1 Trademark Definition by the EC Court of Justice Trademark Definition by the EC Court of Justice

2 PORT IT FR SPA LUX NE BE GERM AUS ENGIRE DENSWE FINGR C O M U N I T Y T R A D E M A R K + (Design) NO N EU EUROPEANPATENTEUROPEANPATENT COMMUNITYPATENTCOMMUNITYPATENT

3  Harmonisation of the various national trade mark laws  Introduction of one comprehensive system Harmonisation and unification of trademark law in Europe Two complementary systems  Directive 1988  REGULATION 1993

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5 Council Regulation n° 40/94 on the Community Trademark, 20 December 1993 Goal 1 : unification = directly applicable = directly applicable

6 Annual report OHIM / applications Statistics August 2002 : ( ) / applications Statistics August 2002 : ( ) “even the most optimistic forecasts have been exceeded” “even the most optimistic forecasts have been exceeded”

7 Main 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

8 Goal 2 : harmonisation “First Council directive to approximate the Laws of the Member States relating to Trade Marks of 21 December 1988 ”

9 Structure 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

10 Not regulated in TMD (differences in national law)  Kinds of marks to be registered  Procedural rules re: application and registration proceedings refusal invalidity infringement  Application of other laws (differences in national law)  Kinds of marks to be registered  Procedural rules re: application and registration proceedings refusal invalidity infringement  Application of other laws

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12 Court of Justice Court of first Instance Court of Justice Court of first Instance Board of appeal Decision National Court

13 A Mark = a Sign Article 4 CTM A Community trade mark may consist of :  any sign  capable of being represented graphically  capable of distinguishing goods/services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings Article 4 CTM A Community trade mark may consist of :  any sign  capable of being represented graphically  capable of distinguishing goods/services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings Function of a mark Function of a mark

14 "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 TMD Art TRIPS

15 "Any sign" : art. 2 TMD & 4 CTM Graphic Representation VISUALLY Clear, precise Self-contained Easily accessible Intelligible Durable Objective

16 Word marks, Figurative marks Word marks Figurative marks “ instantly perceived as a sign”

17 Shape marks Linde, Winward, Rado 8 April 2003 Philips/Remington 18 June 2002

18 Shape marks Preliminary obstacle for particular shapes (3.1.e TMD = 7.1.e CTMR):  Nature of goods  Necessary for technical result  Substantial value to the goods Preliminary obstacle for particular shapes (3.1.e TMD = 7.1.e CTMR):  Nature of goods  Necessary for technical result  Substantial value to the goods Afterwards no stricter criteria

19 Colour 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

20 YES NO LIBERTEL CA The Hague BELGACOM Cass Colour marks: Benelux

21 Libertel  A colour per se is capable … if representation = clear precise self-contained easily accessible intelligible durable objective  A colour per se is capable … if representation = clear precise self-contained easily accessible intelligible durable objective NO YES : possibly + description + intern. Colour code + combinations

22 Olfactory marks  C 6 H 5 -CH=CHCOOCH 3 (chemical formula)  Description  'fruity balsamic smell with a light note of cinnamon'  Deposit of sample  Combination  C 6 H 5 -CH=CHCOOCH 3 (chemical formula)  Description  'fruity balsamic smell with a light note of cinnamon'  Deposit of sample  Combination "Requirement of graphic representability is NOT satisfied by … "Requirement of graphic representability is NOT satisfied by … Case Sieckmann (C.J )

23 Sound 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" Shield Mark v. Joost Kist (C.J. ???)

24 ANY SIGN = > 2 questions Any sign capable of graphical representation Protectability requirements

Distinctive character Not prohibited Available SIGN

Protectability requirements Distinctive character Not prohibited Available SIGN

27 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) : generic  consists 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) : generic  consists in the usual description of the specific goods/services

28 Distinctive =  identifying the undertaking  essential function of any trademark  identifying the undertaking  essential function of any trademark

29 No 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

30 Assessment of distinctive character  Word marks  3D marks (shapes)  Colour marks  Word marks  3D marks (shapes)  Colour marks

31 Court of Justice : “any perceptible difference” “Baby-dry” Distinctive character & word marks WORD COMBINATIONS

32 Court of Justice : “an additional characteristic” is needed Distinctive character & word marks WORD COMBINATIONS "Companyline" Application of art. 7.1.b "devoid of any distinctive character"

33 Distinctive 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

34 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”

35 Arigato Gozaimasu