Nieuw Europees merkenrecht: materieel Benelux Merken Congres 2014 Prof. dr. M.R.F. Senftleben...

Nieuw Europees merkenrecht:

materieelBenelux Merken Congres 2014

Prof. dr. M.R.F. Senftleben

Amsterdam, 10 april 2014

Inhoud

• dubbele identiteit en uitputting

• privé-import van namaakgoederen

• goederen in transit

• vrijstelling refererend merkgebruik

Wetgevingstraject

• MPI Study on the Overall Functioning of the

European Trade Mark System, 15 februari 2011

• Commission Proposal, 27 maart 2013

• Council: Presidency Compromise Proposal,

20 februari 2014

• Parlement: Legislative Resolution, 25 februari

2014

Dubbele identiteit en uitputting

Art. 5 lid 1 sub a MRl

…to prevent all third parties not having his consent

from using in the course of trade:

a) any sign which is identical with the trade mark in

relation to goods or services which are identical

with those for which the trade mark is registered;…

Absolute bescherming?

HvJ EU 12 November 2002, zaak C-206/01,

Arsenal/Reed

‘It follows that the exclusive right under Article

5(1)(a) of the Directive was conferred in order to

enable the trade mark proprietor to protect his

specific interests as proprietor, that is, to ensure

that the trade mark can fulfil its functions.’ (para.

51)


Arsenal/Reed

‘The exercise of that right must therefore be

reserved to cases in which a third party's use of

the sign affects or is liable to affect the functions of

the trade mark, in particular its essential function

of guaranteeing to consumers the origin of the

goods.’ (para. 51)

Focus op de herkomstfunctie

identical signs identical goods or services

adverse effect on one of the protected trademark functions

Overzicht

‘These functions include not only the essential

function of the trade mark, which is to guarantee

to consumers the origin of the goods or services,

but also its other functions, in particular that of

guaranteeing the quality of the goods or services

in question and those of communication,

investment or advertising.’ (para. 58)

erkenning van verdere beschermde functies, in het

bijzonder goodwill functies

HvJ EU 18 juni 2009, zaak C-487/07, L’Oréal/Bellure

art. 5 lid 1 MRl: verplicht

bescherming herkomstfunctie

enkele specifieke beperkingen

art. 5 lid 2 MRl: optioneel

bescherming investeringen

flexibel geldige reden verweer

exclusief verband met een teken

creatie van een merk imago

reclame

kwaliteit

Kritiek: systeem niet langer in balans

Commissievoorstel

Art. 10 lid 2 sub a Concept MRl

…to prevent all third parties not having his consent

from using in the course of trade any sign in relation

to goods or services where:

a) the sign which is identical with the trade mark and

is used in relation to goods or services which are

identical with those for which the trade mark is

registered and where such use affects or is liable to

affect the function of the trade mark to guarantee to

consumers the origin of the goods or services;…

EU Commission, p. 6

The recognition of additional trade mark

functions under Article 5(1)(a) of the Directive

has created legal uncertainty. In particular, the

relationship between double identity cases and

the extended protection afforded by Article 5(2)

to trade marks having a reputation has become

unclear. In the interest of legal certainty and

consistency, it is clarified that in cases of both

double identity under Article 5(1)(a) and

similarity under Article 5(1)(b) it is only the

origin function which matters.

APRAM, p. 7

Instead of providing legal certainty, this

provision generates great uncertainty and

further limits the protection of trade marks.

Such a provision would result in the recognition

of international exhaustion (which is in

contradiction with articles 15 of the Directive

and 13 of the Regulation under which

exhaustion of rights is limited to the territory of

the Union). Indeed, in the case of parallel

imports, the owner of the trade mark will no

longer be able to prevent such parallel imports

as the function of origin will not be affected.

INTA, p. 15-16

INTA opposes these provisions, which could

cause uncertainty in a number of situations

including: […]

Parallel import cases where original goods

have been sold with the consent of the

trademark owner only outside the EU […]

Trademark owners could no longer enforce

their rights against such goods entering the

EU and circulating within the EU, since the

origin function in these cases is not affected

(as the goods stem from the trademark owner).

Internationale uitputting?


Arsenal/Reed

‘The exercise of that right must therefore be

reserved to cases in which a third party's use of

the sign affects or is liable to affect the functions of

the trade mark, in particular its essential function

of guaranteeing to consumers the origin of the

goods.’ (para. 51)

Essentiële herkomstfunctie

Hadden we dus reeds vroeger internationale

uitputting zonder ons dat te realiseren?

Dan staat inmiddels vast dat de herkomstfunctie

niet in het gedrang komt bij parallelimporten van

buiten de EER.

Maar welke andere beschermde functie wordt dan

eigenlijk geschaad?

…En als er geen schade is, moeten we dan niet

gewoon uitgaan van internationale uitputting?

(wat reeds eerder het geval was, wat we ons

echter niet realiseerden?)

En als het Commissievoorstel nu écht geen kans heeft?

Of is er een verschil tussen originele producten buiten

en binnen de EER?

Realistischer scenario

Art. 15 lid 1 Concept MRl

‘The trade mark shall not entitle the proprietor to

prohibit its use in relation to goods which have

been put on the market in the [European

Economic Area] under that trade mark by the

proprietor or with his consent.’

HvJ EU zal begrijpen dat communautaire

uitputting bedoeld is.

De voorgestelde nieuwe wetgeving laat daarover

geen twijfel ontstaan.

Maar dan…

art. 5 lid 1 MRl

bescherming tegen verwarring

enkele specifieke beperkingen

art. 5 lid 2 MRl

bescherming tegen verwatering

flexibel geldige reden verweer

exclusief verband met een teken

creatie van een merk imago

reclame

kwaliteit

Commissievoorstel consistenter

Privé-import van namaakgoederen

Art. 10 lid 3 sub c Concept MRl

The following, in particular, may be prohibited under

paragraph 2:

c) importing or exporting the goods under the sign;…


The proprietor of a registered trade mark shall

also be entitled to prevent the importing of

goods pursuant to paragraph 3(c) where only the

consignor of the goods acts for commercial

purposes.

EU Commission, p. 6

It should be made clear that the importing of

goods into the Union is also prohibited where it

is only the consignor who acts for commercial

purposes. This is to ensure that a trade mark

owner has the right to prevent businesses

(whether located in the EU or not) from

importing goods located outside the EU that

have been sold, offered, advertised or shipped to

private consumers, and to discourage the

ordering and sale of counterfeit goods in

particular over the internet.

Wijzigingsvoorstel Parlement en Council…and where such goods, including packaging, bear

without authorisation a trade mark which is identical to

[the trade mark] registered in respect of such goods, or

which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects

from that trade mark.

= beperking tot 'counterfeit trademark goods', zoals

gedefinieerd in de APV en art. 51 TRIPS

Parlement: aanvullende verplichting om consument te

informeren (onder meer over rechten tegen de consignor)

Council: op dit moment slechts optionele tekst,

heroverwegen in het licht van HvJ EU Blomqvist/Rolex

Blomqvist

•bestelt een 'Rolex' horloge via een Chinese website

•douane stopt postpakket met het horloge

•wil vrijgave want heeft betaald

Rolex

•wil vernietiging van het horloge

•verzoekt Blomqvist om in te stemmen met

vernietiging

HvJ EU 6 februari 2014, zaak C-98/13, Blomqvist/Rolex

…de verwijzende rechter wenst te vernemen…

•of bescherming ex APV slechts kan worden

geboden 'indien die verkoop in de betrokken lidstaat

wordt beschouwd als een vorm van distributie onder

het publiek of als gebruik in het economische verkeer'

•of vóór de verkoop

'een verkoopaanbieding moet zijn

gedaan aan of reclame zijn gemaakt bij de consumenten

van diezelfde staat' (para. 26)


…in het algemeen wel gerichtheidscriterium van

toepassing (zoals eerder ontwikkeld in

Philips/Nokia)

•'…als „namaakgoederen” of „door piraterij verkregen

goederen” worden aangemerkt, wanneer is bewezen dat

zij bestemd zijn om in de Unie te worden verhandeld,

waarbij dit bewijs is geleverd met name wanneer blijkt

dat deze goederen aan een klant in de Unie zijn verkocht

of voor deze goederen een verkoopaanbieding is gedaan

aan of reclame is gemaakt bij de consumenten van de

Unie.' (para. 33)


…maar in onderhavige zaak heeft reeds verkoop

plaats-gevonden…

•'Vaststaat dat in het hoofdgeding het betrokken goed

aan een klant in de Unie is verkocht. Een dergelijke

situatie is derhalve in geen geval vergelijkbaar met die

waarin goederen worden aangeboden op een

„elektronische marktplaats”, en a fortiori evenmin met

die van goederen die het douanegebied van de Unie zijn

binnengebracht onder een schorsingsregeling.' (para.

34)


…dus is er geen noodzaak voor aanvullende

toetsing t.a.v. gerichtheid op consumenten in de

EU

bescherming op basis van APV veeleer mogelijk

•'…zonder dat hoeft te worden nagegaan of vóór die

verkoop voor een dergelijk goed tevens een

verkoopaanbieding aan het publiek is gedaan of

reclame is gemaakt bij de consumenten van de Unie.'

(para. 34)


Goederen in transit


The proprietor of a registered trade mark shall also

be entitled to prevent all third parties from bringing

goods, in the context of commercial activity, into the

customs territory of the Member State where the

trade mark is registered without being released for

free circulation there, where such goods, including

packaging, come from third countries and bear

without authorization a trade mark which is identical

to the trade mark registered in respect of such

goods, or which cannot be distinguished in its

essential aspects from that trade mark.

EU Commission, p. 7

The implications of the Philips/Nokia judgment

have met with strong criticism from stakeholders

as placing an inappropriately high burden of proof

on rights holders, and hindering the fight against

counterfeiting. […] It is therefore proposed to fill

the existing gap by entitling right holders to

prevent third parties from bringing goods, from

third countries, bearing without authorization a

trade mark which is essentially identical to the

trade mark registered in respect of those goods,

into the customs territory of the Union, regardless

of whether they are released for free circulation.

Wijzigingsvoorstel Parlement en CouncilWithout prejudice to WTO Rules, in particular Article

V of the GATT on freedom of transit, the proprietor of

a registered trade mark shall also be entitled to

prevent...

nog verder gaande voorstellen in het Parlement

uiteindelijk afgewezen (met name voorwaarde van

bescherming in het bestemmingsland)

gevolgen van verwijzing naar 'WTO Rules'?

Art. V lid 1 GATT

Goods (including baggage), and also vessels and other

means of transport, shall be deemed to be in transit

across the territory of a contracting party when the

passage across such territory, with or without trans-

shipment, warehousing, breaking bulk, or change in

the mode of transport, is only a portion of a complete

journey beginning and terminating beyond the frontier

of the contracting party across whose territory the

traffic passes. Traffic of this nature is termed in this

article 'traffic in transit'.

Art. V lid 2 GATT

There shall be freedom of transit through the

territory of each contracting party, via the routes

most convenient for international transit, for traffic

in transit to or from the territory of other contracting

parties. No distinction shall be made which is based

on the flag of vessels, the place of origin, departure,

entry, exit or destination, or on any circumstances

relating to the ownership of goods, of vessels or of

other means of transport.

Art. V lid 3 GATT

Any contracting party may require that traffic in transit

through its territory be entered at the proper custom

house, but, except in cases of failure to comply with

applicable customs laws and regulations, such traffic

coming from or going to the territory of other contracting

parties shall not be subject to any unnecessary delays or

restrictions and shall be exempt from customs duties and

from all transit duties or other charges imposed in

respect of transit, except charges for transportation or

those commensurate with administrative expenses...

Art. V lid 4 GATT

All charges and regulations imposed by contracting

parties on traffic in transit to or from the territories

of other contracting parties shall be reasonable,

having regard to the conditions of the traffic.

•voorgestelde nieuwe wetgeving t.a.v goederen in

transit

• 'unnecessary delays or restrictions' in de zin van

lid 3?

• 'reasonable regulations' in de zin van lid 4?

Art. XX sub d GATT

Subject to the requirement that such measures are

not applied in a manner which would constitute a

means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination

between countries where the same conditions

prevail, or a disguised restriction on international

trade, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed

to prevent the adoption or enforcement by any

contracting party of measures:

Art. XX sub d GATT

d) necessary to secure compliance with laws or

regulations which are not inconsistent with the

provisions of this Agreement, including those relating

to customs enforcement, the enforcement of

monopolies operated under paragraph 4 of Article II

and Article XVII, the protection of patents, trade

marks and copyrights, and the prevention of

deceptive practices;…

Art. 41 lid 1 TRIPS

Members shall ensure that enforcement procedures as

specified in this Part are available under their law so as

to permit effective action against any act of

infringement of intellectual property rights covered by

this Agreement, including expeditious remedies to

prevent infringements and remedies which constitute a

deterrent to further infringements. These procedures

shall be applied in such a manner as to avoid the

creation of barriers to legitimate trade and to provide

for safeguards against their abuse.

Vrijstelling refererend merkgebruik

Art. 14 lid 1 sub c Concept MRl

The trade mark shall not entitle the proprietor to

prohibit a third party from using, in the course of

trade:

c) the trade mark for the purpose of identifying or

referring to goods or services as those of the

proprietor of the trade mark, in particular where the

use of the trade mark is necessary to indicate the

intended purpose of a product or service, in

particular as accessories or spare parts;…

EU Commission, p. 7

It is also considered appropriate to provide in

Article 14(1)(c) for an explicit limitation

covering referential use in general.

Wat is refererend merkgebruik?

Wijzigingsvoorstel Parlement

specifieke opsomming van relevante gebruikshandelingen:

i)is necessary to indicate the intended purpose of a product

or service, in particular as accessories or spare parts;

ii)is made in comparative advertising satisfying all

conditions set forth in Directive 2006/114/EC;

iii)is made to bring to the attention of consumers the resale

of genuine goods that have originally been sold by or with

the consent of the proprietor of the trade mark;

Wijzigingsvoorstel Parlement

iv) is made to put forward a legitimate alternative to

the goods or services of the proprietor of the

trade mark;

v) is made for the purposes of parody, artistic

expression, criticism or comment;…

Maar zou het dan niet beter zijn om een horizontaal 'geldige reden'-

verweer te introduceren?

Thank you

[email protected]

Bird & Bird is an international legal practice comprising Bird & Bird LLP and its affiliated businesses. www.twobirds.com

Nieuw Europees merkenrecht: materieel Benelux Merken Congres 2014 Prof. dr. M.R.F. Senftleben...

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