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