Reports of Cases

2003 I-03161

Subject-matter

Preliminary ruling ─ Bundesgerichtshof ─ Interpretation of First Council Directive 89/104/EEC to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks, Article 3(1)(b),(c) and (e) ─ Three-dimensional trade mark depicting the product ─ Requirements as to distinctive character of such a trade mark ─ Conditions for the unavailability for use of a three-dimensional sign ─ Fork-lift truck

Systematic classification scheme

Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

• Directive 89/104 -A02 : paragraphs 4, 37, 38
• Directive 89/104 -A03 : paragraph 71
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1 : paragraphs 5, 66, 67
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LB : paragraphs 1, 26, 28, 39 - 42, 45 - 49, 68, 76
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LC : paragraphs 1, 26, 45, 66, 68 - 70, 73 - 77
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LD : paragraphs 45, 68, 76
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LE : paragraphs 1, 26, 43, 44, 64, 65, 72, 76
• Directive 89/104 -A04 : paragraphs 5, 26, 48, 77
• Directive 89/104 -C1 : paragraph 3
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -210/96 : paragraph 41
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -108/97 : paragraphs 71, 73
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -299/99 : paragraphs 38, 40 - 42, 44, 65, 71, 72

Operative part

• Interprets : Directive 89/104
• Interprets : Directive 89/104 -A03P1LB
• Interprets : Directive 89/104 -A03P1LC
• Interprets : Directive 89/104 -A03P1LE
• Interprets : Directive 89/104 -A03P3

Opinion

• Directive 89/104 -A02 : points 10, 11, 13, 28
  
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LB : points 6, 8 - 13, 30
  
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LC : points 6, 19, 20, 23 - 26, 30 - 32
  
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LD : point 30
  
• Directive 89/104 -A03P1LE : points 6, 12, 14 - 17, 21, 22, 29 - 32
  
• Directive 89/104 -A03P3 : points 10, 12, 29, 32
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -108/97 : points 19, 23 - 26
  
• Court of Justice - Judgment C -299/99 : points 1, 12, 18 - 23, 29
  

Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

• 08/02/2001

Date of the Opinion

• 24/10/2002

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

08/04/2003

References

Publication in the Official Journal

Application: OJ C 150 from 19.05.2001, p.8

Judgment: OJ C 135 from 07.06.2003, p.4

Name of the parties

Linde and Others

Notes on Academic Writings

1. Würtenberger, Gert: Schutzumfang bei Warenformmarken, Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht 2003 p.671-672
2. Speyart, Herman M.H.: Intellectuele eigendom & Reclamerecht 2003 p.244-245
3. Glöckner, Jochen: Formmarken und EG-Markenrecht, European Law Reporter 2003 p.248-250
4. Renck, Andreas ; Petersenn, Morten: Das Ende dreidimensionaler Marken in der EU - Eine Untersuchung der Entscheidungspraxis aus Luxemburg, insbesondere der Entscheidung des EuGH vom 8. April 2003 in Sachen Linde AG, Winward Industries Inc. und Rado Uhren AG, sowie des Schutzumfangs dreidimensionaler Marken seit Linde, Wettbewerb in Recht und Praxis 2004 p.440-452
5. Bonet, Georges: Revue trimestrielle de droit européen 2004 p.97-134
6. Ullmann, Eike: Die Form einer Ware als Marke - Illusion oder Chance?, Neue juristische Wochenschrift (Sonderheft - 100 Jahre Markenverband) 2004 p.83-87
7. Krüger, Christof ; Von Gamm, Eva-Irina: Die "Noppenbahnen-Doktrin" - Ein Irrweg?, Wettbewerb in Recht und Praxis 2004 p.978-985

Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Bundesgerichtshof - Germany

Subject-matter

• Approximation of laws
  
• Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
  
• - Trade marks
  

Provisions of national law referred to

Markengesetz (MarkenG), Paragraphen 3 Abs. 2, 8 Abs. 2 No. 1 und 2

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

• Reference for a preliminary ruling
  

Formation of the Court

Cour plénière (Cour)

Judge-Rapporteur

Macken

Advocate General

Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer

Language(s) of the Case

• German
  

Language(s) of the Opinion

• Spanish