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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)
HvJ EU 12 November 2002, zaak C-206/01,
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?
HvJ EU 12 November 2002, zaak C-206/01,
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;…
Art. 10 lid 4 Concept MRl
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)
HvJ EU 6 februari 2014, zaak C-98/13, Blomqvist/Rolex
…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)
HvJ EU 6 februari 2014, zaak C-98/13, Blomqvist/Rolex
…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)
HvJ EU 6 februari 2014, zaak C-98/13, Blomqvist/Rolex
…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)
HvJ EU 6 februari 2014, zaak C-98/13, Blomqvist/Rolex
Goederen in transit
Art. 10 lid 5 Concept MRl
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?
Wat is refererend merkgebruik?
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
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