Archive for the ‘Art. 6 Directive 89/104’ Category
C-104/01
Issues:
Signs capable of constituting a trade mark.
Distinctive character.
Colour per se.
Trade mark concerned:
The colour orange as a trade mark for telecommunications goods and services.
Findings:
1. A colour per se, not spatially delimited, may, in respect of certain goods and services, have a distinctive character within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(3) of First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks, provided that, inter alia, it may be represented graphically in a way that is clear, precise, self-contained, easily accessible, intelligible, durable and objective. The latter condition cannot be satisfied merely by reproducing on paper the colour in question, but may be satisfied by designating that colour using an internationally recognised identification code.
2. In assessing the potential distinctiveness of a given colour as a trade mark, regard must be had to the general interest in not unduly restricting the availability of colours for the other traders who offer for sale goods or services of the same type as those in respect of which registration is sought.
3. A colour per se may be found to possess distinctive character within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(3) of Directive 89/104, provided that, as regards the perception of the relevant public, the mark is capable of identifying the product or service for which registration is sought as originating from a particular undertaking and distinguishing that product or service from those of other undertakings.
4. The fact that registration as a trade mark of a colour per se is sought for a large number of goods or services, or for a specific product or service or for a specific group of goods or services, is relevant, together with all the other circumstances of the particular case, to assessing both the distinctive character of the colour in respect of which registration is sought, and whether its registration would run counter to the general interest in not unduly limiting the availability of colours for the other operators who offer for sale goods or services of the same type as those in respect of which registration is sought.
5. In assessing whether a trade mark has distinctive character within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) and Article 3(3) of Directive 89/104, the competent authority for registering trade marks must carry out an examination by reference to the actual situation, taking account of all the circumstances of the case and in particular any use which has been made of the mark.
Judgment text:
C-104/01, Libertel Groep BV.
Published:
OJ C 146, 21.06.2003, p. 6.
C-63/97
Zagadnienia:
Trade mark use.
Trade mark use in advertising.
Znaki towarowe:
BMW.
Wnioski:
1. Subject to the duty of the national court to interpret national law as far as possible in conformity with Community law, it is not contrary to the latter for a transitional rule of national law to provide that an appeal against a decision given before the date on which the rules transposing First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks into national law were belatedly brought into force is to be decided in accordance with the rules applicable before that date, even where judgment is given after that date.
2. The use of a trade mark, without the proprietor’s authorisation, for the purpose of informing the public that another undertaking carries out the repair and maintenance of goods covered by that mark or that it has specialised or is a specialist in such goods constitutes, in circumstances
such as those described in the judgment making the reference, use of the mark within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of First Directive 89/104.
3. Articles 5 to 7 of First Directive 89/104 do not entitle the proprietor of a trade mark to prohibit a third party from using the mark for the purpose of informing the public that he carries out the repair and maintenance of goods covered by that trade mark and put on the market under that mark by the proprietor or with his consent, or that he has specialised or is a specialist in the sale or the repair and maintenance of such goods, unless the mark is used in a way that may create to the impression that there is a commercial connection between the other undertaking and the trade mark proprietor, and in particular that the reseller’s business is affiliated to the trade mark proprietor’s distribution network or that there is a special relationship between the two undertakings.
Tekst wyroku:
C-63/97, BMW.
Opublikowany:
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