by the courts. Generally, evidence will be allowed, even if has been obtained illegally.67

On the other hand, access to submit expert opinions is restricted in the context of trials. Expert opinions obtained by one party before the trial may, in most cases, be produced as evidence, whereas expert opinions obtained by one party, after the trial is initiated, may not be submitted.

64 Judgment of the Maritime and Commercial High Court of 6 September 2017 in Case Nos. V-64-14 and V-27-15.

65 Clement Salung Petersen, Immaterielrettigheder og foreløbige forbud, (DJØF Forlag, 1st Ed. 2008), p. 118.66 Administration of Justice Act, Section 417(1).67 U 2012 1893 V.


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Written and oral proceedings

In Denmark, the starting point is that cases are pleaded orally.68 Even so, cases may be pleaded in writing, if the parties agree to it, and if special circumstances support that the trial be pleaded in writing.69 Where the focal point of a trial is one of law and not one of evidence, such a trial may be suitable for pleading in writing.

Legal representation

The starting point is that only lawyers may represent parties at trial.70 There are exceptions to this starting point, but they are never relevant in the context of trademark disputes. That said, any party may represent itself, himself or herself,71 although the courts may force such clients to retain legal representation.72

Cost recovery

In terms of cost recovery, the starting point is that the losing party must cover the costs inflicted by the trial on the winning party, unless the parties have agreed otherwise.73 This wording might suggest that, in Denmark, trial costs are fully recovered. This is not the case. Out-of-pocket expenses, such as those associated with obtaining an expert opinion before the court, are normally fully covered. However, legal fees are only covered up to an ‘appropriate amount’, which, in principle, is awarded arbitrarily by the courts.74 The presidents of the Western and Eastern High Courts have issued a brief on costs in civil trials, which, among other things, contains a table of costs corresponding to the value of the case, which is mostly adhered to.75

Time frames

The Danish Administration of Justice Act does not set out any maximum time frames for civil proceedings.

iv Remedies

Trial remedies

The Trademarks Act is quite clear about which remedies may be applied for in a regular trial concerning trademark infringements. If a trademark infringement is established, the trademark proprietor may, in accordance with Article 13 Enforcement Directive,76 claim

68 Administration of Justice Act, Section 365(2).69 Ibid., Section 366(1).70 Ibid., Section 131.71 Ibid., Section 259(1).72 Ibid., Section 259(2).73 Ibid., Section 312(1).74 Ibid., Section 316(1).75 See: https://www.domstol.dk/VestreLandsret/Documents/Sagsomkostninger%20og%20salærer/

Inkassotakster,%20juni%202017.pdf. 76 Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, of the European Parliament and

of the Council, of 29 April 2004 (the Enforcement Directive).


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reasonable remuneration and damages.77 The term ‘reasonable remuneration’ means a licence fee. Reasonable remuneration may be awarded, even if no loss has been substantiated. On the other hand, damages are only awarded if some sort of loss may be established.

In addition to reasonable remuneration and damages, a trademark proprietor may, inter alia, claim that goods infringing a trademark right be:a temporarily withdrawn from the trade;b finally withdrawn from the trade;c destroyed; ord handed over to the trademark proprietor;

and that the infringing trademarks be removed.78

Preliminary remedies

If, in the context of an action for preliminary measures, a trademark infringement is rendered likely (as opposed to demonstrated), the applicant may ask the court to order that the subject of the action for preliminary measures is ordered to perform, abstain from or withstand certain actions.79 Moreover, the applicant may ask the court to seize goods that are likely to be used to violate an injunction or an order.80

V OTHER ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS

Pursuant to Section 42(2) of the Trademarks Act, intentional trademark infringements in aggravating circumstances may result in imprisonment of up to one year and six months, unless a higher penalty is warranted under Section 299b of the Danish Criminal Code.81 Section 299b of the Criminal Code states that trademark infringements of a particularly serious nature may result in imprisonment for up to six years, if the purpose of the trademark infringement was to obtain unjustified profits or if, regardless of the profits obtained, the circumstances are particularly aggravating. This means that if a trademark proprietor is faced with particularly grave trademark infringements, which fall under the scope of either Section 42(2) of the Trademarks Act or Section 299b of the Criminal Code, the trademark proprietor may report such infringements to the State Prosecutor for Serious Economic and International Crime (SØIK).82 If following an investigation, SØIK decides to proceed with the charges, the trademark proprietor may, in principle, file a claim for damages as part of the criminal proceedings.83 However, trademark proprietors often find that the courts decide to carve out claims for damages, leaving it to the trademark proprietors to initiate civil proceedings.84

77 Trademarks Act, Section 43(1). 78 Ibid., Section 44(1).79 The Administration of Justice Act, Section 411(1).80 Ibid., Section 423(1).81 Consolidated Criminal Code Act, (Denmark), No. 977 of 9 August 2017 (the Criminal Code).82 See: https://vidensbasen.anklagemyndigheden.dk/h/6dfa19d8-18cc-47d6-b4c4-3bd07bc15ec0/VB/

ba1b8f49-7b6d-445b-a0de-edf4668d448b 83 The Administration of Justice Act, Section 991. 84 Ibid., Section 991(4).


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VI RECENT AND PENDING CASES

Karnov Group Denmark A/S v. J H Schultz Information A/S

In July 2016, the Danish Eastern High Court ruled, at second instance, in an action for preliminary measures submitted by Karnov Group Denmark A/S (Karnov) against J H Schultz Information A/S (Schultz).85 This action and the decisions rendered as part of it drew a great deal of attention in Denmark.

The focal point of the case was the question of whether Karnov, provider of the leading case-law database in Denmark and the proprietor of, inter alia, the trademark UfR (word), could prohibit Schultz from using UfR (word) as a metatag and identifier as part of Schultz’s competing subscription-based online case-law database.

For the purpose of identifying decisions and judgments in its database, Karnov uses a particular format known as the UfR-number, which contains the trademark UfR (word). Karnov had learned that Schultz also used this UfR-number in its database. Inter alia, Schultz allowed its users to search for judgments using the UfR-number. This led Karnov to submit a request for a preliminary injunction against Schultz to the Maritime and Commercial Court, claiming that this use of the UfR-number constituted a trademark infringement of its unregistered rights to, inter alia, UfR (word) pursuant to Sections 4(1)(1) and 4(1)(2) of the Danish Trademark Act. Schultz’s principal argument was that use of the UfR-number in its database did not constitute trademark use, and that in any case use of UfR (word) was allowed pursuant to Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Trademarks Act, which implements Articles 6(1)(b) and 6(1)(c) of the Trademarks Directive.

The Maritime and Commercial Court granted the injunction.86 However, on appeal, the Danish Eastern High Court ruled that Schultz had not used Karnov’s trademark, stating explicitly that the function of the trademark had not been affected. The dispute is now pending before the Maritime and Commercial High Court once more, this time in the form of a trial on the merits. Not many Danish judgments have relied explicitly on the functions of the trademark in question, making this judgment particularly interesting.

Benedikte Utzon v. Topbrands v/ Lasse Skaarup Jensen

The Danish Supreme Court ruled in the case of Benedikte Utzon v. Topbrands v/ Lasse Skaarup Jensen in December 2016. Although fairly complex, the case essentially dealt with two questions: (1) had the unregistered trademark BENEDIKTE UTZON been assigned from Benedikte Utzon A/S (now liquidated following bankruptcy) to the Danish clothing company Topbrands; and (2) did Benedikte Utzon’s continued use of BENEDIKTE UTZON amount to a trademark infringement?

Danish fashion designer Benedikte Utzon had, as a sole trader, marketed and sold clothing under the trademark BENEDIKTE UTZON since 1995. In 2009, she invested in a limited liability company, Benedikte Utzon A/S. Instead of paying for shares with cash, she essentially paid for the shares with her business and its assets, including the unregistered trademark BENEDIKTE UTZON. Benedikte Utzon A/S declared bankruptcy in 2012. Benedikte Utzon was granted the right to buy back the trademark rights, which she had previously assigned, but turned down the offer. Instead, Topbrands purchased the trademark

85 Decision of the Eastern High Court of 7 July 2016 in Case No. B-267-16.86 Decision of the Maritime and Commercial High Court of 18 December 2015 in Case No. A-24-15.


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rights of Benedikte Utzon A/S, including the unregistered trademark BENEDIKTE UTZON. Nevertheless, Benedikte Utzon continued to use BENEDIKTE UTZON in various forms, including for clothing.

Topbrands took legal action against Benedikte Utzon, claiming that its trademark rights had been infringed. Benedikte Utzon, on the other hand, claimed that, regardless of Topbrands’ trademark rights, she had a right to her own name and signature, relying on (what is now) Article 12(1)(a) of the EUTMR (European Union Trade Mark Regulation) as well as Section 5(1) of the Danish Trademarks Act, which implements Article 6(1)(a) of the Trademarks Directive.

The Maritime and Commercial Court found that the trademark rights had been validly assigned to Topbrands, and that Benedikte Utzon’s continued use of her name for goods and services covered by Topbrands’ trademark rights was not in accordance with good marketing practices and thus constituted a trademark infringement. This was confirmed by the Danish Supreme Court. The judgment of the Supreme Court was in alignment with other recent Danish court decisions and thus reiterated that, under Danish law, an assignment of a trademark consisting of a personal name may easily lead to a situation where the person holding the personal name in question may in fact not use that name as a trademark.

VII OUTLOOK

A new Trademarks Act is expected to come into force on 1 January 2019.87 The new act will implement the New Trademarks Directive.88 Accordingly, the DKPTO has already sent out invitations to user meetings and interviews throughout 2017.89 So far, the DKPTO has, inter alia, focused on the principle of rights acquired through use, which informs Sections 3(1)(2) and 15(4)(2) of the Trademarks Act as well as Sections 3 and 22 of the new Marketing Practices Act.90 Denmark has a very different approach from most other Member States, which require some sort of acquisition of distinctiveness, which in itself is a potential problem. Moreover, rights acquired through use are difficult to uncover prior to use and registration. Against this background, the DKPTO seems to lean towards amending the provisions on rights acquired through use.91 Also, the DKPTO has asked questions pertaining to the interplay between company names and trademarks as well as the protection of personal names.

More issues are likely to be raised as the implementation process unfolds, and for obvious reasons trademark practitioners and trademark professionals are monitoring the process closely.

87 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/information/lovstof/varemaerkelov-2019. 88 Directive (EU) 2015/2436, to approximate the laws of the EU Member States relating to trademarks, of

the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2015 (the New Trademarks Directive). 89 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/information/lovstof/varemaerkelov-2019. 90 See: https://www.dkpto.dk/media/1736913/samlet-overordnet-introduktion.pdf. 91 Ibid.


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Appendix 1

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

JAKOB KRAG NIELSEN

LundgrensJakob Krag Nielsen has particular expertise and experience in contentious as well as non-contentious work in the area of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights. Jakob represents Danish and international clients from all industries, but in particular technology-intensive industries within e.g., life sciences and healthcare. Jakob’s approach is straightforward, always appreciating that any value-creating advice needs to be based on a profound understanding of the client’s commercial targets and needs.

SØREN DANELUND REIPURTH

LundgrensSøren Danelund Reipurth specialises in intellectual property. He has wide experience in the field, but particularly specialises in trademarks, designs and domain names as well as marketing law. He advises on the establishment and enforcement of trademark and design rights. In addition, he has litigated several court cases before the Maritime and Commercial High Court and the High Courts concerning, inter alia, trademarks and product imitations as well as marketing infringements.

Søren advises Danish and international companies in most industries, but particularly has experience within the fashion and design industry, technology intensive industries and the entertainment industry in general. Søren has been awarded an LLM in intellectual property law by the University of Melbourne and is a recipient of The Frank Pinkerton Scholarship for Competition Law and Intellectual Property.


About the Authors

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LUNDGRENS

Tuborg Havnevej 192990 HellerupCopenhagenDenmarkTel: +45 3525 [email protected]@lundgrens.dklundgrens.dk


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