Notice for the OJ
Reference for a preliminary ruling by the Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division), by order of that court dated 17 June 2004, in the case of Boehringer Ingelheim KG and others against Swingward Ltd and another.
(Case C-348/04)
Reference has been made to the Court of Justice of the European Communities by order of the Court of Appeal (England & Wales) (Civil Division), dated 17 June 2004, which was received at the Court Registry on 12 August 2004 for a preliminary ruling in the case of Boehringer Ingelheim KG and others and Swingward Ltd and another on the following questions:
Reboxed products
1. Where a parallel importer markets in one Member State a pharmaceutical product imported from another Member State in its original internal packaging but with a new exterior carton printed in the language of the Member State of importation (a "reboxed" product):
does the importer bear the burden of proving that the new packaging complies with each of the conditions set out in Joined Cases C-427/93, C-429/93 and C-436/93 Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova or does the trade mark proprietor bear the burden of proving that those conditions have not been complied with or does the burden of proof vary from condition to condition, and if so how?
does the first condition set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova as interpreted in Case C-379/97 Upjohn v Paranova and Case C-143/00 Boehringer v Swingward, namely that it must be shown that it is necessary to repackage the product in order that effective market access is not hindered, apply merely to the fact of reboxing (as held by the EFTA Court in Case E-3/02 Paranova Inc v Merck & Co Inc) or does it also apply to the precise manner and style of the reboxing carried out by the parallel importer, and if so how?
(c) is the fourth condition set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, namely that the presentation of the repackaged product is not such as to be liable to damage the reputation of the trade mark or its owner, only infringed if the packaging is defective, of poor quality or untidy or does it extend to anything which damages the reputation of the trade mark?
(d) if the answer to question l(c) is that the fourth condition is infringed by anything which damages the reputation of the trade mark and if either (i) the trade mark is not affixed to the new exterior carton ("de-branding") or (ii) the parallel importer applies either his own logo or a house-style or get-up or a get-up used for a number of different products to the new exterior carton ("co-branding") must such forms of box design be regarded as damaging to the reputation of the trade mark or is that a question of fact for the national court?
If the answer to question l(d) is that it is a question of fact, on whom does the burden of proof lie?
Overstickered products
Where a parallel importer markets in one Member State a pharmaceutical product imported from another Member State in its original internal and external packaging to which the parallel importer has applied an additional external label printed in the language of the Member State of importation (an "overstickered" product):
do the five conditions set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova apply at all?
If the answer is question 2(a) is yes, does the importer bear the burden of proving that the overstickered packaging complies with each of the conditions set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova or does the trade mark proprietor bear the burden of proving that those conditions have not been complied with or does the burden of proof vary from condition to condition?
(c) if the answer to question 2(a) is yes, does the first condition set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova as interpreted in Upjohn v Paranova and Boehringer v Swingward, namely that it must be shown that it is necessary to repackage the product in order that effective market access is not hindered, apply merely to the fact of overstickering or does it also apply to the precise manner and style of overstickering adopted by the parallel importer?
(d) if the answer to question 2(a) is yes, is the fourth condition set out in Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, namely that the presentation of the repackaged product is not such as to be liable to damage the reputation of the trade mark or its owner, only infringed if the packaging is defective, of poor quality or untidy or does it extend to anything which damages the reputation of the trade mark?
(e) if the answer to question 2(a) is yes and the answer to question 2(d) is that the fourth condition is infringed by anything which damages the reputation of the trade mark, is it damaging to the reputation of a trade mark for this purpose if either (i) the additional label is positioned so as wholly or partially to obscure one of the proprietor's trade marks or (ii) the additional label fails to state that the trade mark in question is a trade mark owned by the proprietor or (iii) the name of the parallel importer is printed in capital letters?
Notice
3. Where a parallel importer has failed to give notice in respect of a repackaged product as required by the fifth condition of Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, and accordingly has infringed the proprietor's trade mark(s) for that reason only:
(a) is every subsequent act of importation of that product an infringement or does the importer only infringe until such time as the proprietor has become aware of the product and the applicable notice period has expired?
(b) is the proprietor entitled to claim financial remedies (i.e. damages for infringement or the handing over of all profits made by infringement) by reason of the importer's acts of infringement on the same basis as if the goods had been spurious?
(c) is the granting of financial remedies to the proprietor in respect of such acts of infringement by the importer subject to the principle of proportionality?
(d) If not, upon what basis should such compensation be assessed given that the products in question were placed on the market within the EEA by the proprietor or with his consent?
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