Key Intellectual Property Caselaw
Absolute grounds for registration of a trade mark
Libertel Groep BV v Benelux Merkenbureau 2003 (Orange for telecommunications) – Case C-104/01
Sieckmann v Deutsches Patent und Markenamt – ECJ -Case C-273/00
Procter & Gamble v OHIM (shape of detergent tablet) – Case C-468/01
Procter & Gamble v OHIM (BABY-DRY) – Case C-383/99P
Björnekulla Fruktindustrier AB v Procordia Food AB (BOSTONGURKA) – Case C-371/02
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company v OHIM (DOUBLEMINT) – Case C-191/01 P
Koninklijke KPN Nederland NV v Benelux-Merkenbureau (POSTKANTOOR) – Case C-363/99
Campina Melkunie BV v Benelux-Merkenbureau (BIOMILD) – Case C-265/00
Telepharmacy Solutions Inc. v OHIM (TELEPHARMACY) – Case T-289/02
OHIM v Celltech R&D Ltd (CELLTECH), Case C-273/05 P
Ekabe/OHIM Ebro Puleva, Case T-28/05
Matratzen Concord AG v Hukla Germany SA (MATRATZEN) – Case C-421/04
Quick restaurants SA v OHIM (QUICK) – Case T-348/02
Ekabe International SCA v OHIM (Omega 3 device) – Case T-28/05
SAT.1 SatellitenFernsehen GmbH v OHIM (SAT.2) – Case C-392/02P
allsafe Jungfalk v OHIM (ALLSAFE) – Case T-343/07
Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft AG v OHIM (EASYBANK) – Case T-87/00
August Storck KG v UKIPO (WHERE ALL YOUR FAVOURITES COME TOGETHER) – BL 0/573/01
Eurocool Logistik GmbH v OHIM (EUROCOOL) – Case T-34/00
Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG v OHIM (colours orange and grey) – Case T-234/01
Elizabeth Florence Emanuel v Continental Shelf, Case C-259/04 (summary)
R (on the application of Northern Foods plc) v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2006] FSR 29, [2007] 1 All ER 216 (summary)
Queen Diana trade mark [1991] RPC 395
The Combined Armed Forces Association
Pall Corp. v P. J. Dahlhausen & Co., Case C-238/89
Acquired distinctiveness
WHISKAS colour purple for cat food 3793361
Mars Inc v OHIM (BOUNTY bar shape) 2009
English in Scandinavia – Case T-435/07 New Look v OHIM (NEW LOOK) [2008]
Ford Motor co v OHIM (OPTIONS) [2000]
English for computers or professional or commercial matters.
Bovemzekeringen NV v Benelux-Merkenbureau [2006]
Slogans
Das Prinzip Der Bequemlichkeit’ [“The Principle of Comfort”] C-64/02 P
Société des produits Nestlé SA v Mars UK Ltd, Case C-353/03 (HAVE A BREAK) (summary)
Audi AG v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market – Case C-398/08 P
Smells, Colours
Sieckmann v Deutsches Patent und Markenamt – ECJ -Case C-273/00
Libertel Groep BV v Benelux Merkenbureau 2003 (Orange for telecommunications) – Case C-104/01
Heidelberger Bauchemie GmbH v Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (colours blue and yellow) – Case C-49/02
KUKA Roboter GmbH v OHIM (Orange for robots) – Case T-97/08
Shapes
Dyson Ltd v Registrar of Trade Marks- Case C-321/03 (PAN 7/07)
Linde, Winward Industries and Rado – C-53/01 to C-55/01
Whirlpool v Kenwood [2008] EWHC 1930 (Ch)
Henkel KGaA v OHIM – Case C-218/01 (summary)
Procter & Gamble v OHIM (shape of detergent tablet) – Case C-468/01
August Storck v OHIM – Cases C-24/05 and C-25/05 – (Werther’s Original shape)(summary)
Mag Instruments Inc v OHIM – Case C-136/02 P (summary)
DaimlerChrysler Corporation v OHIM – Case T-128/01
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV v Remington Consumer Products Ltd – Case C-299/99 (summary)
Lego Juris A/S v OHIM – Case C-48/09
Comparison of the marks
Specsavers v Asda [2010] EWHC 2035 (Ch), [2012] EWCA Civ 24, Case C-252/12
LTJ Diffusion SA v Sadas Vertbaudet SA (ARTHUR and ARTHUR ET FELICIE), 2003
Reed v Reed [2004] EWCA Civ 159 (summary)
IBM v WebSphere Trade Mark [2004] FSR 39 (summary)
Origins Natural Resources Inc v Origin Clothing Ltd [1995] FSR 280 (summary)
Decon Laboratories Limited v Fred Baker Scientific Limited and Veltek [2001] ETMR 46 (486)
British Sugar plc v James Robertson & Sons Ltd [1996] RPC 281 (Treat) (summary)
Asprey & Garrard Ltd v WRA (Guns) Ltd [2002] FSR 31
Comparison of the goods
IRousselon Freres et Cie v Horwood Homewares Ltd [2008] RPC 30 (summary)
Likelihood of confusion
Sabel BV v Puma AG, [1997], Case C-251/95 (summary)
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha v Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. [1998], Case C-39/97 (summary)
Lloyd Schuhfabrik Meyer & Co GmbH v Klijsen Handel BV (Loint’s) – Case C-342/97
Medion AG v Thompson multimedia Sales Germany and Austria GmbH – Case C-120/04 (summary)
Rousselon Freres et Cie v Horwood Homewares Ltd [2008] RPC 30 (summary)
adidas AG and adidas Benelux BV v Marca Mode CV and Others, C-102/08
Picasso estate v DaimlerChrysler AG – Case T-185/02
OHIM v Shaker di L. Laudato & C. Sas, Case C-334/05 (summary)
Ratiopharm GmbH’s trade mark application [2007]
Il Ponte Finanziaria Spa v OHIM, FMG Textiles Srl, Case C-234/06 (summary)
DISPRIN (UK) (para 32)
OBELIX
SOUTH BECK
React trade mark [2000]
Sanofi-Aventis SA v OHIM, Case T-146/06
Unfair advantage and detriment to distinctiveness and reputation
Specsavers v Asda [2010] EWHC 2035 (Ch), [2012] EWCA Civ 24, Case C-252/12
Premier Brands UK Ltd v Typhoon Europe Ltd, [2000] ETMR 1071
General Motors Corporation v Yplon SA [1999] Case C‑375/97
Intel Corporation Inc. v CPM United Kingdom Ltd, Case C‑252/07 (summary)
L’Oréal v Bellure NV (smellalike perfume), Case C‑487/07,(summary)
PAGO International GmbH v Tirolmilch registrierte Genossenschaft mbH, Case C-301/07 (summary)
Interflora v Marks and Spencer [2013] EWHC 1291 (Ch) (High Court judgment) (iPit summary), [2013] EWHC 1484 (Ch) (Injunction judgment)
Marks and Spencer v Interflora [2009] EWHC 1095 (Ch), [2012] EWCA Civ 1501 (survey evidence)
Parallel Imports
Volvo v. Veng [1988] ECR 6211, Case 238/87
Silhouette International Schmied GmbH & Co. KG v. Hartlauer Handelsgesellschaft GmbH, Case C-355/96.
Sebago Inc. and Ancienne Maison Dubois et Fils SA v. GB-Unic SA, Case C-173/98
Zino Davidoff v. A&G Imports and Levi Strauss v Tesco and Costco, Joined cases C-414/99, C-415/99, C-416-99
Van Doren and Q. GmbH v. Lifestyle Sports and Sportswear Handelsgesellschaft mbH and Michael Orth, Case C-244/00
Case C-16/03, Peak Holding AB v. Axolin-Elinor AB [2004] ECR I-0000; [2005] ETMR 28
Oracle America Inc v M-Tech Data Ltd and Lichtenstein [2010] EWCA Civ 1997 (UK)
Coty Prestige Lancaster Group GmbH v Simex Trading Ag (ECJ) – Case C-127/09 [2010] (summary)
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG v Franz Hauswirth GmbH, Case C-529/07, 11 June 2009
Mundipharma v OHIM-Altana Pharma (RESPICUR) (Case T-256/04 P)
Genuine use
Specsavers v Asda [2010] EWHC 2035 (Ch), [2012] EWCA Civ 24, Case C-252/12
Leno Merken v Hagelkruis Beheer – Case C-149/11
Whirlpool v Kenwood [2008] EWHC 1930 (Ch)
PAGO International GmbH v Tirolmilch registrierte Genossenschaft mbH, Case C-301/07
Ansul BV v Ajax Brandbeveiliging, [2003], Case C-40/01 (summary)
Laboratoires Goemar SA v La Mer Technology Inc [2004], Case C-259/02
BUBBLES, where 3 units sold was genuine use
Vitafruit, ECJ 11 May 2006, C-416/04 P
UK revocation proceedings no. 10237 by Anheuser Busch for revocation of UK trade mark no. 807395
Kureha v OHIM Case T-487/08
Imperial Group plc & another v Philip Morris Limited & another [1984] RPC 29
Bad faith
Gromax Plasticulture Ltd v Don & Low (Nonwovens) Ltd 1999 RPC 367
Antoinette van Rossum v Heinrich Mack Nachf GmbH & Co KG CLAIRE FISHER
Harte-Hanks v Trillium Digital 2000
Sureness v Multiple Marketing C000479899/1
Hotel Cipriani SRL & others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & other [2008] EWHC 3032 (Ch)
Hotel Cipriani SRL & others v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & others [2010] EWCA Civ 110
Statements of case
Infringing trade mark use
Cosmetic Warriors Ltd and Lush Ltd v Amazon.co.uk Ltd and Amazon EU Sarl [2014] EWHC 181 (Ch)
Céline SARL v Céline SA, Case C-17/06 (summary)
O2 Holdings v Hutchison 3G, Case C-533/06 (summary)
LVMH v Google France, Joined Cases C-236/08 to C-238/08
Portakabin Ltd and Portakabin BV v Primakabin BV, Case C-558/08
L’Oréal SA, Lancôme parfums et beauté & Cie, Laboratoire Garnier & Cie, L’Oréal (UK) Limited v eBay International AG, eBay Europe SARL and eBay (UK) Limited, Case C-324/09 (summary)
Interflora Inc v Marks & Spencer plc, C-323/09 (summary)
Yell Limited v Giboin & others [2011] EWPCC 9 (summary)
Arsenal Football Club plc v Matthew Reed, Case C-206/01 [2003] EWCA Civ 696
Holterhoff v Freiesleben, Case C-2/00 (cuts of precious stones)Trebor Bassett Ltd v The Football Association [1997] FSR 211 (summary)
Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster) v Lee (t/a Cropton Brewery) [2011] EWHC 1879 (Ch)
Passing Off
British Sugar plc v James Robertson & Sons Ltd [1996] RPC 281 (Treat) (summary)
Warnink (Erven) Besloten Vennootschap v. J. Townend Sons Ltd [1980] R.P.C. 29 (Advocaat)
Reckitt & Colman Products Ltd v Borden [1990] RPC 341 HL “Jif”
IRC v Muller’s Margarine [1901] AC 217
Combe International Ltd v. Scholl (UK) Ltd [1980] R.P.C. 1
Bristol Conservatories v Conservatories Custom Build [1989] RPC 455
Mirage Studios v Counter-feat Clothing Co Ltd 1990 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Hodgkinson & Corby Ltd v Wards Mobility Services Ltd [1995] FSR 169
Bollinger v Costa Brava Wine Co Ltd [1960] Ch 262
Diageo v Intercontinental Brands [2010] EWHC 17 (Ch) (Vodkat) (summary)
Parma Ham v Marks & Spencer [1991] RPC 351 CA
Colgate Palmolive v Markwell Finance [1989] RPC 497 CA – toothpaste from Brazil
Wilts United Dairies v Thomas Robinson [1958] RPC 94 CA – old condensed milk misrepresented as in date milk
Och-Ziff Management Europe Ltd and Anor v Och Capital LLP & Ors [2010] EWHC 2599 (iPit summary)
Phones 4U Ltd v Phone4U.co.uk Internet Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 244 (summary)
Hotel Cipriani Srl & Ors v Cipriani (Grosvenor Street) Ltd & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 110
Wild Child trade mark [1998] RPC 455
Alberto Jorge Moreira da Fonseca, Lda v OHIM, Joined cases T-318/06 to T-321/06
Inter Lotto (UK) Camelot Group plc [2004] RPC 9
Remedies
DHL Express France v Chronopost – Case C-235/09 (injunctions EU-wide by default (Interflora v M&S EWHC1484 (Ch))
American Cyanamid v Ethicon 1975 A.C. 396 H.L.(E) Article on the guidelines
Series 5 Software v Clarke [1996] 1 All ER 853 – summary
Damages
National Guild of Removers & Storers Limited vChristopher Silveria and others [2010] EWPCC 15
Meters v Metropolitan (1911) 28 RPC 157
Costs
UK opposition, litigants in person – SOUTH BECK
TPN 4/2007
Counterfeit and criminal actions
Torbay Council v Satnam Singh [1999] EWHC Admin 553 (summary)
R v Johnstone [2003] 3 All ER 884 (summary)
R v Boulter [2008] EWCA Crim 2375 (summary)
Essex Trading Standards v Singh [2009] WLR D 81 (summary)
Copyright
Infopaq International A/S v Danske Dagblades Forening, Case C‑5/08
The Newspaper Licensing Agency Limited & others v Meltwater Holding BV & Others, [2011] EWCA Civ 890
GMG Radio Holdings Limited & ors v Tokyo Project Limited & ors (Hed Kandi style), [2005] EWHC 2188 (Ch) (summary)
Designs
Samsung Electronics (UK) Limited v Apple [2012] EWHC 1882 (Pat)
PepsiCo v Grupo Promer (C-281/10P) [2012] FSR 5
Shenzhen Taiden v OHIM, case T-153/08, BAILII: [2010] EUECJ T-153/08
Grupo Promer v OHIM[2010] ECDR 7
J Choo (Jersey) Limited v Towerstone Limited & Others [2008] EWHC 346 (Ch D)
Nouveau Fabrics v Voyage Decoration, Dunelm Soft Furnishings Ltd [2004] EWHC 895 (Ch)
Professional negligence
