C-3/03
PostanowienieTSUE2004-04-28CELEX: 62003CO0003ECLI:EU:C:2004:233
Analiza orzeczenia
Sekcja wygenerowana przez AI na podstawie treści orzeczenia — nie stanowi cytatu.
Zagadnienie prawne
1. Jak należy oceniać podobieństwo złożonych znaków towarowych w kontekście prawdopodobieństwa wprowadzenia w błąd, w szczególności w odniesieniu do dominujących elementów? 2. Czy zasada swobodnego przepływu towarów stoi na przeszkodzie rejestracji krajowego znaku towarowego, który w języku innego państwa członkowskiego jest opisowy, oraz sprzeciwowi jego właściciela wobec rejestracji wspólnotowego znaku towarowego?Ratio decidendi
Trybunał Sprawiedliwości potwierdził, że ocena podobieństwa dwóch znaków towarowych musi opierać się na ogólnym wrażeniu, jakie wywołują, z uwzględnieniem ich wyróżniających i dominujących elementów. Stwierdził, że ocena faktów dokonana przez Sąd Pierwszej Instancji, dotycząca dominującego charakteru elementu słownego w znaku słowno-graficznym, nie stanowi kwestii prawnej podlegającej kontroli w postępowaniu odwoławczym. Ponadto, Trybunał orzekł, że zasada swobodnego przepływu towarów nie zabrania państwu członkowskiemu rejestrowania jako krajowego znaku towarowego oznaczenia, które w języku innego państwa członkowskiego jest opisowe dla danych towarów lub usług, ani właścicielowi takiego znaku sprzeciwiania się rejestracji wspólnotowego znaku towarowego, jeśli istnieje prawdopodobieństwo wprowadzenia w błąd, ponieważ prawo do ochrony znaku towarowego, w tym gwarancja pochodzenia, stanowi część jego specyficznego przedmiotu i może uzasadniać odstępstwa od tej zasady.Stan faktyczny
Matratzen Concord GmbH złożyła wniosek o rejestrację słowno-graficznego wspólnotowego znaku towarowego zawierającego słowo „Matratzen” dla towarów z klas 10, 20 i 24 (m.in. materace, poduszki, pościel). Hukla Germany SA, właściciel wcześniejszego krajowego znaku słownego „Matratzen” zarejestrowanego w Hiszpanii dla towarów z klasy 20, wniosła sprzeciw. OHIM, a następnie Sąd Pierwszej Instancji, uznały, że istnieje prawdopodobieństwo wprowadzenia w błąd ze względu na podobieństwo znaków i towarów, oddalając wniosek o rejestrację wspólnotowego znaku towarowego. Matratzen Concord GmbH wniosła odwołanie do Trybunału Sprawiedliwości.Rozstrzygnięcie
1. Odwołanie zostaje oddalone.
2. Skarżąca pokrywa koszty.Pełny tekst orzeczenia
Case C-3/03 P
Matratzen Concord GmbH, formerly Matratzen Concord AG
v
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM)
(Appeal – Community trade mark – Regulation (EC) No 40/94 – Similarity between two trade marks – Likelihood of confusion – Application for a figurative Community trade mark containing the word ‘Matratzen’ – Earlier word mark MATRATZEN)
Summary of the Order
1. Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Relative grounds for refusal – Opposition
by the proprietor of an identical or similar earlier trade mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity
between the marks in question – Assessment criteria – Complex mark
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 8(1)(b))
2. Appeals – Pleas in law – Review by the Court of Justice of the assessment of the facts put before the Court of First Instance
– Exclusion – Word and figurative mark applied for as a Community trade mark
(Art. 225 EC; EC Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 51)
3. Community trade mark – Right of the proprietor of a mark to oppose any use likely to impair the guarantee of origin – Right
as part of the specific subject-matter of the trade-mark rights – Opposition to registration of a Community trade mark by
the proprietor of a national mark regarded as being descriptive in the language of another Member State – Permissible with
regard to the principle of the free movement of goods
(Art. 30 EC; Council Regulation No 40/94)
1. In the context of the application of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94 on the Community trade mark, the assessment of
the similarity between two marks does not amount to taking into consideration only one component of a complex trade mark and
comparing it with another mark. On the contrary, such a comparison must be made by examining the marks in question, each considered
as a whole. That does not mean that the overall impression created in the mind of the relevant public by a complex trade mark
may not, in certain circumstances, be dominated by one or more of its components.
(see para. 32)
2. The appraisal of the facts by the Court of First Instance, which led it to hold that in the case of a word and figurative
mark for which registration as a Community trade mark is sought the verbal element constitutes the dominant element of the
mark at issue, does not constitute a point of law which is subject, as such, to review by the Court of Justice on appeal.
(see para. 34)
3. The right attributed to a trade-mark proprietor of preventing any use of the trade mark which is likely to impair the guarantee
of origin, which constitutes the essential function of the trade mark, is part of the specific subject-matter of the trade-mark
rights, the protection of which may justify derogations from the principle of the free movement of goods.
Consequently, the principle of the free movement of goods does not prohibit either a Member State from registering, as a national
trade mark, a sign which, in the language of another Member State, is descriptive of the goods or services concerned, or the
proprietor of such a trade mark from opposing, where there is a likelihood of confusion between that national trade mark and
a Community trade mark applied for, registration of the latter.
(see paras 41-42)
ORDER OF THE COURT OF JUSTICE (Fourth Chamber)
28 April 2004(1)
(Appea1 – Community trade mark – Regulation (EC) No 40/94 – Similarity between two trade marks – Likelihood of confusion – Application for a figurative Community trade mark containing the word ‘Matratzen’ – Earlier word mark MATRATZEN)
In Case C-3/03 P,
Matratzen Concord GmbH, formerly Matratzen Concord AG, established in Cologne, Germany, represented by W.-W. Wodrich, Rechtsanwalt, with an address
for service in Luxembourg,
appellant,
APPEAL against the judgment of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities (Fourth Chamber) of 23 October 2002
in Case T-6/01 Matratzen Concord v OHIM – Hukla Germany (Matratzen) [2002] ECR II-4335, by which the Court dismissed the application brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal
of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) of 31 October 2000 refusing to register a
figurative mark as a Community trade mark (Joined Cases R 728/1999-2 and R 792/1999-2, seeking to have that judgment set aside,
the other party to the proceedings being:
Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM), represented by A. von Mühlendahl and G. Schneider, acting as Agents,
defendant at first instance,
THE COURT (Fourth Chamber),
composed of J.N. Cunha Rodrigues, President of the Chamber, F. Macken (Rapporteur) and K. Lenaerts, Judges,
Advocate General: C. Stix-Hackl,
Registrar: R. Grass,
after hearing the Advocate General,
makes the following
Order
By application lodged at the Court Registry on 6 January 2003, Matratzen Concord GmbH (‘Matratzen’) brought an appeal under
Article 49 of the EC Statute of the Court of Justice against the judgment of the Court of First Instance of 23 October 2002
in Case T-6/01 Matratzen Concord v OHIM – Hukla Germany (Matratzen) [2002] ECR II-4335 (‘the contested judgment’), by which the Court dismissed the action brought against the decision of the
Second Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (‘OHIM’) of 31 October
2000 refusing to register a figurative mark as a Community trade mark (Joined Cases R 728/1999-2 and R 792/1999-2) (‘the contested
decision’), seeking to have that judgment set aside.
Legal background
Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark (OJ 1994 L 11, p. 1) provides:
‘1. Upon opposition by the proprietor of an earlier trade mark, the trade mark applied for shall not be registered:
...
(b)
if because of its identity with or similarity to the earlier trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services
covered by the trade marks there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public in the territory in which the
earlier trade mark is protected; the likelihood of confusion includes the likelihood of association with the earlier trade
mark.
2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, “earlier trade mark” means:
(a)
trade marks of the following kinds with a date of application for registration which is earlier than the date of application
for registration of the Community trade mark, taking account, where appropriate, of the priorities claimed in respect of those
trade marks:
...
(ii)
trade marks registered in a Member State, or, in the case of Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg, at the Benelux Trade
Mark Office ...
...’.
Article 12 of the regulation, entitled ‘Limitation of the effects of a Community trade mark’, states:
‘A Community trade mark shall not entitle the proprietor to prohibit a third party from using in the course of trade:
...
(b)
indications concerning the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin, the time of production of
the goods or of rendering of the service, or other characteristics of the goods or services;
...
provided he uses them in accordance with honest practices in industrial or commercial matters.’
Under Article 106(1) of the regulation, entitled ‘Prohibition of use of Community trade marks’:
‘This regulation shall, unless otherwise provided for, not affect the right existing under the laws of the Member States to
invoke claims for infringement of earlier rights within the meaning of Article 8 or Article 52(2), in relation to the use
of a later Community trade mark. Claims for infringement of earlier rights within the meaning of Article 8(2) and (4) may,
however, no longer be invoked if the proprietor of the earlier right may no longer apply for a declaration that the Community
trade mark is invalid in accordance with Article 53(2).’
Facts
On 10 October 1996, the appellant filed an application for registration as a Community trade mark of the word and figurative
trade mark reproduced below: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 goods falling within Classes 10 (cushions; pillows; mattresses; air cushions and beds for medical purposes), 20 (mattresses;
air beds; beds; duckboards, not of metal; loose covers; bedding) and 24 (bed blankets; pillow shams; bed linen; eiderdowns
[down coverlets]; cambric covers; mattress covers; sleeping bags), under the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification
of Goods and Services for the Purpose of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised.
On 21 April 1998, Hukla Germany SA (‘Hukla’), the proprietor of a word mark consisting of the word ‘Matratzen’, registered
in Spain for the products falling within Class 20 (‘the earlier mark’), filed a notice of opposition at the Opposition Division
of OHIM pursuant to Article 42 of Regulation No 40/94.
By decision of 22 September 1999, the Opposition Division rejected the opposition in respect of the categories of goods in
Class 10 and upheld it in respect of the categories of goods in Classes 20 and 24. Both Matratzen and Hukla appealed against
that decision.
By the contested decision, the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM dismissed the appeal brought by Matratzen and allowed that brought
by Hukla. In essence, the Board of Appeal considered that, in Spain, the two trade marks at issue would be seen as being similar
and that some of the products covered by the two trade marks were identical and others highly similar. On the basis of that
analysis, the Board of Appeal took the view that there was a likelihood of confusion, within the meaning of Article 8(1)(b)
of Regulation No 40/94, in respect of all the products covered by the application.
The procedure before the Court of First Instance and the contested judgment
On 9 January 2001, Matratzen brought an action before the Court of First Instance for annulment of the contested decision
for infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94 and breach of the principle of the free movement of goods.
With regard to the alleged infringement of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94, the Court, pointing out that the perception
in the mind of the average consumer of the goods or services in question plays a decisive role in the global assessment of
the likelihood of confusion, stated, in paragraph 27 of the contested judgment, that the point of view of the public in the
Member State in which the earlier mark is registered, namely Spain, must be taken into consideration.
It held, first, in paragraph 30 of the contested judgment, that two marks are similar when, from the point of view of the
relevant public, they are at least partially identical as regards one or more relevant aspects, inter alia the visual, aural
and conceptual aspects. The Court found that, in the present case, the word ‘Matratzen’ was both the earlier trade mark and
one of the signs of which the trade mark applied for consisted and, therefore, that it must be held that the earlier mark
was identical, from a visual and aural point of view, to one of the signs making up the trade mark applied for. However, that
finding was not in itself a sufficient basis for holding that the two trade marks in question, each considered as a whole,
were similar.
The Court stated, in paragraph 32 of the contested judgment, that the assessment of the similarity between two marks must
be based on the overall impression created by them, in light, in particular, of their distinctive and dominant components.
It added, in paragraph 34 of the contested judgment, that that approach does not amount to taking into consideration only
one component of a complex trade mark and comparing it with another mark, but, on the contrary, it entails examining the marks
in question, each considered as a whole. However, it pointed out in the same paragraph that that does not mean that the overall
impression created in the mind of the relevant public by a complex trade mark may not, in certain circumstances, be dominated
by one or more of its components.
Next, in accordance with the criteria relevant to the case, the Court examined the components of the trade mark applied for,
namely the words ‘Matratzen’, ‘Concord’ and ‘markt’, and also the figurative sign of each in relation to the others. It considered,
in paragraph 43 of the contested judgment, that the words ‘Matratzen’ and ‘Concord’ could be considered to be the most important
components. However, according to the Court, the word ‘Matratzen’, which is characterised by a preponderance of consonants
with hard pronunciation and bears no resemblance to any Spanish word, appeared more likely than the word ‘Concord’ to be kept
in mind by the relevant public. It concluded that the word ‘Matratzen’ was the dominant element of the trade mark applied
for. It therefore held, in paragraph 44 of the contested judgment, that, from the point of view of the relevant public, there
existed a visual and aural similarity between the two trade marks.
Finally, it held, in paragraph 48 of the contested decision, that, considered cumulatively, the degree of similarity between
the trade marks in question and the degree of similarity between the goods covered by them was sufficiently high and that
the Board of Appeal was therefore entitled to hold that there was a likelihood of confusion between the trade marks in question.
In paragraph 49 of the contested judgment, it held that that conclusion was not invalidated by Matratzen’s arguments based
on Article 12(b) of Regulation No 40/94. It considered that, even if that provision could have a bearing on the registration
procedure, that bearing would be limited, as regards assessment of the likelihood of confusion, to precluding a descriptive
sign from forming part of a complex trade mark as a distinctive and dominant element within the overall impression created
by that mark. In this case, the word ‘Matratzen’ was not descriptive, from the point of view of the relevant public, of the
goods covered by the trade mark applied for.
As regards the alleged infringement of the principle of the free movement of goods, the Court held, in paragraph 54 of the
contested judgment, that registration, as a national trade mark, of a sign which, in the language of another Member State,
is descriptive of the goods or services concerned does not constitute a barrier to the free movement of goods. In paragraph
58 of the contested judgment, it pointed out that, according to the case-law of the Court of Justice, Article 30 EC allows
derogations from the principle of the free movement of goods arising from the exercise of the rights conferred by a national
trade mark only to the extent to which such derogations are justified in order to safeguard the rights which constitute the
specific subject-matter of the industrial property concerned. The right attributed to a trade-mark proprietor of preventing
any use of the trade mark which is likely to impair the guarantee of origin so understood is part of the specific subject-matter
of the trade-mark rights.
The Court pointed out, in paragraph 57 of the contested judgment, that under Article 106(1), Regulation No 40/94 does not
affect the right existing under the laws of the Member States to bring claims for infringement of earlier rights in relation
to the use of the later Community trade mark. It pointed out that if, in a specific case, there exists a likelihood of confusion
between an earlier national trade mark and a sign for which an application for registration as a Community trade mark has
been made, the use of that sign may be prohibited by the national court in infringement proceedings.
The Court therefore dismissed the application.
The appeal
Matratzen claims that the Court should set aside the contested judgment and reject the opposition lodged on 21 April 1998
by Hukla. It also seeks an order for costs against OHIM.
OHIM contends that the appeal should be dismissed and seeks an order for costs against Matratzen.
Under Article 119 of the Rules of Procedure, where the appeal is clearly unfounded, the Court may at any time, acting on a
report from the Judge‑Rapporteur and after hearing the Advocate General, by reasoned order dismiss the appeal.
The first plea
Arguments of the parties
By its first plea, Matratzen claims that the Court of First Instance, in interpreting the notion of similarity referred to
in Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94, did not fulfil the requirement of the case-law of the Court of Justice to appreciate
globally the likelihood of confusion on the part of the public taking into account all factors relevant to the circumstances
of the case. Neither the figurative element nor any of the verbal elements should be overlooked in a proper analysis and appreciation
of the trade mark applied for.
In its assessment of the factual circumstances fundamental to the evaluation of the likelihood of confusion, the Court erred
in law by holding that the word ‘Matratzen’ constituted the dominant element of the trade mark applied for. According to Matratzen,
it should have held that the word ‘Concord’ predominated. The correct assumption is that, in the trade mark applied for, the
element ‘Matratzen’, which is a foreign-sounding word for the Spanish consumer, is of secondary importance, whereas the term
‘Concord’, which originates from the Romance language area with which he is familiar, remains, at least more clearly and easily,
fixed in his memory.
It is clear from the total lack of information on the use of the trade mark, on its possible importance, on evidence that
its distinctive nature may have increased, on the extent to which it is known on the market, and also of other similar information,
that it can only be assumed that the distinctiveness is just barely adequate and therefore rather weak. Applying by analogy
the principles of the limitation of the effects of a mark, as set out inter alia in Article 12(b) of Regulation No 40/94,
the word mark ‘Matratzen’, which is not very distinctive, cannot successfully be relied on as against a word and figurative
trade mark with a strong distinctive nature. For that reason, too, registration of the trade mark applied for in the register
of Community trade marks held by OHIM should not be refused.
OHIM contends that the plea seeks to challenge findings and assessments of fact, which cannot, as a rule, be subject to review
by the Court on appeal. It also maintains that the Court of First Instance referred to the relevant case-law, particularly
as regards the methodological procedure by which the two trade marks are to be compared.
Findings of the Court
Under Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94, upon opposition by the proprietor of an earlier trade mark, the trade mark applied
for is not to be registered if because of its identity with or similarity to the earlier trade mark and the identity or similarity
of the goods or services covered by the two trade marks there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public in
the territory in which the earlier trade mark is protected. The likelihood of confusion includes the likelihood of association
with the earlier trade mark.
The very terms in which that provision is couched therefore preclude its application if there is no likelihood of confusion
on the part of the public (see, regarding the identical provision in Article 4(1)(b) of First Council Directive 89/104/EEC
of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (OJ 1989 L 40, p. 1), Case C-39/97
Canon [1998] ECR I-5507, paragraph 18, and Case C-425/98 Marca Mode [2000] ECR I-4861, paragraph 34).
Likelihood of confusion on the part of the public must be assessed globally, taking into account all the factors relevant
to the circumstances of the case (see to this effect Case C-251/95 SABEL [1997] ECR I-6191, paragraph 22; Case C-342/97 Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer [1999] ECR I-3819, paragraph 18, and Marca Mode, cited above, paragraph 40).
In addition, the global assessment of the likelihood of confusion must, as regards the visual, aural or conceptual similarity
of the marks in question, be based on the overall impression created by them, bearing in mind, in particular, their distinctive
and dominant components. The perception of the marks in the mind of the average consumer of the goods or services in question
plays a decisive role in the global assessment of the likelihood of confusion. The average consumer normally perceives the
mark as a whole, and does not proceed to analyse its various details (see to this effect SABEL, paragraph 23, and Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer, paragraph 25).
In the present case, in deciding whether, from the point of view of that consumer, there was visual and aural similarity between
the two trade marks, the Court did not err in law in its interpretation of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation No 40/94.
In that regard, the claim that the Court, by considering separately the elements of the trade mark applied for, failed to
assess globally the likelihood of confusion, taking into account all the factors relevant to the circumstances of the case,
is unfounded.
The Court rightly pointed out, in paragraph 34 of the contested judgment, that the assessment of the similarity between two
marks does not amount to taking into consideration only one component of a complex trade mark and comparing it with another
mark. On the contrary, such a comparison must be made by examining the marks in question, each considered as a whole. It also
held that that does not mean that the overall impression created in the mind of the relevant public by a complex trade mark
may not, in certain circumstances, be dominated by one or more of its components.
Furthermore, as is clear from paragraphs 38 to 48 of the contested judgment, the Court, in order to decide whether the two
trade marks are similar from the point of view of the relevant public, devoted a significant part of its reasoning to an appreciation
of their distinctive and dominant elements and of the likelihood of confusion on the part of the public, a likelihood which
it appreciated globally, taking into account all the factors relevant to the circumstances of the case.
Moreover, by maintaining that the Court, in a misinterpretation of the facts in the case, held that the word ‘Matratzen’ constitutes
the dominant element of the trade mark applied for, Matratzen is in fact merely challenging the Court’s appraisal of the facts
without, however, alleging any distortion of the evidence before the Court. That appraisal does not constitute a point of
law which is subject, as such, to review by the Court of Justice on appeal (Case C-104/00 P DKV v OHIM [2002] ECR I-7561, paragraph 22; orders of 5 February 2004 in Case C-326/01 P Telefon & Buch v OHIM [2004] ECR I-0000, paragraph 35, and Case C-150/02 P Streamserve v OHIM [2004] ECR I-0000, paragraph 30).
It should also be noted, with regard to Matratzen’s argument relating to Article 12(b) of Regulation No 40/94, that that provision
concerns the limitation of the effects of the Community trade mark itself by providing that the right conferred by its registration
does not entitle the proprietor to prohibit a third party from using, under certain circumstances, in the course of trade,
indications concerning the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin, the time of production of
the goods or of rendering of the service, or other characteristics of them, that is to say descriptive indications. It does
not concern the status of an earlier trade mark, within the meaning of Article 8(2) of Regulation No 40/94. The Court did
not therefore err in law by holding that the argument relating to Article 12(b) of Regulation No 40/94 was irrelevant.
Therefore, these grounds are not vitiated by any error of law.
Consequently, the first plea must be rejected as manifestly unfounded.
The second plea
Arguments of the parties
Matratzen claims that the Court erred in law by finding, in paragraph 54 of the contested judgment, that it in no way appears
that the principle of the free movement of goods prohibits a Member State from registering, as a national trade mark, a sign
which, in the language of another Member State, is descriptive of the goods or services concerned. In the present case, the
opposition lodged against the trade mark applied for on the ground that it is similar to the earlier trade mark registered
in Spain, an earlier trade mark which, in Germany, is descriptive of the relevant products, constitutes an unlawful exercise
of the rights recognised by the law of a Member State on intellectual property under the second sentence of Article 30 EC.
OHIM contends that in opposition proceedings it is not possible either to challenge an earlier national trade mark or to question
its validity. It considers that the corollary of the coexistence of the legal system of Community trade marks and the national
legal systems is, in particular, that the eligibility of a mark for protection is to be assessed according to the same legal
criteria, but that the outcome of the examination may vary from one country to another because it is the point of view of
the relevant public in each country which matters. Therefore, it is quite conceivable for a trade mark to be registered in
a Member State although it is descriptive in a language other than the language of that State.
Findings of the Court
According to settled case-law, in the context of the application of the principle of the free movement of goods, the EC Treaty
does not affect the existence of rights recognised by the legislation of a Member State in matters of intellectual property,
but only restricts, depending on the circumstances, the exercise of those rights (Case 119/75 Terrapin [1976] ECR 1039, paragraph 5, and Case 58/80 Dansk Supermarked [1981] ECR 181, paragraph 11).
Article 30 EC allows derogations from the fundamental principle of the free movement of goods between Member States only to
the extent to which such derogations are justified in order to safeguard the rights which constitute the specific subject-matter
of the industrial property concerned. In that context, the essential function of the trade mark is to guarantee to the consumer
or end user the identity of the trade-marked product’s origin by enabling him to distinguish it without any risk of confusion
from products of different origin. Therefore, the right attributed to a trade-mark proprietor of preventing any use of the
trade mark which is likely to impair the guarantee of origin so understood is therefore part of the specific subject-matter
of the trade-mark rights, the protection of which may justify derogations from the principle of the free movement of goods
(Joined Cases C-427/93, C-429/93 and C-436/93 Bristol-Myers Squibb and Others [1996] ECR I-3457, paragraph 48, and Case C-143/00 Boehringer Ingelheim and Others [2002] ECR I-3759, paragraphs 12 and 13).
Consequently, by holding, in paragraphs 54 and 56 of the contested decision, that the principle of the free movement of goods
does not prohibit either a Member State from registering, as a national trade mark, a sign which, in the language of another
Member State, is descriptive of the goods or services concerned, or the proprietor of such a trade mark from opposing, where
there is a likelihood of confusion between that national trade mark and a Community trade mark applied for, registration of
the latter, the Court of First Instance was not mistaken as to the objectives of the propositions in paragraphs 40 and 41
of this order, and accordingly interpreted them correctly.
The second plea must therefore be rejected as clearly unfounded.
It is apparent from the foregoing that the appeal is clearly unfounded and must therefore be dismissed.
Costs
Under Article 69(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Court of Justice, applicable to appeals by virtue of Article 118, the
unsuccessful party is to be ordered to pay the costs if they have been asked for in the successful party’s pleadings. Since
OHIM has applied for costs and the appellant has been unsuccessful, the latter must be ordered to pay the costs.
On those grounds,
THE COURT (Fourth Chamber)
hereby orders:
1.
The appeal is dismissed.
2.
The appellant shall bear the costs.
Luxembourg, 28 April 2004.
R. Grass
J.N. Cunha Rodrigues
Registrar
President of the Fourth Chamber
–
Language of the case: German.
© Unia Europejska, źródło: EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu), pozyskano 13.07.2026. Autentyczne są wyłącznie wersje opublikowane w Dz. Urz. UE. · Źródło