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Andrej Stec
Načrtnutie aktuálnych vývojových línií v judikatúre ohľadom riadneho používania ochrannej známky, rozlišovacej spôsobilosti získanej používaním a ohľadom intenzity dobrého mena
Outline of Current Developments in Case Law with Regard to the Genuine Use of a Trademark, the Distinctiveness Acquired by Use and the Intensity of Reputation
Duševné vlastníctvo, Volume 25, Number 1/2021, pages 30 – 41
URL: https://www.indprop.gov.sk/?andrej-stec-1-2021-en
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Recommended form for quotation of the article:
STEC, A. 2021. Načrtnutie aktuálnych vývojových línií v judikatúre ohľadom riadneho používania ochrannej známky, rozlišovacej spôsobilosti získanej používaním a ohľadom intenzity dobrého mena. In Duševné vlastníctvo. [online]. Vol. 25 No. 1, 2021. ISSN 1339-5564, pp. 30 - 41. Available at: https://www.indprop.gov.sk/?andrej-stec-1-2021-en
Abstract
The article deals with several current developments in the case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU and the General Court of the EU concerning trademarks. First, after a brief introduction concerning structural issues related to the functioning of the EU courts in question in this area, the article addresses the issue of the genuine use of a trademark. On the one hand, it analyzes the function of a collective trademark, defining the possibility of proving genuine use, referring to an example of a trademark relating to the recycling of packaging. On the other hand, it underlines, in this context, issues such as the possibility of dividing the relevant product market into separate parts for luxury products and it addresses the importance of selling second-hand goods, accessories and spare parts as evidence of proper use. Subsequently, the article addresses the distinctive character acquired through use, in particular the question of how relevant facts can be proven throughout the European Union, taking into account, inter alia, modern means of communication and internet sales. Finally, the article draws attention to another current trend in the case-law, namely the need to determine precisely the degree of reputation of trademarks in cases where deciding on an opposition to a registration of a competing trade mark requires such an approach.
Key words
Function of a collective trademark, Genuine use of an EU trademark, Luxury goods, Proof of use ‘in respect of some of the goods or services’, Use of a trademark for second-hand goods, accessories and spare parts, Distinctive character acquired through use, Degree of reputation, Reputation which extends beyond the public concerned by the earlier marks