From 8f224c9eb188528182e597523d023b51f127381e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jonas Smedegaard Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:53:47 +0200 Subject: Extract content from 1.pdf --- 1.txt | 5219 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 5219 insertions(+) create mode 100644 1.txt diff --git a/1.txt b/1.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ccb798 --- /dev/null +++ b/1.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5219 @@ +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +L 78/1 + +I +(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) + +REGULATIONS + +COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 207/2009 +of 26 February 2009 +on the Community trade mark +(codified version) +(Text with EEA relevance) +THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, + +Community arrangements for trade marks whereby undertakings can by means of one procedural system obtain +Community trade marks to which uniform protection is +given and which produce their effects throughout the entire +area of the Community. The principle of the unitary +character of the Community trade mark thus stated should +apply unless otherwise provided for in this Regulation. + +Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 308 thereof, +Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, +Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1), +Whereas: +(1) + +It is desirable to promote throughout the Community a +harmonious development of economic activities and a +continuous and balanced expansion by completing an +internal market which functions properly and offers +conditions which are similar to those obtaining in a +national market. In order to create a market of this kind and +make it increasingly a single market, not only must barriers +to free movement of goods and services be removed and +arrangements be instituted which ensure that competition +is not distorted, but, in addition, legal conditions must be +created which enable undertakings to adapt their activities +to the scale of the Community, whether in manufacturing +and distributing goods or in providing services. For those +purposes, trade marks enabling the products and services of +undertakings to be distinguished by identical means +throughout the entire Community, regardless of frontiers, +should feature amongst the legal instruments which +undertakings have at their disposal. + +The barrier of territoriality of the rights conferred on +proprietors of trade marks by the laws of the Member +States cannot be removed by approximation of laws. In +order to open up unrestricted economic activity in the +whole of the internal market for the benefit of undertakings, trade marks should be created which are governed +by a uniform Community law directly applicable in all +Member States. + +(5) + +Since the Treaty has not provided the specific powers to +establish such a legal instrument, Article 308 of the Treaty +should be applied. + +(6) + +The Community law relating to trade marks nevertheless +does not replace the laws of the Member States on trade +marks. It would not in fact appear to be justified to require +undertakings to apply for registration of their trade marks +as Community trade marks. National trade marks continue +to be necessary for those undertakings which do not want +protection of their trade marks at Community level. + +(7) + +The rights in a Community trade mark should not be +obtained otherwise than by registration, and registration +should be refused in particular if the trade mark is not +distinctive, if it is unlawful or if it conflicts with earlier +rights. + +Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 +on the Community trade mark (2) has been substantially +amended several times (3). In the interests of clarity and +rationality the said Regulation should be codified. + +(2) + +(4) + +(3) + +For the purpose of pursuing the Community's said +objectives it would appear necessary to provide for + +(1) OJ C 146 E, 12.6.2008, p. 79. +(2) OJ L 11, 14.1.1994, p. 1. +(3) See Annex I. + +L 78/2 + +(8) + +(9) + +EN + +Official Journal of the European Union + +The protection afforded by a Community trade mark, the +function of which is in particular to guarantee the trade +mark as an indication of origin, should be absolute in the +case of identity between the mark and the sign and the +goods or services. The protection should apply also in cases +of similarity between the mark and the sign and the goods +or services. An interpretation should be given of the +concept of similarity in relation to the likelihood of +confusion. The likelihood of confusion, the appreciation of +which depends on numerous elements and, in particular, on +the recognition of the trade mark on the market, the +association which can be made with the used or registered +sign, the degree of similarity between the trade mark and +the sign and between the goods or services identified, +should constitute the specific condition for such protection. +It follows from the principle of free movement of goods +that the proprietor of a Community trade mark must not be +entitled to prohibit its use by a third party in relation to +goods which have been put into circulation in the +Community, under the trade mark, by him or with his +consent, save where there exist legitimate reasons for the +proprietor to oppose further commercialisation of the +goods. + +(10) There is no justification for protecting Community trade + +marks or, as against them, any trade mark which has been +registered before them, except where the trade marks are +actually used. +(11) A Community trade mark is to be regarded as an object of + +property which exists separately from the undertakings +whose goods or services are designated by it. Accordingly, it +should be capable of being transferred, subject to the +overriding need to prevent the public being misled as a +result of the transfer. It should also be capable of being +charged as security in favour of a third party and of being +the subject matter of licences. +(12) Administrative measures are necessary at Community level + +for implementing in relation to every trade mark the trade +mark law created by this Regulation. It is therefore essential, +while retaining the Community's existing institutional +structure and balance of powers, to provide for an Office +for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (trade marks and +designs) which is independent in relation to technical +matters and has legal, administrative and financial +autonomy. To this end it is necessary and appropriate that +that Office should be a body of the Community having legal +personality and exercising the implementing powers which +are conferred on it by this Regulation, and that it should +operate within the framework of Community law without +detracting from the competencies exercised by the Community institutions. + +24.3.2009 + +decide on it. Decisions of the Boards of Appeal are, in turn, +amenable to actions before the Court of Justice of the +European Communities, which has jurisdiction to annul or +to alter the contested decision. +(14) Under the first subparagraph of Article 225(1) of the EC + +Treaty the Court of First Instance of the European +Communities has jurisdiction to hear and determine at +first instance the actions referred to in particular in +Article 230 of the EC Treaty with the exception of those +assigned to a judicial panel and those reserved in the Statute +to the Court of Justice. The jurisdiction which this +Regulation confers on the Court of Justice to cancel and +alter decisions of the Boards of Appeal should accordingly +be exercised at first instance by the Court. +(15) In order to strengthen the protection of Community trade + +marks the Member States should designate, having regard +to their own national system, as limited a number as +possible of national courts of first and second instance +having jurisdiction in matters of infringement and validity +of Community trade marks. +(16) Decisions regarding the validity and infringement of + +Community trade marks must have effect and cover the +entire area of the Community, as this is the only way of +preventing inconsistent decisions on the part of the courts +and the Office and of ensuring that the unitary character of +Community trade marks is not undermined. The provisions +of Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 of 22 December +2000 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement +of judgments in civil and commercial matters (1) should +apply to all actions at law relating to Community trade +marks, save where this Regulation derogates from those +rules. +(17) Contradictory judgments should be avoided in actions + +which involve the same acts and the same parties and +which are brought on the basis of a Community trade mark +and parallel national trade marks. For this purpose, when +the actions are brought in the same Member State, the way +in which this is to be achieved is a matter for national +procedural rules, which are not prejudiced by this +Regulation, whilst when the actions are brought in different +Member States, provisions modelled on the rules on lis +pendens and related actions of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 +appear appropriate. +(18) In order to guarantee the full autonomy and independence + +of the Office, it is considered necessary to grant it an +autonomous budget whose revenue comes principally from +fees paid by the users of the system. However, the +Community budgetary procedure remains applicable as +far as any subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the +European Communities are concerned. Moreover, the +auditing of accounts should be undertaken by the Court +of Auditors. + +(13) It is necessary to ensure that parties who are affected by + +decisions made by the Office are protected by the law in a +manner which is suited to the special character of trade +mark law. To that end provision is made for an appeal to lie +from decisions of the examiners and of the various +divisions of the Office. If the department whose decision +is contested does not rectify its decision it is to remit the +appeal to a Board of Appeal of the Office, which is to + +(19) Measures necessary for the implementation of this + +Regulation should be adopted, particularly as regards fees +regulations and an Implementing Regulation, in accordance +with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 +(1) OJ L 12, 16.1.2001, p. 1. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (1), + +L 78/3 + +or of their packaging, provided that such signs are capable of +distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from +those of other undertakings. + +HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: + +Article 5 +TITLE I + +Persons who can be proprietors of Community trade marks + +GENERAL PROVISIONS + +Any natural or legal person, including authorities established +under public law, may be the proprietor of a Community trade +mark. + +Article 1 +Community trade mark +1. A trade mark for goods or services which is registered in +accordance with the conditions contained in this Regulation and +in the manner herein provided is hereinafter referred to as a +‘Community trade mark’. +2. A Community trade mark shall have a unitary character. It +shall have equal effect throughout the Community: it shall not be +registered, transferred or surrendered or be the subject of a +decision revoking the rights of the proprietor or declaring it +invalid, nor shall its use be prohibited, save in respect of the +whole Community. This principle shall apply unless otherwise +provided in this Regulation. + +Article 6 +Means whereby a Community trade mark is obtained +A Community trade mark shall be obtained by registration. +Article 7 +Absolute grounds for refusal +1. The following shall not be registered: +(a) + +signs which do not conform to the requirements of +Article 4; + +(b) + +trade marks which are devoid of any distinctive character; + +(c) + +trade marks which consist exclusively of signs or indications which may serve, in trade, to designate the kind, +quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical +origin or the time of production of the goods or of +rendering of the service, or other characteristics of the +goods or service; + +(d) + +trade marks which consist exclusively of signs or indications which have become customary in the current +language or in the bona fide and established practices of +the trade; + +(e) + +signs which consist exclusively of: + +Article 2 +Office +An Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (trade marks +and designs), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Office’, is hereby +established. +Article 3 +Capacity to act +For the purpose of implementing this Regulation, companies or +firms and other legal bodies shall be regarded as legal persons if, +under the terms of the law governing them, they have the +capacity in their own name to have rights and obligations of all +kinds, to make contracts or accomplish other legal acts and to +sue and be sued. + +(i) + +the shape which results from the nature of the goods +themselves; + +(ii) + +the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a +technical result; + +TITLE II +THE LAW RELATING TO TRADE MARKS + +(iii) the shape which gives substantial value to the goods; + +SECTION 1 + +Definition of a Community trade mark and obtaining a +Community trade mark + +(f) + +trade marks which are contrary to public policy or to +accepted principles of morality; + +Article 4 + +(g) + +trade marks which are of such a nature as to deceive the +public, for instance as to the nature, quality or geographical +origin of the goods or service; + +(h) + +trade marks which have not been authorised by the +competent authorities and are to be refused pursuant to +Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of +Industrial Property, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Paris +Convention’; + +Signs of which a Community trade mark may consist +A Community trade mark may consist of any signs capable of +being represented graphically, particularly words, including +personal names, designs, letters, numerals, the shape of goods +(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. + +L 78/4 +(i) + +(j) + +(k) + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +24.3.2009 + +trade marks which include badges, emblems or escutcheons +other than those covered by Article 6ter of the Paris +Convention and which are of particular public interest, +unless the consent of the competent authority to their +registration has been given; + +mark, taking account, where appropriate, of the priorities +claimed in respect of those trade marks: +(i) + +Community trade marks; + +trade marks for wines which contain or consist of a +geographical indication identifying wines or for spirits +which contain or consist of a geographical indication +identifying spirits with respect to such wines or spirits not +having that origin; + +(ii) + +trade marks registered in a Member State, or, in the +case of Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg, at +the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property; + +trade marks which contain or consist of a designation of +origin or a geographical indication registered in accordance +with Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March +2006 on the protection of geographical indications and +designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs (1) when they correspond to one of the situations +covered by Article 13 of the said Regulation and regarding +the same type of product, on condition that the application +for registration of the trade mark has been submitted after +the date of filing with the Commission of the application +for registration of the designation of origin or geographical +indication. + +(iii) trade marks registered under international arrangements which have effect in a Member State; +(iv) trade marks registered under international arrangements which have effect in the Community; +(b) + +applications for the trade marks referred to in subparagraph (a), subject to their registration; + +(c) + +trade marks which, on the date of application for +registration of the Community trade mark, or, where +appropriate, of the priority claimed in respect of the +application for registration of the Community trade mark, +are well known in a Member State, in the sense in which the +words ‘well known’ are used in Article 6bis of the Paris +Convention. + +2. Paragraph 1 shall apply notwithstanding that the grounds of +non-registrability obtain in only part of the Community. +3. Paragraph 1(b), (c) and (d) shall not apply if the trade mark +has become distinctive in relation to the goods or services for +which registration is requested in consequence of the use which +has been made of it. + +3. Upon opposition by the proprietor of the trade mark, a +trade mark shall not be registered where an agent or +representative of the proprietor of the trade mark applies for +registration thereof in his own name without the proprietor's +consent, unless the agent or representative justifies his action. + +Article 8 +Relative grounds for refusal +1. Upon opposition by the proprietor of an earlier trade mark, +the trade mark applied for shall not be registered: +(a) + +(b) + +if it is identical with the earlier trade mark and the goods or +services for which registration is applied for are identical +with the goods or services for which the earlier trade mark +is protected; +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 marks’ 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 + +(1) OJ L 93, 31.3.2006, p. 12. + +4. Upon opposition by the proprietor of a non-registered trade +mark or of another sign used in the course of trade of more than +mere local significance, the trade mark applied for shall not be +registered where and to the extent that, pursuant to the +Community legislation or the law of the Member State governing +that sign: +(a) + +rights to that sign were acquired prior to the date of +application for registration of the Community trade mark, +or the date of the priority claimed for the application for +registration of the Community trade mark; + +(b) + +that sign confers on its proprietor the right to prohibit the +use of a subsequent trade mark. + +5. Furthermore, upon opposition by the proprietor of an +earlier trade mark within the meaning of paragraph 2, the trade +mark applied for shall not be registered where it is identical with, +or similar to, the earlier trade mark and is to be registered for +goods or services which are not similar to those for which the +earlier trade mark is registered, where, in the case of an earlier +Community trade mark, the trade mark has a reputation in the +Community and, in the case of an earlier national trade mark, the +trade mark has a reputation in the Member State concerned and +where the use without due cause of the trade mark applied for +would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the +distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +L 78/5 + +SECTION 2 + +Article 10 + +Effects of Community trade marks + +Reproduction of Community trade marks in dictionaries + +Article 9 +Rights conferred by a Community trade mark +1. A Community trade mark shall confer on the proprietor +exclusive rights therein. The proprietor shall be entitled to +prevent all third parties not having his consent from using in the +course of trade: + +If the reproduction of a Community trade mark in a dictionary, +encyclopaedia or similar reference work gives the impression that +it constitutes the generic name of the goods or services for which +the trade mark is registered, the publisher of the work shall, at +the request of the proprietor of the Community trade mark, +ensure that the reproduction of the trade mark at the latest in the +next edition of the publication is accompanied by an indication +that it is a registered trade mark. + +Article 11 +(a) + +(b) + +(c) + +any sign which is identical with the Community trade mark +in relation to goods or services which are identical with +those for which the Community trade mark is registered; +any sign where, because of its identity with, or similarity to, +the Community trade mark and the identity or similarity of +the goods or services covered by the Community trade +mark and the sign, there exists a likelihood of confusion on +the part of the public; the likelihood of confusion includes +the likelihood of association between the sign and the trade +mark; +any sign which is identical with, or similar to, the +Community trade mark in relation to goods or services +which are not similar to those for which the Community +trade mark is registered, where the latter has a reputation in +the Community and where use of that sign without due +cause takes unfair advantage of, or is detrimental to, the +distinctive character or the repute of the Community trade +mark. + +Prohibition on the use of a Community trade mark +registered in the name of an agent or representative +Where a Community trade mark is registered in the name of the +agent or representative of a person who is the proprietor of that +trade mark, without the proprietor's authorisation, the latter shall +be entitled to oppose the use of his mark by his agent or +representative if he has not authorised such use, unless the agent +or representative justifies his action. + +Article 12 +Limitation of the effects of a Community trade mark +A Community trade mark shall not entitle the proprietor to +prohibit a third party from using in the course of trade: +(a) + +his own name or address; + +(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 service; + +(c) + +the trade mark where it is necessary to indicate the intended +purpose of a product or service, in particular as accessories +or spare parts, + +2. The following, inter alia, may be prohibited under paragraph 1: +(a) + +affixing the sign to the goods or to the packaging thereof; + +(b) + +offering the goods, putting them on the market or stocking +them for these purposes under that sign, or offering or +supplying services thereunder; + +(c) + +importing or exporting the goods under that sign; + +(d) + +using the sign on business papers and in advertising. + +3. The rights conferred by a Community trade mark shall +prevail against third parties from the date of publication of +registration of the trade mark. Reasonable compensation may, +however, be claimed in respect of acts occurring after the date of +publication of a Community trade mark application, which acts +would, after publication of the registration of the trade mark, be +prohibited by virtue of that publication. The court seized of the +case may not decide upon the merits of the case until the +registration has been published. + +provided he uses them in accordance with honest practices in +industrial or commercial matters. + +Article 13 +Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a Community trade +mark +1. A Community trade mark shall not entitle the proprietor to +prohibit its use in relation to goods which have been put on the +market in the Community under that trade mark by the +proprietor or with his consent. +2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply where there exist legitimate +reasons for the proprietor to oppose further commercialisation +of the goods, especially where the condition of the goods is +changed or impaired after they have been put on the market. + +L 78/6 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 14 + +Complementary application of national law relating to +infringement +1. The effects of Community trade marks shall be governed +solely by the provisions of this Regulation. In other respects, +infringement of a Community trade mark shall be governed by +the national law relating to infringement of a national trade mark +in accordance with the provisions of Title X. +2. This Regulation shall not prevent actions concerning a +Community trade mark being brought under the law of Member +States relating in particular to civil liability and unfair +competition. +3. The rules of procedure to be applied shall be determined in +accordance with the provisions of Title X. + +SECTION 3 + +24.3.2009 + +entirety, and for the whole area of the Community, as a national +trade mark registered in the Member State in which, according to +the Register of Community trade marks: +(a) + +the proprietor has his seat or his domicile on the relevant +date; + +(b) + +where point (a) does not apply, the proprietor has an +establishment on the relevant date. + +2. In cases which are not provided for by paragraph 1, the +Member State referred to in that paragraph shall be the Member +State in which the seat of the Office is situated. +3. If two or more persons are mentioned in the Register of +Community trade marks as joint proprietors, paragraph 1 shall +apply to the joint proprietor first mentioned; failing this, it shall +apply to the subsequent joint proprietors in the order in which +they are mentioned. Where paragraph 1 does not apply to any of +the joint proprietors, paragraph 2 shall apply. + +Use of Community trade marks +Article 17 +Article 15 + +Transfer + +Use of Community trade marks +1. If, within a period of five years following registration, the +proprietor has not put the Community trade mark to genuine +use in the Community in connection with the goods or services +in respect of which it is registered, or if such use has been +suspended during an uninterrupted period of five years, the +Community trade mark shall be subject to the sanctions provided +for in this Regulation, unless there are proper reasons for nonuse. +The following shall also constitute use within the meaning of the +first subparagraph: +(a) + +use of the Community trade mark in a form differing in +elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the +mark in the form in which it was registered; + +(b) + +affixing of the Community trade mark to goods or to the +packaging thereof in the Community solely for export +purposes. + +2. Use of the Community trade mark with the consent of the +proprietor shall be deemed to constitute use by the proprietor. + +SECTION 4 + +1. A Community trade mark may be transferred, separately +from any transfer of the undertaking, in respect of some or all of +the goods or services for which it is registered. +2. A transfer of the whole of the undertaking shall include the +transfer of the Community trade mark except where, in +accordance with the law governing the transfer, there is +agreement to the contrary or circumstances clearly dictate +otherwise. This provision shall apply to the contractual +obligation to transfer the undertaking. +3. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, an assignment of the +Community trade mark shall be made in writing and shall +require the signature of the parties to the contract, except when it +is a result of a judgment; otherwise it shall be void. +4. Where it is clear from the transfer documents that because +of the transfer the Community trade mark is likely to mislead the +public concerning the nature, quality or geographical origin of +the goods or services in respect of which it is registered, the +Office shall not register the transfer unless the successor agrees +to limit registration of the Community trade mark to goods or +services in respect of which it is not likely to mislead. +5. On request of one of the parties a transfer shall be entered in +the Register and published. + +Community trade marks as objects of property +Article 16 +Dealing with Community trade marks as national trade +marks +1. Unless Articles 17 to 24 provide otherwise, a Community +trade mark as an object of property shall be dealt with in its + +6. As long as the transfer has not been entered in the Register, +the successor in title may not invoke the rights arising from the +registration of the Community trade mark. +7. Where there are time limits to be observed vis-à-vis the +Office, the successor in title may make the corresponding +statements to the Office once the request for registration of the +transfer has been received by the Office. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +8. All documents which require notification to the proprietor +of the Community trade mark in accordance with Article 79 +shall be addressed to the person registered as proprietor. + +Article 18 +Transfer of a trade mark registered in the name of an agent +Where a Community trade mark is registered in the name of the +agent or representative of a person who is the proprietor of that +trade mark, without the proprietor's authorisation, the latter shall +be entitled to demand the assignment in his favour of the said +registration, unless such agent or representative justifies his +action. + +Article 19 + +L 78/7 + +2. In the case of joint proprietorship of a Community trade +mark, paragraph 1 shall apply to the share of the joint +proprietor. +3. Where a Community trade mark is involved in insolvency +proceedings, on request of the competent national authority an +entry to this effect shall be made in the Register and published in +the Community Trade Marks Bulletin referred to in Article 89. + +Article 22 +Licensing +1. A Community trade mark may be licensed for some or all of +the goods or services for which it is registered and for the whole +or part of the Community. A licence may be exclusive or nonexclusive. + +Rights in rem +1. A Community trade mark may, independently of the +undertaking, be given as security or be the subject of rights in +rem. + +2. The proprietor of a Community trade mark may invoke the +rights conferred by that trade mark against a licensee who +contravenes any provision in his licensing contract with regard +to: + +2. On request of one of the parties, rights mentioned in +paragraph 1 shall be entered in the Register and published. + +(a) + +its duration; + +(b) + +the form covered by the registration in which the trade +mark may be used; + +(c) + +the scope of the goods or services for which the licence is +granted; + +(d) + +the territory in which the trade mark may be affixed; or + +(e) + +the quality of the goods manufactured or of the services +provided by the licensee. + +Article 20 +Levy of execution +1. A Community trade mark may be levied in execution. +2. As regards the procedure for levy of execution in respect of a +Community trade mark, the courts and authorities of the +Member States determined in accordance with Article 16 shall +have exclusive jurisdiction. + +Insolvency proceedings + +3. Without prejudice to the provisions of the licensing +contract, the licensee may bring proceedings for infringement +of a Community trade mark only if its proprietor consents +thereto. However, the holder of an exclusive licence may bring +such proceedings if the proprietor of the trade mark, after formal +notice, does not himself bring infringement proceedings within +an appropriate period. + +1. The only insolvency proceedings in which a Community +trade mark may be involved are those opened in the Member +State in the territory of which the debtor has his centre of main +interests. + +4. A licensee shall, for the purpose of obtaining compensation +for damage suffered by him, be entitled to intervene in +infringement proceedings brought by the proprietor of the +Community trade mark. + +However, where the debtor is an insurance undertaking or a +credit institution as defined in Directive 2001/17/EC of the +European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001 on +the reorganisation and winding-up of insurance undertakings (1) +and Directive 2001/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the +Council of 4 April 2001 on the reorganisation and winding up +of credit institutions (2), respectively, the only insolvency +proceedings in which a Community trademark may be involved +are those opened in the Member State where that undertaking or +institution has been authorised. + +5. On request of one of the parties the grant or transfer of a +licence in respect of a Community trade mark shall be entered in +the Register and published. + +3. On request of one the parties, levy of execution shall be +entered in the Register and published. + +Article 21 + +(1) OJ L 110, 20.4.2001, p. 28. +(2) OJ L 125, 5.5.2001, p. 15. + +Article 23 +Effects vis-à-vis third parties +1. Legal acts referred to in Articles 17, 19 and 22 concerning a +Community trade mark shall have effects vis-à-vis third parties in +all the Member States only after entry in the Register. +Nevertheless, such an act, before it is so entered, shall have + +L 78/8 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +effect vis-à-vis third parties who have acquired rights in the trade +mark after the date of that act but who knew of the act at the +date on which the rights were acquired. +2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply in the case of a person who +acquires the Community trade mark or a right concerning the +Community trade mark by way of transfer of the whole of the +undertaking or by any other universal succession. +3. The effects vis-à-vis third parties of the legal acts referred to +in Article 20 shall be governed by the law of the Member State +determined in accordance with Article 16. + +24.3.2009 + +3. Applications referred to in paragraph 2 which reach the +Office more than two months after filing shall be deemed to have +been filed on the date on which the application reached the +Office. +4. Ten years after the entry into force of Regulation (EC) +No 40/94, the Commission shall draw up a report on the +operation of the system of filing applications for Community +trade marks, together with any proposals for modifying this +system. + +Article 26 +4. Until such time as common rules for the Member States in +the field of bankruptcy enter into force, the effects vis-à-vis third +parties of bankruptcy or like proceedings shall be governed by +the law of the Member State in which such proceedings are first +brought within the meaning of national law or of conventions +applicable in this field. + +Conditions with which applications must comply +1. An application for a Community trade mark shall contain: +(a) + +The application for a Community trade mark as an object of +property + +(b) + +information identifying the applicant; + +(c) + +a list of the goods or services in respect of which the +registration is requested; + +(d) + +Article 24 + +a request for the registration of a Community trade mark; + +a representation of the trade mark. + +Articles 16 to 23 shall apply to applications for Community +trade marks. + +TITLE III +APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY TRADE MARKS + +SECTION 1 + +Filing of applications and the conditions which govern them + +2. The application for a Community trade mark shall be subject +to the payment of the application fee and, when appropriate, of +one or more class fees. +3. An application for a Community trade mark must comply +with the conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulation +referred to in Article 162(1), hereinafter referred to as the +‘Implementing Regulation’. + +Article 25 + +Article 27 + +Filing of applications + +Date of filing + +1. An application for a Community trade mark shall be filed, at +the choice of the applicant: + +The date of filing of a Community trade mark application shall +be the date on which documents containing the information +specified in Article 26(1) are filed with the Office by the +applicant or, if the application has been filed with the central +office of a Member State or with the Benelux Office for +Intellectual Property, with that office, subject to payment of the +application fee within a period of one month of filing the +abovementioned documents. + +(a) + +at the Office; + +(b) + +at the central industrial property office of a Member State +or at the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property. An +application filed in this way shall have the same effect as if +it had been filed on the same date at the Office. + +Article 28 +2. Where the application is filed at the central industrial +property office of a Member State or at the Benelux Office for +Intellectual Property, that office shall take all steps to forward the +application to the Office within two weeks after filing. It may +charge the applicant a fee which shall not exceed the +administrative costs of receiving and forwarding the application. + +Classification +Goods and services in respect of which Community trade marks +are applied for shall be classified in conformity with the system +of classification specified in the Implementing Regulation. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +SECTION 2 + +Priority + +L 78/9 + +application for the purposes of establishing which rights take +precedence. + +Article 29 + +Article 32 + +Right of priority + +Equivalence of Community filing with national filing + +1. A person who has duly filed an application for a trade mark +in or in respect of any State party to the Paris Convention or to +the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, or his +successors in title, shall enjoy, for the purpose of filing a +Community trade mark application for the same trade mark in +respect of goods or services which are identical with or contained +within those for which the application has been filed, a right of +priority during a period of six months from the date of filing of +the first application. + +A Community trade mark application which has been accorded a +date of filing shall, in the Member States, be equivalent to a +regular national filing, where appropriate with the priority +claimed for the Community trade mark application. + +SECTION 3 + +Exhibition priority +2. Every filing that is equivalent to a regular national filing +under the national law of the State where it was made or under +bilateral or multilateral agreements shall be recognised as giving +rise to a right of priority. + +Article 33 +Exhibition priority + +3. By a regular national filing is meant any filing that is +sufficient to establish the date on which the application was filed, +whatever may be the outcome of the application. +4. A subsequent application for a trade mark which was the +subject of a previous first application in respect of the same +goods or services and which is filed in or in respect of the same +State shall be considered as the first application for the purposes +of determining priority, provided that, at the date of filing of the +subsequent application, the previous application has been +withdrawn, abandoned or refused, without being open to public +inspection and without leaving any rights outstanding, and has +not served as a basis for claiming a right of priority. The previous +application may not thereafter serve as a basis for claiming a +right of priority. +5. If the first filing has been made in a State which is not a +party to the Paris Convention or to the Agreement establishing +the World Trade Organisation, paragraphs 1 to 4 shall apply only +in so far as that State, according to published findings, grants, on +the basis of the first filing made at the Office and subject to +conditions equivalent to those laid down in this Regulation, a +right of priority having equivalent effect. + +1. If an applicant for a Community trade mark has displayed +goods or services under the mark applied for, at an official or +officially recognised international exhibition falling within the +terms of the Convention on International Exhibitions signed at +Paris on 22 November 1928 and last revised on 30 November +1972, he may, if he files the application within a period of six +months from the date of the first display of the goods or services +under the mark applied for, claim a right of priority from that +date within the meaning of Article 31. +2. An applicant who wishes to claim priority pursuant to +paragraph 1 must file evidence of the display of goods or services +under the mark applied for under the conditions laid down in +the Implementing Regulation. +3. An exhibition priority granted in a Member State or in a +third country does not extend the period of priority laid down in +Article 29. + +SECTION 4 + +Article 30 + +Claiming the seniority of a national trade mark + +Claiming priority +An applicant desiring to take advantage of the priority of a +previous application shall file a declaration of priority and a copy +of the previous application. If the language of the latter is not +one of the languages of the Office, the applicant shall file a +translation of the previous application in one of those languages. + +Article 31 +Effect of priority right +The right of priority shall have the effect that the date of priority +shall count as the date of filing of the Community trade mark + +Article 34 +Claiming the seniority of a national trade mark +1. The proprietor of an earlier trade mark registered in a +Member State, including a trade mark registered in the Benelux +countries, or registered under international arrangements having +effect in a Member State, who applies for an identical trade mark +for registration as a Community trade mark for goods or services +which are identical with or contained within those for which the +earlier trade mark has been registered, may claim for the +Community trade mark the seniority of the earlier trade mark in +respect of the Member State in or for which it is registered. + +L 78/10 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +2. Seniority shall have the sole effect under this Regulation +that, where the proprietor of the Community trade mark +surrenders the earlier trade mark or allows it to lapse, he shall be +deemed to continue to have the same rights as he would have +had if the earlier trade mark had continued to be registered. +3. The seniority claimed for the Community trade mark shall +lapse if the earlier trade mark the seniority of which is claimed is +declared to have been revoked or to be invalid or if it is +surrendered prior to the registration of the Community trade +mark. + +Article 35 +Claiming seniority after registration of the Community +trade mark +1. The proprietor of a Community trade mark who is the +proprietor of an earlier identical trade mark registered in a +Member State, including a trade mark registered in the Benelux +countries or of an earlier identical trade mark, with an +international registration effective in a Member State, for goods +or services which are identical to those for which the earlier trade +mark has been registered, or contained within them, may claim +the seniority of the earlier trade mark in respect of the Member +State in or for which it was registered. +2. Article 34(2) and (3) shall apply. + +24.3.2009 + +3. If the deficiencies or the default on payment established +pursuant to paragraph 1(a) are not remedied within this period, +the application shall not be dealt with as a Community trade +mark application. If the applicant complies with the Office's +request, the Office shall accord as the date of filing of the +application the date on which the deficiencies or the default on +payment established are remedied. +4. If the deficiencies established pursuant to paragraph 1(b) are +not remedied within the prescribed period, the Office shall refuse +the application. +5. If the default on payment established pursuant to paragraph 1(c) is not remedied within the prescribed period, the +application shall be deemed to be withdrawn unless it is clear +which categories of goods or services the amount paid is +intended to cover. +6. Failure to satisfy the requirements concerning the claim to +priority shall result in loss of the right of priority for the +application. +7. Failure to satisfy the requirements concerning the claiming +of seniority of a national trade mark shall result in loss of that +right for the application. + +Article 37 +Examination as to absolute grounds for refusal + +TITLE IV +REGISTRATION PROCEDURE + +SECTION 1 + +Examination of applications + +Article 36 +Examination of the conditions of filing +1. The Office shall examine whether: +(a) + +the Community trade mark application satisfies the +requirements for the accordance of a date of filing in +accordance with Article 27; + +(b) + +the Community trade mark application complies with the +conditions laid down in this Regulation and with the +conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulation; + +(c) + +where appropriate, the class fees have been paid within the +prescribed period. + +1. Where, under Article 7, a trade mark is ineligible for +registration in respect of some or all of the goods or services +covered by the Community trade mark application, the +application shall be refused as regards those goods or services. +2. Where the trade mark contains an element which is not +distinctive, and where the inclusion of that element in the trade +mark could give rise to doubts as to the scope of protection of +the trade mark, the Office may request, as a condition for +registration of said trade mark, that the applicant state that he +disclaims any exclusive right to such element. Any disclaimer +shall be published together with the application or the +registration of the Community trade mark, as the case may be. +3. The application shall not be refused before the applicant has +been allowed the opportunity of withdrawing or amending the +application or of submitting his observations. + +SECTION 2 + +Search + +Article 38 +Search + +2. Where the Community trade mark application does not +satisfy the requirements referred to in paragraph 1, the Office +shall request the applicant to remedy the deficiencies or the +default on payment within the prescribed period. + +1. Once the Office has accorded a date of filing, it shall draw up +a Community search report citing those earlier Community trade +marks or Community trade mark applications discovered which + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +may be invoked under Article 8 against the registration of the +Community trade mark applied for. +2. Where, at the time of filing a Community trade mark +application, the applicant requests that a search report also be +prepared by the central industrial property offices of the Member +States and where the appropriate search fee has been paid within +the time limit for the payment of the filing fee, the Office shall, as +soon as a Community trade mark application has been accorded +a date of filing, transmit a copy thereof to the central industrial +property office of each Member State which has informed the +Office of its decision to operate a search in its own register of +trade marks in respect of Community trade mark applications. + +referred to in Article 38(7) has expired, the application shall be +published to the extent that it has not been refused pursuant to +Article 37. + +2. Where, after publication, the application is refused under +Article 37, the decision that it has been refused shall be +published upon becoming final. + +SECTION 4 + +Observations by third parties and opposition + +3. Each of the central industrial property offices referred to in +paragraph 2 shall communicate to the Office within two months +as from the date on which it received the Community trade mark +application a search report which shall either cite those earlier +national trade marks or trade mark applications discovered +which may be invoked under Article 8 against the registration of +the Community trade mark applied for, or state that the search +has revealed no such rights. +4. The search reports referred to in paragraph 3 shall be +prepared on a standard form drawn up by the Office, after +consulting the Administrative Board provided for in Article 126(1), hereinafter referred to as ‘the Administrative Board’. +The essential contents of this form shall be set out in the +Implementing Regulation. + +L 78/11 + +Article 40 +Observations by third parties +1. Following the publication of the Community trade mark +application, any natural or legal person and any group or body +representing manufacturers, producers, suppliers of services, +traders or consumers may submit to the Office written +observations, explaining on which grounds under Article 7, in +particular, the trade mark shall not be registered ex officio. They +shall not be parties to the proceedings before the Office. + +5. An amount shall be paid by the Office to each central +industrial property office for each search report provided by that +office in accordance with paragraph 3. The amount, which shall +be the same for each office, shall be fixed by the Budget +Committee by means of a decision adopted by a majority of +three-quarters of the representatives of the Member States. + +2. The observations referred to in paragraph 1 shall be +communicated to the applicant who may comment on them. + +6. The Office shall transmit without delay to the applicant for +the Community trade mark the Community search report and +any requested national search reports received within the time +limit laid down in paragraph 3. + +Opposition + +7. Upon publication of the Community trade mark application, +which may not take place before the expiry of a period of one +month as from the date on which the Office transmits the search +reports to the applicant, the Office shall inform the proprietors +of any earlier Community trade marks or Community trade mark +applications cited in the Community search report of the +publication of the Community trade mark application. + +Article 41 + +1. Within a period of three months following the publication +of a Community trade mark application, notice of opposition to +registration of the trade mark may be given on the grounds that +it may not be registered under Article 8: + +(a) + +by the proprietors of earlier trade marks referred to in +Article 8(2) as well as licensees authorised by the +proprietors of those trade marks, in respect of Article 8(1) and (5); + +(b) + +by the proprietors of trade marks referred to in Article 8(3); + +(c) + +by the proprietors of earlier marks or signs referred to in +Article 8(4) and by persons authorised under the relevant +national law to exercise these rights. + +SECTION 3 + +Publication of the application + +Article 39 +Publication of the application +1. If the conditions which the application for a Community +trade mark must satisfy have been fulfilled and if the period + +2. Notice of opposition to registration of the trade mark may +also be given, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraph 1, +in the event of the publication of an amended application in +accordance with the second sentence of Article 43(2). + +L 78/12 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +3. Opposition must be expressed in writing and must specify +the grounds on which it is made. It shall not be treated as duly +entered until the opposition fee has been paid. Within a period +fixed by the Office, the opponent may submit in support of his +case facts, evidence and arguments. + +Article 42 +Examination of opposition +1. In the examination of the opposition the Office shall invite +the parties, as often as necessary, to file observations, within a +period set them by the Office, on communications from the +other parties or issued by itself. + +24.3.2009 + +contained therein. Where the application has already been +published, the withdrawal or restriction shall also be published. +2. In other respects, a Community trade mark application may +be amended, upon request of the applicant, only by correcting +the name and address of the applicant, errors of wording or of +copying, or obvious mistakes, provided that such correction does +not substantially change the trade mark or extend the list of +goods or services. Where the amendments affect the representation of the trade mark or the list of goods or services and are +made after publication of the application, the trade mark +application shall be published as amended. + +Article 44 +2. If the applicant so requests, the proprietor of an earlier +Community trade mark who has given notice of opposition shall +furnish proof that, during the period of five years preceding the +date of publication of the Community trade mark application, +the earlier Community trade mark has been put to genuine use in +the Community in connection with the goods or services in +respect of which it is registered and which he cites as justification +for his opposition, or that there are proper reasons for non-use, +provided the earlier Community trade mark has at that date been +registered for not less than five years. In the absence of proof to +this effect, the opposition shall be rejected. If the earlier +Community trade mark has been used in relation to part only +of the goods or services for which it is registered it shall, for the +purposes of the examination of the opposition, be deemed to be +registered in respect only of that part of the goods or services. + +Division of the application +1. The applicant may divide the application by declaring that +some of the goods or services included in the original application +will be the subject of one or more divisional applications. The +goods or services in the divisional application shall not overlap +with the goods or services which remain in the original +application or those which are included in other divisional +applications. +2. The declaration of division shall not be admissible: +(a) + +if, where an opposition has been entered against the +original application, such a divisional application has the +effect of introducing a division amongst the goods or +services against which the opposition has been directed, +until the decision of the Opposition Division has become +final or the opposition proceedings are finally terminated +otherwise; + +4. The Office may, if it thinks fit, invite the parties to make a +friendly settlement. + +(b) + +during the periods laid down in the Implementing +Regulation. + +5. If examination of the opposition reveals that the trade mark +may not be registered in respect of some or all of the goods or +services for which the Community trade mark application has +been made, the application shall be refused in respect of those +goods or services. Otherwise the opposition shall be rejected. + +3. The declaration of division must comply with the provisions +set out in the Implementing Regulation. + +3. Paragraph 2 shall apply to earlier national trade marks +referred to in Article 8(2)(a), by substituting use in the Member +State in which the earlier national trade mark is protected for use +in the Community. + +6. The decision refusing the application shall be published +upon becoming final. + +4. The declaration of division shall be subject to a fee. The +declaration shall be deemed not to have been made until the fee +has been paid. +5. The division shall take effect on the date on which it is +recorded in the files kept by the Office concerning the original +application. + +SECTION 5 + +Withdrawal, restriction, amendment and division of the +application + +Article 43 +Withdrawal, restriction and amendment of the application +1. The applicant may at any time withdraw his Community +trade mark application or restrict the list of goods or services + +6. All requests and applications submitted and all fees paid +with regard to the original application prior to the date on which +the Office receives the declaration of division are deemed also to +have been submitted or paid with regard to the divisional +application or applications. The fees for the original application +which have been duly paid prior to the date on which the +declaration of division is received shall not be refunded. +7. The divisional application shall preserve the filing date and +any priority date and seniority date of the original application. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +L 78/13 + +SECTION 6 + +Article 48 + +Registration + +Alteration + +Article 45 + +1. The Community trade mark shall not be altered in the +Register during the period of registration or on renewal thereof. + +Registration +Where an application meets the requirements of this Regulation +and where no notice of opposition has been given within the +period referred to in Article 41(1) or where opposition has been +rejected by a definitive decision, the trade mark shall be +registered as a Community trade mark, provided that the +registration fee has been paid within the period prescribed. If the +fee is not paid within this period the application shall be deemed +to be withdrawn. + +2. Nevertheless, where the Community trade mark includes the +name and address of the proprietor, any alteration thereof not +substantially affecting the identity of the trade mark as originally +registered may be registered at the request of the proprietor. +3. The publication of the registration of the alteration shall +contain a representation of the Community trade mark as +altered. Third parties whose rights may be affected by the +alteration may challenge the registration thereof within a period +of three months following publication. + +TITLE V + +Article 49 + +DURATION, RENEWAL, ALTERATION AND DIVISION OF +COMMUNITY TRADE MARKS + +Division of the registration + +Article 46 +Duration of registration +Community trade marks shall be registered for a period of 10 +years from the date of filing of the application. Registration may +be renewed in accordance with Article 47 for further periods of +10 years. +Article 47 + +1. The proprietor of the Community trade mark may divide the +registration by declaring that some of the goods or services +included in the original registration will be the subject of one or +more divisional registrations. The goods or services in the +divisional registration shall not overlap with the goods or +services which remain in the original registration or those which +are included in other divisional registrations. +2. The declaration of division shall not be admissible: +(a) + +if, where an application for revocation of rights or for a +declaration of invalidity has been entered at the Office +against the original registration, such a divisional declaration has the effect of introducing a division amongst the +goods or services against which the application for +revocation of rights or for a declaration of invalidity is +directed, until the decision of the Cancellation Division has +become final or the proceedings are finally terminated +otherwise; + +(b) + +if, where a counterclaim for revocation or for a declaration +of invalidity has been entered in a case before a Community +trade mark court, such a divisional declaration has the effect +of introducing a division amongst the goods or services +against which the counterclaim is directed, until the +mention of the Community trade mark court's judgment +is recorded in the Register pursuant to Article 100(6). + +Renewal +1. Registration of the Community trade mark shall be renewed +at the request of the proprietor of the trade mark or any person +expressly authorised by him, provided that the fees have been +paid. +2. The Office shall inform the proprietor of the Community +trade mark, and any person having a registered right in respect of +the Community trade mark, of the expiry of the registration in +good time before the said expiry. Failure to give such information +shall not involve the responsibility of the Office. +3. The request for renewal shall be submitted within a period +of six months ending on the last day of the month in which +protection ends. The fees shall also be paid within this period. +Failing this, the request may be submitted and the fees paid +within a further period of six months following the day referred +to in the first sentence, provided that an additional fee is paid +within this further period. +4. Where the request is submitted or the fees paid in respect of +only some of the goods or services for which the Community +trade mark is registered, registration shall be renewed for those +goods or services only. +5. Renewal shall take effect from the day following the date on +which the existing registration expires. The renewal shall be +registered. + +3. The declaration of division must comply with the provisions +set out in the Implementing Regulation. +4. The declaration of division shall be subject to a fee. The +declaration shall be deemed not to have been made until the fee +has been paid. +5. The division shall take effect on the date on which it is +entered in the Register. +6. All requests and applications submitted and all fees paid +with regard to the original registration prior to the date on which +the Office receives the declaration of division shall be deemed + +L 78/14 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +also to have been submitted or paid with regard to the divisional +registration or registrations. The fees for the original registration +which have been duly paid prior to the date on which the +declaration of division is received shall not be refunded. + +24.3.2009 + +and filing of the application or counterclaim, genuine use of +the trade mark has been started or resumed; the +commencement or resumption of use within a period of +three months preceding the filing of the application or +counterclaim which began at the earliest on expiry of the +continuous period of five years of non-use shall, however, +be disregarded where preparations for the commencement +or resumption occur only after the proprietor becomes +aware that the application or counterclaim may be filed; + +7. The divisional registration shall preserve the filing date and +any priority date and seniority date of the original registration. + +(b) + +if, in consequence of acts or inactivity of the proprietor, the +trade mark has become the common name in the trade for +a product or service in respect of which it is registered; + +(c) + +TITLE VI + +if, in consequence of the use made of it by the proprietor of +the trade mark or with his consent in respect of the goods +or services for which it is registered, the trade mark is liable +to mislead the public, particularly as to the nature, quality +or geographical origin of those goods or services. + +SURRENDER, REVOCATION AND INVALIDITY + +SECTION 1 + +Surrender + +Article 50 +Surrender + +2. Where the grounds for revocation of rights exist in respect +of only some of the goods or services for which the Community +trade mark is registered, the rights of the proprietor shall be +declared to be revoked in respect of those goods or services only. + +1. A Community trade mark may be surrendered in respect of +some or all of the goods or services for which it is registered. +2. The surrender shall be declared to the Office in writing by +the proprietor of the trade mark. It shall not have effect until it +has been entered in the Register. +3. Surrender shall be entered only with the agreement of the +proprietor of a right entered in the Register. If a licence has been +registered, surrender shall be entered in the Register only if the +proprietor of the trade mark proves that he has informed the +licensee of his intention to surrender; this entry shall be made on +expiry of the period prescribed by the Implementing Regulation. + +SECTION 3 + +Grounds for invalidity + +Article 52 +Absolute grounds for invalidity +1. A Community trade mark shall be declared invalid on +application to the Office or on the basis of a counterclaim in +infringement proceedings: + +SECTION 2 + +Grounds for revocation + +Article 51 + +(a) + +where the Community trade mark has been registered +contrary to the provisions of Article 7; + +(b) + +where the applicant was acting in bad faith when he filed +the application for the trade mark. + +Grounds for revocation +1. The rights of the proprietor of the Community trade mark +shall be declared to be revoked on application to the Office or on +the basis of a counterclaim in infringement proceedings: +(a) + +if, within a continuous period of five years, the trade mark +has not been put to genuine use in the Community in +connection with the goods or services in respect of which it +is registered, and there are no proper reasons for non-use; +however, no person may claim that the proprietor's rights +in a Community trade mark should be revoked where, +during the interval between expiry of the five-year period + +2. Where the Community trade mark has been registered in +breach of the provisions of Article 7(1)(b), (c) or (d), it may +nevertheless not be declared invalid if, in consequence of the use +which has been made of it, it has after registration acquired a +distinctive character in relation to the goods or services for which +it is registered. + +3. Where the ground for invalidity exists in respect of only +some of the goods or services for which the Community trade +mark is registered, the trade mark shall be declared invalid as +regards those goods or services only. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 53 + +Relative grounds for invalidity +1. A Community trade mark shall be declared invalid on +application to the Office or on the basis of a counterclaim in +infringement proceedings: +(a) + +where there is an earlier trade mark as referred to in +Article 8(2) and the conditions set out in paragraph 1 or +paragraph 5 of that Article are fulfilled; + +(b) + +where there is a trade mark as referred to in Article 8(3) and +the conditions set out in that paragraph are fulfilled; + +(c) + +where there is an earlier right as referred to in Article 8(4) +and the conditions set out in that paragraph are fulfilled. + +2. A Community trade mark shall also be declared invalid on +application to the Office or on the basis of a counterclaim in +infringement proceedings where the use of such trade mark may +be prohibited pursuant to another earlier right under the +Community legislation or national law governing its protection, +and in particular: + +L 78/15 + +mark has been used, unless registration of the later Community +trade mark was applied for in bad faith. +2. Where the proprietor of an earlier national trade mark as +referred to in Article 8(2) or of another earlier sign referred to in +Article 8(4) has acquiesced, for a period of five successive years, +in the use of a later Community trade mark in the Member State +in which the earlier trade mark or the other earlier sign is +protected while being aware of such use, he shall no longer be +entitled on the basis of the earlier trade mark or of the other +earlier sign either to apply for a declaration that the later trade +mark is invalid or to oppose the use of the later trade mark in +respect of the goods or services for which the later trade mark +has been used, unless registration of the later Community trade +mark was applied for in bad faith. +3. In the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the proprietor +of a later Community trade mark shall not be entitled to oppose +the use of the earlier right, even though that right may no longer +be invoked against the later Community trade mark. + +SECTION 4 + +(a) + +a right to a name; + +(b) + +a right of personal portrayal; + +(c) + +a copyright; + +Consequences of revocation and invalidity + +Article 55 +Consequences of revocation and invalidity + +(d) + +an industrial property right. + +3. A Community trade mark may not be declared invalid where +the proprietor of a right referred to in paragraphs 1 or 2 consents +expressly to the registration of the Community trade mark before +submission of the application for a declaration of invalidity or +the counterclaim. +4. Where the proprietor of one of the rights referred to in +paragraphs 1 or 2 has previously applied for a declaration that a +Community trade mark is invalid or made a counterclaim in +infringement proceedings, he may not submit a new application +for a declaration of invalidity or lodge a counterclaim on the +basis of another of the said rights which he could have invoked +in support of his first application or counterclaim. +5. Article 52(3) shall apply. + +Article 54 + +1. The Community trade mark shall be deemed not to have +had, as from the date of the application for revocation or of the +counterclaim, the effects specified in this Regulation, to the +extent that the rights of the proprietor have been revoked. An +earlier date, on which one of the grounds for revocation +occurred, may be fixed in the decision at the request of one of the +parties. +2. The Community trade mark shall be deemed not to have +had, as from the outset, the effects specified in this Regulation, to +the extent that the trade mark has been declared invalid. +3. Subject to the national provisions relating either to claims +for compensation for damage caused by negligence or lack of +good faith on the part of the proprietor of the trade mark, or to +unjust enrichment, the retroactive effect of revocation or +invalidity of the trade mark shall not affect: +(a) + +any decision on infringement which has acquired the +authority of a final decision and been enforced prior to the +revocation or invalidity decision; + +(b) + +any contract concluded prior to the revocation or invalidity +decision, in so far as it has been performed before that +decision; however, repayment, to an extent justified by the +circumstances, of sums paid under the relevant contract, +may be claimed on grounds of equity. + +Limitation in consequence of acquiescence +1. Where the proprietor of a Community trade mark has +acquiesced, for a period of five successive years, in the use of a +later Community trade mark in the Community while being +aware of such use, he shall no longer be entitled on the basis of +the earlier trade mark either to apply for a declaration that the +later trade mark is invalid or to oppose the use of the later trade +mark in respect of the goods or services for which the later trade + +L 78/16 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +SECTION 5 + +Proceedings in the Office in relation to revocation or invalidity + +Article 56 + +24.3.2009 + +at that date. In the absence of proof to this effect the application +for a declaration of invalidity shall be rejected. If the earlier +Community trade mark has been used in relation to part only of +the goods or services for which it is registered, it shall, for the +purpose of the examination of the application for a declaration +of invalidity, be deemed to be registered in respect only of that +part of the goods or services. + +Application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity +1. An application for revocation of the rights of the proprietor +of a Community trade mark or for a declaration that the trade +mark is invalid may be submitted to the Office: +(a) + +where Articles 51 and 52 apply, by any natural or legal +person and any group or body set up for the purpose of +representing the interests of manufacturers, producers, +suppliers of services, traders or consumers, which under the +terms of the law governing it has the capacity in its own +name to sue and be sued; + +(b) + +where Article 53(1) applies, by the persons referred to in +Article 41(1); + +(c) + +where Article 53(2) applies, by the owners of the earlier +rights referred to in that provision or by the persons who +are entitled under the law of the Member State concerned +to exercise the rights in question. + +2. The application shall be filed in a written reasoned +statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the +fee has been paid. +3. An application for revocation or for a declaration of +invalidity shall be inadmissible if an application relating to the +same subject matter and cause of action, and involving the same +parties, has been adjudicated on by a court in a Member State +and has acquired the authority of a final decision. + +Article 57 +Examination of the application +1. On the examination of the application for revocation of +rights or for a declaration of invalidity, the Office shall invite the +parties, as often as necessary, to file observations, within a period +to be fixed by the Office, on communications from the other +parties or issued by itself. +2. If the proprietor of the Community trade mark so requests, +the proprietor of an earlier Community trade mark, being a party +to the invalidity proceedings, shall furnish proof that, during the +period of five years preceding the date of the application for a +declaration of invalidity, the earlier Community trade mark has +been put to genuine use in the Community in connection with +the goods or services in respect of which it is registered and +which he cites as justification for his application, or that there are +proper reasons for non-use, provided the earlier Community +trade mark has at that date been registered for not less than five +years. If, at the date on which the Community trade mark +application was published, the earlier Community trade mark +had been registered for not less than five years, the proprietor of +the earlier Community trade mark shall furnish proof that, in +addition, the conditions contained in Article 42(2) were satisfied + +3. Paragraph 2 shall apply to earlier national trade marks +referred to in Article 8(2)(a), by substituting use in the Member +State in which the earlier national trade mark is protected for use +in the Community. +4. The Office may, if it thinks fit, invite the parties to make a +friendly settlement. +5. If the examination of the application for revocation of rights +or for a declaration of invalidity reveals that the trade mark +should not have been registered in respect of some or all of the +goods or services for which it is registered, the rights of the +proprietor of the Community trade mark shall be revoked or it +shall be declared invalid in respect of those goods or services. +Otherwise the application for revocation of rights or for a +declaration of invalidity shall be rejected. +6. A record of the Office's decision on the application for +revocation of rights or for a declaration of invalidity shall be +entered in the Register once it has become final. + +TITLE VII +APPEALS + +Article 58 +Decisions subject to appeal +1. An appeal shall lie from decisions of the examiners, +Opposition Divisions, Administration of Trade Marks and Legal +Divisions and Cancellation Divisions. It shall have suspensive +effect. +2. A decision which does not terminate proceedings as regards +one of the parties can only be appealed together with the final +decision, unless the decision allows separate appeal. + +Article 59 +Persons entitled to appeal and to be parties to appeal +proceedings +Any party to proceedings adversely affected by a decision may +appeal. Any other parties to the proceedings shall be parties to +the appeal proceedings as of right. + +Article 60 +Time limit and form of appeal +Notice of appeal must be filed in writing at the Office within two +months after the date of notification of the decision appealed + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +from. The notice shall be deemed to have been filed only when +the fee for appeal has been paid. Within four months after the +date of notification of the decision, a written statement setting +out the grounds of appeal must be filed. + +L 78/17 +Article 64 + +Decisions in respect of appeals + +Revision of decisions in ex parte cases + +1. Following the examination as to the allowability of the +appeal, the Board of Appeal shall decide on the appeal. The +Board of Appeal may either exercise any power within the +competence of the department which was responsible for the +decision appealed or remit the case to that department for +further prosecution. + +1. If the party which has lodged the appeal is the sole party to +the procedure, and if the department whose decision is contested +considers the appeal to be admissible and well founded, the +department shall rectify its decision. + +2. If the Board of Appeal remits the case for further +prosecution to the department whose decision was appealed, +that department shall be bound by the ratio decidendi of the Board +of Appeal, in so far as the facts are the same. + +2. If the decision is not rectified within one month after receipt +of the statement of grounds, the appeal shall be remitted to the +Board of Appeal without delay, and without comment as to its +merit. + +3. The decisions of the Boards of Appeal shall take effect only +as from the date of expiration of the period referred to in +Article 65(5) or, if an action has been brought before the Court +of Justice within that period, as from the date of dismissal of such +action. + +Article 62 + +Article 65 + +Revision of decisions in inter partes cases + +Actions before the Court of Justice + +Article 61 + +1. Where the party which has lodged the appeal is opposed by +another party and if the department whose decision is contested +considers the appeal to be admissible and well founded, it shall +rectify its decision. +2. The decision may be rectified only if the department whose +decision is contested notifies the other party of its intention to +rectify it, and that party accepts it within two months of the date +on which it received the notification. +3. If, within two months of receiving the notification referred +to in paragraph 2, the other party does not accept that the +contested decision is to be rectified and makes a declaration to +that effect or does not make any declaration within the period +laid down, the appeal shall be remitted to the Board of Appeal +without delay, and without comment as to its merit. +4. However, if the department whose decision is contested does +not consider the appeal to be admissible and well founded within +one month after receipt of the statement of grounds, it shall, +instead of taking the measures provided for in paragraphs 2 and +3, remit the appeal to the Board of Appeal without delay, and +without comment as to its merit. + +1. Actions may be brought before the Court of Justice against +decisions of the Boards of Appeal on appeals. +2. The action may be brought on grounds of lack of +competence, infringement of an essential procedural requirement, infringement of the Treaty, of this Regulation or of any +rule of law relating to their application or misuse of power. +3. The Court of Justice has jurisdiction to annul or to alter the +contested decision. +4. The action shall be open to any party to proceedings before +the Board of Appeal adversely affected by its decision. +5. The action shall be brought before the Court of Justice +within two months of the date of notification of the decision of +the Board of Appeal. +6. The Office shall be required to take the necessary measures +to comply with the judgment of the Court of Justice. + +TITLE VIII +COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE MARKS + +Article 63 + +Article 66 + +Examination of appeals + +Community collective marks + +1. If the appeal is admissible, the Board of Appeal shall +examine whether the appeal is allowable. + +1. A Community collective mark shall be a Community trade +mark which is described as such when the mark is applied for +and is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of the +members of the association which is the proprietor of the mark +from those of other undertakings. Associations of manufacturers, +producers, suppliers of services, or traders which, under the +terms of the law governing them, have the capacity in their own +name to have rights and obligations of all kinds, to make + +2. In the examination of the appeal, the Board of Appeal shall +invite the parties, as often as necessary, to file observations, +within a period to be fixed by the Board of Appeal, on +communications from the other parties or issued by itself. + +L 78/18 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +Article 70 + +contracts or accomplish other legal acts and to sue and be sued, +as well as legal persons governed by public law, may apply for +Community collective marks. +2. In derogation from Article 7(1)(c), signs or indications +which may serve, in trade, to designate the geographical origin of +the goods or services may constitute Community collective +marks within the meaning of paragraph 1. A collective mark +shall not entitle the proprietor to prohibit a third party from +using in the course of trade such signs or indications, provided +he uses them in accordance with honest practices in industrial or +commercial matters; in particular, such a mark may not be +invoked against a third party who is entitled to use a +geographical name. +3. The provisions of this Regulation shall apply to Community +collective marks, unless Articles 67 to 74 provide otherwise. + +Article 67 +Regulations governing use of the mark +1. An applicant for a Community collective mark must submit +regulations governing its use within the period prescribed. +2. The regulations governing use shall specify the persons +authorised to use the mark, the conditions of membership of the +association and, where they exist, the conditions of use of the +mark, including sanctions. The regulations governing use of a +mark referred to in Article 66(2) must authorise any person +whose goods or services originate in the geographical area +concerned to become a member of the association which is the +proprietor of the mark. + +Article 68 +Refusal of the application +1. In addition to the grounds for refusal of a Community trade +mark application provided for in Articles 36 and 37, an +application for a Community collective mark shall be refused +where the provisions of Articles 66 or 67 are not satisfied, or +where the regulations governing use are contrary to public policy +or to accepted principles of morality. +2. An application for a Community collective mark shall also +be refused if the public is liable to be misled as regards the +character or the significance of the mark, in particular if it is +likely to be taken to be something other than a collective mark. + +24.3.2009 + +Use of marks +Use of a Community collective mark by any person who has +authority to use it shall satisfy the requirements of this +Regulation, provided that the other conditions which this +Regulation imposes with regard to the use of Community trade +marks are fulfilled. +Article 71 +Amendment of the regulations governing use of the mark +1. The proprietor of a Community collective mark must +submit to the Office any amended regulations governing use. +2. The amendment shall not be mentioned in the Register if the +amended regulations do not satisfy the requirements of Article 67 +or involve one of the grounds for refusal referred to in +Article 68. +3. Article 69 shall apply to amended regulations governing use. +4. For the purposes of applying this Regulation, amendments +to the regulations governing use shall take effect only from the +date of entry of the mention of the amendment in the Register. +Article 72 +Persons who are entitled to bring an action for +infringement +1. The provisions of Article 22(3) and (4) concerning the rights +of licensees shall apply to every person who has authority to use +a Community collective mark. +2. The proprietor of a Community collective mark shall be +entitled to claim compensation on behalf of persons who have +authority to use the mark where they have sustained damage in +consequence of unauthorised use of the mark. +Article 73 +Grounds for revocation +Apart from the grounds for revocation provided for in Article 51, +the rights of the proprietor of a Community collective mark shall +be revoked on application to the Office or on the basis of a +counterclaim in infringement proceedings, if: +(a) + +the proprietor does not take reasonable steps to prevent the +mark being used in a manner incompatible with the +conditions of use, where these exist, laid down in the +regulations governing use, amendments to which have, +where appropriate, been mentioned in the Register; + +(b) + +the manner in which the mark has been used by the +proprietor has caused it to become liable to mislead the +public in the manner referred to in Article 68(2); + +(c) + +an amendment to the regulations governing use of the +mark has been mentioned in the Register in breach of the +provisions of Article 71(2), unless the proprietor of the +mark, by further amending the regulations governing use, +complies with the requirements of those provisions. + +3. An application shall not be refused if the applicant, as a +result of amendment of the regulations governing use, meets the +requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2. + +Article 69 +Observations by third parties +Apart from the cases mentioned in Article 40, any person, group +or body referred to in that Article may submit to the Office +written observations based on the particular grounds on which +the application for a Community collective mark should be +refused under the terms of Article 68. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +L 78/19 + +Article 74 + +Article 78 + +Grounds for invalidity + +Taking of evidence + +Apart from the grounds for invalidity provided for in Articles 52 +and 53, a Community collective mark which is registered in +breach of the provisions of Article 68 shall be declared invalid on +application to the Office or on the basis of a counterclaim in +infringement proceedings, unless the proprietor of the mark, by +amending the regulations governing use, complies with the +requirements of those provisions. + +1. In any proceedings before the Office, the means of giving or +obtaining evidence shall include the following: +(a) + +hearing the parties; + +(b) + +requests for information; + +(c) + +the production of documents and items of evidence; + +(d) + +hearing witnesses; + +(e) + +opinions by experts; + +(f) + +statements in writing sworn or affirmed or having a similar +effect under the law of the State in which the statement is +drawn up. + +TITLE IX +PROCEDURE + +SECTION 1 + +General provisions + +Article 75 +Statement of reasons on which decisions are based + +2. The relevant department may commission one of its +members to examine the evidence adduced. + +Decisions of the Office shall state the reasons on which they are +based. They shall be based only on reasons or evidence on which +the parties concerned have had on opportunity to present their +comments. + +3. If the Office considers it necessary for a party, witness or +expert to give evidence orally, it shall issue a summons to the +person concerned to appear before it. + +Article 76 + +4. The parties shall be informed of the hearing of a witness or +expert before the Office. They shall have the right to be present +and to put questions to the witness or expert. + +Examination of the facts by the Office of its own motion +1. In proceedings before it the Office shall examine the facts of +its own motion; however, in proceedings relating to relative +grounds for refusal of registration, the Office shall be restricted in +this examination to the facts, evidence and arguments provided +by the parties and the relief sought. +2. The Office may disregard facts or evidence which are not +submitted in due time by the parties concerned. + +Article 79 +Notification +The Office shall, as a matter of course, notify those concerned of +decisions and summonses and of any notice or other communication from which a time limit is reckoned, or of which those +concerned must be notified under other provisions of this +Regulation or of the Implementing Regulation, or of which +notification has been ordered by the President of the Office. + +Article 77 +Oral proceedings + +Article 80 + +1. If the Office considers that oral proceedings would be +expedient they shall be held either at the instance of the Office or +at the request of any party to the proceedings. + +Revocation of decisions + +2. Oral proceedings before the examiners, the Opposition +Division and the Administration of Trade Marks and Legal +Division shall not be public. +3. Oral proceedings, including delivery of the decision, shall be +public before the Cancellation Division and the Boards of +Appeal, in so far as the department before which the proceedings +are taking place does not decide otherwise in cases where +admission of the public could have serious and unjustified +disadvantages, in particular for a party to the proceedings. + +1. Where the Office has made an entry in the Register or taken +a decision which contains an obvious procedural error +attributable to the Office, it shall ensure that the entry is +cancelled or the decision is revoked. Where there is only one +party to the proceedings and the entry or the act affects its rights, +cancellation or revocation shall be determined even if the error +was not evident to the party. +2. Cancellation or revocation as referred to in paragraph 1 shall +be determined, ex officio or at the request of one of the parties to +the proceedings, by the department which made the entry or +took the decision. Cancellation or revocation shall be determined + +L 78/20 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +within six months from the date on which the entry was made in +the Register or the decision was taken, after consultation with the +parties to the proceedings and any proprietor of rights to the +Community trade mark in question that are entered in the +Register. +3. This Article shall be without prejudice to the right of the +parties to submit an appeal under Articles 58 and 65, or to the +possibility, under the procedures and conditions laid down by +the Implementing Regulation, of correcting any linguistic errors +or errors of transcription and obvious errors in the Office's +decisions or errors attributable to the Office in registering the +trade mark or in publishing its registration. + +Article 81 +Restitutio in integrum +1. The applicant for or proprietor of a Community trade mark +or any other party to proceedings before the Office who, in spite +of all due care required by the circumstances having been taken, +was unable to comply with a time limit vis-à-vis the Office shall, +upon application, have his rights re-established if the obstacle to +compliance has the direct consequence, by virtue of the +provisions of this Regulation, of causing the loss of any right +or means of redress. +2. The application must be filed in writing within two months +from the removal of the obstacle to compliance with the time +limit. The omitted act must be completed within this period. The +application shall only be admissible within the year immediately +following the expiry of the unobserved time limit. In the case of +non-submission of the request for renewal of registration or of +non-payment of a renewal fee, the further period of six months +provided in Article 47(3), third sentence, shall be deducted from +the period of one year. +3. The application must state the grounds on which it is based +and must set out the facts on which it relies. It shall not be +deemed to be filed until the fee for re-establishment of rights has +been paid. +4. The department competent to decide on the omitted act +shall decide upon the application. +5. This Article shall not be applicable to the time limits referred +to in paragraph 2 of this Article, Article 41(1) and (3) and +Article 82. +6. Where the applicant for or proprietor of a Community trade +mark has his rights re-established, he may not invoke his rights +vis-à-vis a third party who, in good faith, has put goods on the +market or supplied services under a sign which is identical with, +or similar to, the Community trade mark in the course of the +period between the loss of rights in the application or in the +Community trade mark and publication of the mention of reestablishment of those rights. +7. A third party who may avail himself of the provisions of +paragraph 6 may bring third party proceedings against the +decision re-establishing the rights of the applicant for or +proprietor of a Community trade mark within a period of two + +24.3.2009 + +months as from the date of publication of the mention of reestablishment of those rights. +8. Nothing in this Article shall limit the right of a Member +State to grant restitutio in integrum in respect of time limits +provided for in this Regulation and to be observed vis-à-vis the +authorities of such State. +Article 82 +Continuation of proceedings +1. An applicant for or proprietor of a Community trade mark +or any other party to proceedings before the Office who has +omitted to observe a time limit vis-à-vis the Office may, upon +request, obtain the continuation of proceedings, provided that at +the time the request is made the omitted act has been carried out. +The request for continuation of proceedings shall be admissible +only if it is presented within two months following the expiry of +the unobserved time limit. The request shall not be deemed to +have been filed until the fee for continuation of the proceedings +has been paid. +2. This Article shall not be applicable to the time limits laid +down in Article 25(3), Article 27, Article 29(1), Article 33(1), +Article 36(2), Article 41, Article 42, Article 47(3), Article 60, +Article 62, Article 65(5), Article 81, Article 112, or to the time +limits laid down in this Article or the time limits laid down by +the Implementing Regulation for claiming, after the application +has been filed, priority within the meaning of Article 30, +exhibition priority within the meaning of Article 33 or seniority +within the meaning of Article 34. +3. The department competent to decide on the omitted act +shall decide upon the application. +4. If the Office accepts the application, the consequences of +having failed to observe the time limit shall be deemed not to +have occurred. +5. If the Office rejects the application, the fee shall be refunded. +Article 83 +Reference to general principles +In the absence of procedural provisions in this Regulation, the +Implementing Regulation, the fees regulations or the rules of +procedure of the Boards of Appeal, the Office shall take into +account the principles of procedural law generally recognised in +the Member States. +Article 84 +Termination of financial obligations +1. Rights of the Office to the payment of a fee shall be +extinguished after four years from the end of the calendar year in +which the fee fell due. +2. Rights against the Office for the refunding of fees or sums of +money paid in excess of a fee shall be extinguished after four +years from the end of the calendar year in which the right arose. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +3. The period laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be +interrupted, in the case covered by paragraph 1, by a request for +payment of the fee, and in the case covered by paragraph 2, by a +reasoned claim in writing. On interruption it shall begin again +immediately and shall end at the latest six years after the end of +the year in which it originally began, unless, in the meantime, +judicial proceedings to enforce the right have begun; in this case +the period shall end at the earliest one year after the judgment +has acquired the authority of a final decision. + +SECTION 2 + +Costs + +Article 85 +Costs +1. The losing party in opposition proceedings, proceedings for +revocation, proceedings for a declaration of invalidity or appeal +proceedings shall bear the fees incurred by the other party as +well as all costs, without prejudice to Article 119(6), incurred by +him essential to the proceedings, including travel and subsistence +and the remuneration of an agent, adviser or advocate, within the +limits of the scales set for each category of costs under the +conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulation. + +L 78/21 +Article 86 + +Enforcement of decisions fixing the amount of costs +1. Any final decision of the Office fixing the amount of costs +shall be enforceable. +2. Enforcement shall be governed by the rules of civil +procedure in force in the State in the territory of which it is +carried out. The order for its enforcement shall be appended to +the decision, without other formality than verification of the +authenticity of the decision, by the national authority which the +Government of each Member State shall designate for this +purpose and shall make known to the Office and to the Court of +Justice. +3. When these formalities have been completed on application +by the party concerned, the latter may proceed to enforcement in +accordance with the national law, by bringing the matter directly +before the competent authority. +4. Enforcement may be suspended only by a decision of the +Court of Justice. However, the courts of the country concerned +shall have jurisdiction over complaints that enforcement is being +carried out in an irregular manner. + +SECTION 3 + +2. However, where each party succeeds on some and fails on +other heads, or if reasons of equity so dictate, the Opposition +Division, Cancellation Division or Board of Appeal shall decide a +different apportionment of costs. + +Information which may be made available to the public and of +the authorities of the Member States + +3. The party who terminates the proceedings by withdrawing +the Community trade mark application, the opposition, the +application for revocation of rights, the application for a +declaration of invalidity or the appeal, or by not renewing +registration of the Community trade mark or by surrendering the +Community trade mark, shall bear the fees and the costs incurred +by the other party as stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2. + +Register of Community trade marks + +4. Where a case does not proceed to judgment the costs shall +be at the discretion of the Opposition Division, Cancellation +Division or Board of Appeal. +5. Where the parties conclude before the Opposition Division, +Cancellation Division or Board of Appeal a settlement of costs +differing from that provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the +department concerned shall take note of that agreement. +6. The Opposition Division or Cancellation Division or Board +of Appeal shall fix the amount of the costs to be paid pursuant to +the preceding paragraphs when the costs to be paid are limited to +the fees paid to the Office and the representation costs. In all +other cases, the registry of the Board of Appeal or a member of +the staff of the Opposition Division or Cancellation Division +shall fix the amount of the costs to be reimbursed on request. +The request is admissible only within two months of the date on +which the decision for which an application was made for the +costs to be fixed became final. The amount so determined may +be reviewed by a decision of the Opposition Division or +Cancellation Division or Board of Appeal on a request filed +within the prescribed period. + +Article 87 + +The Office shall keep a register to be known as the Register of +Community trade marks, which shall contain those particulars +the registration or inclusion of which is provided for by this +Regulation or by the Implementing Regulation. The Register shall +be open to public inspection. +Article 88 +Inspection of files +1. The files relating to Community trade mark applications +which have not yet been published shall not be made available +for inspection without the consent of the applicant. +2. Any person who can prove that the applicant for a +Community trade mark has stated that after the trade mark +has been registered he will invoke the rights under it against him +may obtain inspection of the files prior to the publication of that +application and without the consent of the applicant. +3. Subsequent to the publication of the Community trade mark +application, the files relating to such application and the resulting +trade mark may be inspected on request. +4. However, where the files are inspected pursuant to +paragraphs 2 or 3, certain documents in the file may be +withheld from inspection in accordance with the provisions of +the Implementing Regulation. + +L 78/22 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 89 +Periodical publications + +The Office shall periodically publish: +(a) + +(b) + +a Community Trade Marks Bulletin containing entries made +in the Register of Community trade marks as well as other +particulars the publication of which is prescribed by this +Regulation or by the Implementing Regulation; + +Office by an employee. An employee of a legal person to which +this paragraph applies may also represent other legal persons +which have economic connections with the first legal person, +even if those other legal persons have neither their domicile nor +their principal place of business nor a real and effective industrial +or commercial establishment within the Community. +4. The Implementing Regulation shall specify whether and +under what conditions an employee must file with the Office a +signed authorisation for insertion on the file. + +an Official Journal containing notices and information of a +general character issued by the President of the Office, as +well as any other information relevant to this Regulation or +its implementation. +Article 90 + +24.3.2009 + +Article 93 +Professional representatives +1. Representation of natural or legal persons before the Office +may only be undertaken by: + +Administrative cooperation +Unless otherwise provided in this Regulation or in national laws, +the Office and the courts or authorities of the Member States +shall on request give assistance to each other by communicating +information or opening files for inspection. Where the Office +lays files open to inspection by courts, Public Prosecutors' Offices +or central industrial property offices, the inspection shall not be +subject to the restrictions laid down in Article 88. + +(a) + +any legal practitioner qualified in one of the Member States +and having his place of business within the Community, to +the extent that he is entitled, within the said State, to act as +a representative in trade mark matters; + +(b) + +professional representatives whose names appear on the list +maintained for this purpose by the Office. The Implementing Regulation shall specify whether and under what +conditions the representatives before the Office must file +with the Office a signed authorisation for insertion on the +file. + +Article 91 +Exchange of publications +1. The Office and the central industrial property offices of the +Member States shall despatch to each other on request and for +their own use one or more copies of their respective publications +free of charge. +2. The Office may conclude agreements relating to the +exchange or supply of publications. + +Representatives acting before the Office must file with it a signed +authorisation for insertion on the files, the details of which are +set out in the Implementing Regulation. +2. Any natural person who fulfils the following conditions may +be entered on the list of professional representatives: +(a) + +he must be a national of one of the Member States; + +(b) + +he must have his place of business or employment in the +Community; + +(c) + +he must be entitled to represent natural or legal persons in +trade mark matters before the central industrial property +office of a Member State. Where, in that State, the +entitlement is not conditional upon the requirement of +special professional qualifications, persons applying to be +entered on the list who act in trade mark matters before the +central industrial property office of the said State must have +habitually so acted for at least five years. However, persons +whose professional qualification to represent natural or +legal persons in trade mark matters before the central +industrial property office of one of the Member States is +officially recognised in accordance with the regulations laid +down by such State shall not be subject to the condition of +having exercised the profession. + +SECTION 4 + +Representation +Article 92 +General principles of representation +1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, no person shall be +compelled to be represented before the Office. +2. Without prejudice to paragraph 3, second sentence, natural +or legal persons not having either their domicile or their +principal place of business or a real and effective industrial or +commercial establishment in the Community must be represented before the Office in accordance with Article 93(1) in all +proceedings established by this Regulation, other than in filing +an application for a Community trade mark; the Implementing +Regulation may permit other exceptions. +3. Natural or legal persons having their domicile or principal +place of business or a real and effective industrial or commercial +establishment in the Community may be represented before the + +3. Entry shall be effected upon request, accompanied by a +certificate furnished by the central industrial property office of +the Member State concerned, which must indicate that the +conditions laid down in paragraph 2 are fulfilled. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +4. The President of the Office may grant exemption from: +(a) + +(b) + +the requirement of paragraph 2(c), second sentence, if the +applicant furnishes proof that he has acquired the requisite +qualification in another way; +the requirement of paragraph 2(a) in special circumstances. + +5. The conditions under which a person may be removed from +the list of professional representatives shall be laid down in the +Implementing Regulation. + +L 78/23 + +first and second instance, hereinafter referred to as ‘Community +trade mark courts’, which shall perform the functions assigned to +them by this Regulation. +2. Each Member State shall communicate to the Commission +within three years of the entry into force of Regulation (EC) +No 40/94 a list of Community trade mark courts indicating their +names and their territorial jurisdiction. +3. Any change made after communication of the list referred to +in paragraph 2 in the number, names or territorial jurisdiction of +the courts shall be notified without delay by the Member State +concerned to the Commission. + +TITLE X +JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE IN LEGAL ACTIONS +RELATING TO COMMUNITY TRADE MARKS + +SECTION 1 + +Application of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 +Article 94 +Application of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 +1. Unless otherwise specified in this Regulation, Regulation +(EC) No 44/2001 shall apply to proceedings relating to +Community trade marks and applications for Community trade +marks, as well as to proceedings relating to simultaneous and +successive actions on the basis of Community trade marks and +national trade marks. +2. In the case of proceedings in respect of the actions and +claims referred to in Article 96: + +4. The information referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall be +notified by the Commission to the Member States and published +in the Official Journal of the European Union. +5. As long as a Member State has not communicated the list as +stipulated in paragraph 2, jurisdiction for any proceedings +resulting from an action or application covered by Article 96, +and for which the courts of that State have jurisdiction under +Article 97, shall lie with that court of the State in question which +would have jurisdiction ratione loci and ratione materiae in the case +of proceedings relating to a national trade mark registered in that +State. + +Article 96 +Jurisdiction over infringement and validity +The Community trade mark courts shall have exclusive +jurisdiction: + +Articles 23 and 24 of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 shall +apply subject to the limitations in Article 97(4) of this +Regulation; + +(c) + +the provisions of Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 +which are applicable to persons domiciled in a Member +State shall also be applicable to persons who do not have a +domicile in any Member State but have an establishment +therein. + +(b) + +for actions for declaration of non-infringement, if they are +permitted under national law; +for all actions brought as a result of acts referred to in +Article 9(3), second sentence; + +(d) + +for counterclaims for revocation or for a declaration of +invalidity of the Community trade mark pursuant to +Article 100. + +Articles 2 and 4, points 1, 3, 4 and 5 of Article 5 and +Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 shall not apply; + +(b) + +for all infringement actions and — if they are permitted +under national law — actions in respect of threatened +infringement relating to Community trade marks; + +(c) + +(a) + +(a) + +SECTION 2 + +Disputes concerning the infringement and validity of +Community trade marks +Article 95 +Community trade mark courts +1. The Member States shall designate in their territories as +limited a number as possible of national courts and tribunals of + +Article 97 +International jurisdiction +1. Subject to the provisions of this Regulation as well as to any +provisions of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 applicable by virtue +of Article 94, proceedings in respect of the actions and claims +referred to in Article 96 shall be brought in the courts of the +Member State in which the defendant is domiciled or, if he is not +domiciled in any of the Member States, in which he has an +establishment. + +L 78/24 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +24.3.2009 + +2. If the defendant is neither domiciled nor has an establishment in any of the Member States, such proceedings shall be +brought in the courts of the Member State in which the plaintiff +is domiciled or, if he is not domiciled in any of the Member +States, in which he has an establishment. + +admissible in so far as the defendant claims that the rights of the +proprietor of the Community trade mark could be revoked for +lack of use or that the Community trade mark could be declared +invalid on account of an earlier right of the defendant. + +3. If neither the defendant nor the plaintiff is so domiciled or +has such an establishment, such proceedings shall be brought in +the courts of the Member State where the Office has its seat. + +Article 100 + +4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3: +(a) + +(b) + +Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 shall apply if the +parties agree that a different Community trade mark court +shall have jurisdiction; +Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 shall apply if the +defendant enters an appearance before a different Community trade mark court. + +5. Proceedings in respect of the actions and claims referred to +in Article 96, with the exception of actions for a declaration of +non-infringement of a Community trade mark, may also be +brought in the courts of the Member State in which the act of +infringement has been committed or threatened, or in which an +act within the meaning of Article 9(3), second sentence, has been +committed. + +Article 98 +Extent of jurisdiction +1. A Community trade mark court whose jurisdiction is based +on Article 97(1) to (4) shall have jurisdiction in respect of: +(a) + +acts of infringement committed or threatened within the +territory of any of the Member States; + +(b) + +acts within the meaning of Article 9(3), second sentence, +committed within the territory of any of the Member States. + +2. A Community trade mark court whose jurisdiction is based +on Article 97(5) shall have jurisdiction only in respect of acts +committed or threatened within the territory of the Member +State in which that court is situated. + +Article 99 +Presumption of validity — Defence as to the merits + +Counterclaims +1. A counterclaim for revocation or for a declaration of +invalidity may only be based on the grounds for revocation or +invalidity mentioned in this Regulation. +2. A Community trade mark court shall reject a counterclaim +for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity if a decision taken +by the Office relating to the same subject matter and cause of +action and involving the same parties has already become final. +3. If the counterclaim is brought in a legal action to which the +proprietor of the trade mark is not already a party, he shall be +informed thereof and may be joined as a party to the action in +accordance with the conditions set out in national law. +4. The Community trade mark court with which a counterclaim for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity of the +Community trade mark has been filed shall inform the Office of +the date on which the counterclaim was filed. The latter shall +record this fact in the Register of Community trade marks. +5. Article 57(2) to (5) shall apply. +6. Where a Community trade mark court has given a judgment +which has become final on a counterclaim for revocation or for +invalidity of a Community trade mark, a copy of the judgment +shall be sent to the Office. Any party may request information +about such transmission. The Office shall mention the judgment +in the Register of Community trade marks in accordance with +the provisions of the Implementing Regulation. +7. The Community trade mark court hearing a counterclaim +for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity may stay the +proceedings on application by the proprietor of the Community +trade mark and after hearing the other parties and may request +the defendant to submit an application for revocation or for a +declaration of invalidity to the Office within a time limit which it +shall determine. If the application is not made within the time +limit, the proceedings shall continue; the counterclaim shall be +deemed withdrawn. Article 104(3) shall apply. + +1. The Community trade mark courts shall treat the Community trade mark as valid unless its validity is put in issue by the +defendant with a counterclaim for revocation or for a declaration +of invalidity. + +Applicable law + +2. The validity of a Community trade mark may not be put in +issue in an action for a declaration of non-infringement. + +1. The Community trade mark courts shall apply the +provisions of this Regulation. + +3. In the actions referred to in Article 96(a) and (c) a plea +relating to revocation or invalidity of the Community trade mark +submitted otherwise than by way of a counterclaim shall be + +2. On all matters not covered by this Regulation a Community +trade mark court shall apply its national law, including its private +international law. + +Article 101 + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +3. Unless otherwise provided in this Regulation, a Community +trade mark court shall apply the rules of procedure governing the +same type of action relating to a national trade mark in the +Member State in which the court is located. + +Article 102 +Sanctions +1. Where a Community trade mark court finds that the +defendant has infringed or threatened to infringe a Community +trade mark, it shall, unless there are special reasons for not doing +so, issue an order prohibiting the defendant from proceeding +with the acts which infringed or would infringe the Community +trade mark. It shall also take such measures in accordance with +its national law as are aimed at ensuring that this prohibition is +complied with. +2. In all other respects the Community trade mark court shall +apply the law of the Member State in which the acts of +infringement or threatened infringement were committed, +including the private international law. + +Article 103 +Provisional and protective measures +1. Application may be made to the courts of a Member State, +including Community trade mark courts, for such provisional, +including protective, measures in respect of a Community trade +mark or Community trade mark application as may be available +under the law of that State in respect of a national trade mark, +even if, under this Regulation, a Community trade mark court of +another Member State has jurisdiction as to the substance of the +matter. +2. A Community trade mark court whose jurisdiction is based +on Article 97(1), (2), (3) or (4) shall have jurisdiction to grant +provisional and protective measures which, subject to any +necessary procedure for recognition and enforcement pursuant +to Title III of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001, are applicable in the +territory of any Member State. No other court shall have such +jurisdiction. + +Article 104 +Specific rules on related actions +1. A Community trade mark court hearing an action referred +to in Article 96, other than an action for a declaration of noninfringement shall, unless there are special grounds for +continuing the hearing, of its own motion after hearing the +parties or at the request of one of the parties and after hearing +the other parties, stay the proceedings where the validity of the +Community trade mark is already in issue before another +Community trade mark court on account of a counterclaim or +where an application for revocation or for a declaration of +invalidity has already been filed at the Office. +2. The Office, when hearing an application for revocation or +for a declaration of invalidity shall, unless there are special +grounds for continuing the hearing, of its own motion after + +L 78/25 + +hearing the parties or at the request of one of the parties and +after hearing the other parties, stay the proceedings where the +validity of the Community trade mark is already in issue on +account of a counterclaim before a Community trade mark +court. However, if one of the parties to the proceedings before +the Community trade mark court so requests, the court may, +after hearing the other parties to these proceedings, stay the +proceedings. The Office shall in this instance continue the +proceedings pending before it. +3. Where the Community trade mark court stays the +proceedings it may order provisional and protective measures +for the duration of the stay. + +Article 105 +Jurisdiction of Community trade mark courts of second +instance — Further appeal +1. An appeal to the Community trade mark courts of second +instance shall lie from judgments of the Community trade mark +courts of first instance in respect of proceedings arising from the +actions and claims referred to in Article 96. +2. The conditions under which an appeal may be lodged with a +Community trade mark court of second instance shall be +determined by the national law of the Member State in which +that court is located. +3. The national rules concerning further appeal shall be +applicable in respect of judgments of Community trade mark +courts of second instance. + +SECTION 3 + +Other disputes concerning Community trade marks + +Article 106 +Supplementary provisions on the jurisdiction of national +courts other than Community trade mark courts +1. Within the Member State whose courts have jurisdiction +under Article 94(1) those courts shall have jurisdiction for +actions other than those referred to in Article 96, which would +have jurisdiction ratione loci and ratione materiae in the case of +actions relating to a national trade mark registered in that State. +2. Actions relating to a Community trade mark, other than +those referred to in Article 96, for which no court has +jurisdiction under Article 94(1) and paragraph 1 of this Article +may be heard before the courts of the Member State in which the +Office has its seat. + +Article 107 +Obligation of the national court +A national court which is dealing with an action relating to a +Community trade mark, other than the action referred to in +Article 96, shall treat the trade mark as valid. + +L 78/26 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +24.3.2009 + +SECTION 4 + +SECTION 2 + +Transitional provision + +Application of national laws for the purpose of prohibiting the +use of Community trade marks + +Article 108 +Transitional provision relating to the application of the +Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement +The provisions of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 which are +rendered applicable by the preceding Articles shall have effect in +respect of any Member State solely in the text of the Regulation +which is in force in respect of that State at any given time. + +TITLE XI +EFFECTS ON THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES + +SECTION 1 + +Civil actions on the basis of more than one trade mark + +Article 109 +Simultaneous and successive civil actions on the basis of +Community trade marks and national trade marks +1. Where actions for infringement involving the same cause of +action and between the same parties are brought in the courts of +different Member States, one seized on the basis of a Community +trade mark and the other seized on the basis of a national trade +mark: +(a) + +(b) + +the court other than the court first seized shall of its own +motion decline jurisdiction in favour of that court where +the trade marks concerned are identical and valid for +identical goods or services. The court which would be +required to decline jurisdiction may stay its proceedings if +the jurisdiction of the other court is contested; +the court other than the court first seized may stay its +proceedings where the trade marks concerned are identical +and valid for similar goods or services and where the trade +marks concerned are similar and valid for identical or +similar goods or services. + +2. The court hearing an action for infringement on the basis of +a Community trade mark shall reject the action if a final +judgment on the merits has been given on the same cause of +action and between the same parties on the basis of an identical +national trade mark valid for identical goods or services. +3. The court hearing an action for infringement on the basis of +a national trade mark shall reject the action if a final judgment on +the merits has been given on the same cause of action and +between the same parties on the basis of an identical Community +trade mark valid for identical goods or services. +4. Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply in respect of +provisional, including protective, measures. + +Article 110 +Prohibition of use of Community trade marks +1. 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 53(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 54(2). +2. This Regulation shall, unless otherwise provided for, not +affect the right to bring proceedings under the civil, administrative or criminal law of a Member Sate or under provisions of +Community law for the purpose of prohibiting the use of a +Community trade mark to the extent that the use of a national +trade mark may be prohibited under the law of that Member +State or under Community law. + +Article 111 +Prior rights applicable to particular localities +1. The proprietor of an earlier right which only applies to a +particular locality may oppose the use of the Community trade +mark in the territory where his right is protected in so far as the +law of the Member State concerned so permits. +2. Paragraph 1 shall cease to apply if the proprietor of the +earlier right has acquiesced in the use of the Community trade +mark in the territory where his right is protected for a period of +five successive years, being aware of such use, unless the +Community trade mark was applied for in bad faith. +3. The proprietor of the Community trade mark shall not be +entitled to oppose use of the right referred to in paragraph 1 +even though that right may no longer be invoked against the +Community trade mark. + +SECTION 3 + +Conversion into a national trade mark application + +Article 112 +Request for the application of national procedure +1. The applicant for or proprietor of a Community trade mark +may request the conversion of his Community trade mark +application or Community trade mark into a national trade mark +application: + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +(a) + +to the extent that the Community trade mark application is +refused, withdrawn, or deemed to be withdrawn; + +(b) + +to the extent that the Community trade mark ceases to have +effect. + +2. Conversion shall not take place: +(a) + +(b) + +where the rights of the proprietor of the Community trade +mark have been revoked on the grounds of non-use, unless +in the Member State for which conversion is requested the +Community trade mark has been put to use which would +be considered to be genuine use under the laws of that +Member State; +for the purpose of protection in a Member State in which, +in accordance with the decision of the Office or of the +national court, grounds for refusal of registration or +grounds for revocation or invalidity apply to the Community trade mark application or Community trade mark. + +3. The national trade mark application resulting from the +conversion of a Community trade mark application or a +Community trade mark shall enjoy in respect of the Member +State concerned the date of filing or the date of priority of that +application or trade mark and, where appropriate, the seniority +of a trade mark of that State claimed under Articles 34 or 35. +4. In cases where a Community trade mark application is +deemed to be withdrawn, the Office shall send to the applicant a +communication fixing a period of three months from the date of +that communication in which a request for conversion may be +filed. + +L 78/27 + +2. If the Community trade mark application has been +published, receipt of any such request shall be recorded in the +Register of Community trade marks and the request for +conversion shall be published. +3. The Office shall check whether the conversion requested +fulfils the conditions set out in this Regulation, in particular +Article 112(1), (2), (4), (5) and (6), and paragraph 1 of this +Article, together with the formal conditions laid down in the +Implementing Regulation. If these conditions are fulfilled, the +Office shall transmit the request for conversion to the industrial +property offices of the Member States specified therein. + +Article 114 +Formal requirements for conversion +1. Any central industrial property office to which the request +for conversion is transmitted may obtain from the Office any +additional information concerning the request enabling that +office to make a decision regarding the national trade mark +resulting from the conversion. +2. A Community trade mark application or a Community trade +mark transmitted in accordance with Article 113 shall not be +subjected to formal requirements of national law which are +different from or additional to those provided for in this +Regulation or in the Implementing Regulation. +3. Any central industrial property office to which the request is +transmitted may require that the applicant shall, within not less +than two months: +(a) + +5. Where the Community trade mark application is withdrawn +or the Community trade mark ceases to have effect as a result of +a surrender being recorded or of failure to renew the registration, +the request for conversion shall be filed within three months +after the date on which the Community trade mark application +has been withdrawn or on which the Community trade mark +ceases to have effect. +6. Where the Community trade mark application is refused by +decision of the Office or where the Community trade mark +ceases to have effect as a result of a decision of the Office or of a +Community trade mark court, the request for conversion shall be +filed within three months after the date on which that decision +acquired the authority of a final decision. +7. The effect referred to in Article 32 shall lapse if the request is +not filed in due time. + +pay the national application fee; + +(b) + +file a translation in one of the official languages of the State +in question of the request and of the documents +accompanying it; + +(c) + +indicate an address for service in the State in question; + +(d) + +supply a representation of the trade mark in the number of +copies specified by the State in question. + +TITLE XII +THE OFFICE + +SECTION 1 + +Article 113 + +General provisions + +Submission, publication and transmission of the request for +conversion +1. A request for conversion shall be filed with the Office and +shall specify the Member States in which application of the +procedure for registration of a national trade mark is desired. The +request shall not be deemed to be filed until the conversion fee +has been paid. + +Article 115 +Legal status +1. The Office shall be a body of the Community. It shall have +legal personality. + +L 78/28 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +24.3.2009 + +2. In each of the Member States the Office shall enjoy the most +extensive legal capacity accorded to legal persons under their +laws; it may, in particular, acquire or dispose of movable and +immovable property and may be a party to legal proceedings. + +3. The applicant must indicate a second language which shall +be a language of the Office the use of which he accepts as a +possible language of proceedings for opposition, revocation or +invalidity proceedings. + +3. The Office shall be represented by its President. + +If the application was filed in a language which is not one of the +languages of the Office, the Office shall arrange to have the +application, as described in Article 26(1), translated into the +language indicated by the applicant. + +Article 116 +Staff +1. The Staff Regulations of officials of the European Communities, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Staff Regulations’, the +Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European +Communities, and the rules adopted by agreement between the +Institutions of the European Communities for giving effect to +those Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment shall +apply to the staff of the Office, without prejudice to the +application of Article 136 to the members of the Boards of +Appeal. +2. Without prejudice to Article 125, the powers conferred on +each Institution by the Staff Regulations and by the Conditions of +Employment of other servants shall be exercised by the Office in +respect of its staff. +Article 117 +Privileges and immunities +The Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European +Communities shall apply to the Office. +Article 118 +Liability +1. The contractual liability of the Office shall be governed by +the law applicable to the contract in question. +2. The Court of Justice shall be competent to give judgment +pursuant to any arbitration clause contained in a contract +concluded by the Office. +3. In the case of non-contractual liability, the Office shall, in +accordance with the general principles common to the laws of +the Member States, make good any damage caused by its +departments or by its servants in the performance of their duties. +4. The Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction in disputes +relating to compensation for the damage referred to in +paragraph 3. +5. The personal liability of its servants towards the Office shall +be governed by the provisions laid down in their Staff +Regulations or in the Conditions of Employment applicable to +them. +Article 119 +Languages +1. The application for a Community trade mark shall be filed in +one of the official languages of the European Community. +2. The languages of the Office shall be English, French, +German, Italian and Spanish. + +4. Where the applicant for a Community trade mark is the sole +party to proceedings before the Office, the language of +proceedings shall be the language used for filing the application +for a Community trade mark. If the application was made in a +language other than the languages of the Office, the Office may +send written communications to the applicant in the second +language indicated by the applicant in his application. +5. The notice of opposition and an application for revocation +or invalidity shall be filed in one of the languages of the Office. +6. If the language chosen, in accordance with paragraph 5, for +the notice of opposition or the application for revocation or +invalidity is the language of the application for a trade mark or +the second language indicated when the application was filed, +that language shall be the language of the proceedings. +If the language chosen, in accordance with paragraph 5, for the +notice of opposition or the application for revocation or +invalidity is neither the language of the application for a trade +mark nor the second language indicated when the application +was filed, the opposing party or the party seeking revocation or +invalidity shall be required to produce, at his own expense, a +translation of his application either into the language of the +application for a trade mark, provided that it is a language of the +Office, or into the second language indicated when the +application was filed. The translation shall be produced within +the period prescribed in the Implementing Regulation. The +language into which the application has been translated shall +then become the language of the proceedings. +7. Parties to opposition, revocation, invalidity or appeal +proceedings may agree that a different official language of the +European Community is to be the language of the proceedings. +Article 120 +Publication and entries in the Register +1. An application for a Community trade mark, as described in +Article 26(1), and all other information the publication of which +is prescribed by this Regulation or the Implementing Regulation, +shall be published in all the official languages of the European +Community. +2. All entries in the Register of Community trade marks shall +be made in all the official languages of the European Community. +3. In cases of doubt, the text in the language of the Office in +which the application for the Community trade mark was filed +shall be authentic. If the application was filed in an official +language of the European Community other than one of the +languages of the Office, the text in the second language indicated +by the applicant shall be authentic. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 121 + +The translation services required for the functioning of the Office +shall be provided by the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the +European Union. + +L 78/29 + +2. To this end the President shall have in particular the +following functions and powers: + +(a) + +he shall take all necessary steps, including the adoption of +internal administrative instructions and the publication of +notices, to ensure the functioning of the Office; + +(b) + +he may place before the Commission any proposal to +amend this Regulation, the Implementing Regulation, the +rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal, the fees +regulations and any other rules applying to Community +trade marks after consulting the Administrative Board and, +in the case of the fees regulations and the budgetary +provisions of this Regulation, the Budget Committee; + +(c) + +he shall draw up the estimates of the revenue and +expenditure of the Office and shall implement the budget; + +(d) + +he shall submit a management report to the Commission, +the European Parliament and the Administrative Board each +year; + +(e) + +he shall exercise in respect of the staff the powers laid down +in Article 116(2); + +(f) + +he may delegate his powers. + +Article 122 +Control of legality +1. The Commission shall check the legality of those acts of the +President of the Office in respect of which Community law does +not provide for any check on legality by another body and of acts +of the Budget Committee attached to the Office pursuant to +Article 138. +2. It shall require that any unlawful acts as referred to in +paragraph 1 be altered or annulled. +3. Member States and any person directly and individually +concerned may refer to the Commission any act as referred to in +paragraph 1, whether express or implied, for the Commission to +examine the legality of that act. Referral shall be made to the +Commission within one month of the day on which the party +concerned first became aware of the act in question. The +Commission shall take a decision within three months. If no +decision has been taken within this period, the case shall be +deemed to have been dismissed. + +Article 123 +Access to documents +1. Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament +and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to +European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (1) +shall apply to documents held by the Office. + +3. The President shall be assisted by one or more VicePresidents. If the President is absent or indisposed, the VicePresident or one of the Vice-Presidents shall take his place in +accordance with the procedure laid down by the Administrative +Board. + +2. The Administrative Board shall adopt the practical arrangements for Implementing Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 with +regard to this Regulation. + +Article 125 + +3. Decisions taken by the Office pursuant to Article 8 of +Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 may give rise to the lodging of a +complaint to the Ombudsman or form the subject of an action +before the Court of Justice, under the conditions laid down in +Articles 195 and 230 of the Treaty respectively. + +SECTION 2 + +Management of the Office + +Article 124 +Powers of the President + +Appointment of senior officials +1. The President of the Office shall be appointed by the Council +from a list of at most three candidates, which shall be prepared +by the Administrative Board. Power to dismiss the President shall +lie with the Council, acting on a proposal from the +Administrative Board. + +2. The term of office of the President shall not exceed five +years. This term of office shall be renewable. + +3. The Vice-President or Vice-Presidents of the Office shall be +appointed or dismissed as in paragraph 1, after consultation of +the President. + +1. The Office shall be managed by the President. +(1) OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43. + +4. The Council shall exercise disciplinary authority over the +officials referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3. + +L 78/30 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +SECTION 3 + +Administrative Board + +24.3.2009 + +chairman or at the request of the Commission or of one-third of +the Member States. +4. The Administrative Board shall adopt rules of procedure. + +Article 126 +Creation and powers +1. An Administrative Board is hereby set up, attached to the +Office. Without prejudice to the powers attributed to the Budget +Committee in Section 5 — budget and financial control — the +Administrative Board shall have the powers defined below. +2. The Administrative Board shall draw up the lists of +candidates provided for in Article 125. +3. It shall advise the President on matters for which the Office +is responsible. + +5. The Administrative Board shall take its decisions by a simple +majority of the representatives of the Member States. However, a +majority of three-quarters of the representatives of the Member +States shall be required for the decisions which the Administrative Board is empowered to take under Article 125(1) and (3). +In both cases each Member State shall have one vote. +6. The Administrative Board may invite observers to attend its +meetings. +7. The Secretariat for the Administrative Board shall be +provided by the Office. + +4. It shall be consulted before adoption of the guidelines for +examination in the Office and in the other cases provided for in +this Regulation. + +SECTION 4 + +Implementation of procedures + +5. It may deliver opinions and requests for information to the +President and to the Commission where it considers that this is +necessary. +Article 127 +Composition +1. The Administrative Board shall be composed of one +representative of each Member State and one representative of +the Commission and their alternates. +2. The members of the Administrative Board may, subject to +the provisions of its rules of procedure, be assisted by advisers or +experts. +Article 128 +Chairmanship +1. The Administrative Board shall elect a chairman and a +deputy chairman from among its members. The deputy chairman shall ex officio replace the chairman in the event of his being +prevented from attending to his duties. +2. The duration of the terms of office of the chairman and the +deputy chairman shall be three years. The terms of office shall be +renewable. +Article 129 +Meetings +1. Meetings of the Administrative Board shall be convened by +its chairman. +2. The President of the Office shall take part in the +deliberations, unless the Administrative Board decides otherwise. +3. The Administrative Board shall hold an ordinary meeting +once a year; in addition, it shall meet on the initiative of its + +Article 130 +Competence +For taking decisions in connection with the procedures laid +down in this Regulation, the following shall be competent: +(a) + +examiners; + +(b) + +Opposition Divisions; + +(c) + +an Administration of Trade Marks and Legal Division; + +(d) + +Cancellation Divisions; + +(e) + +Boards of Appeal. +Article 131 +Examiners + +An examiner shall be responsible for taking decisions on behalf +of the Office in relation to an application for registration of a +Community trade mark, including the matters referred to in +Articles 36, 37 and 68, except in so far as an Opposition +Division is responsible. +Article 132 +Opposition Divisions +1. An Opposition Division shall be responsible for taking +decisions on an opposition to an application to register a +Community trade mark. +2. The decisions of the Opposition Divisions shall be taken by +three-member groups. At least one member shall be legally +qualified. In certain specific cases provided for in the +Implementing Regulation, the decisions shall be taken by a +single member. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 133 + +Administration of Trade Marks and Legal Division +1. The Administration of Trade Marks and Legal Division shall +be responsible for those decisions required by this Regulation +which do not fall within the competence of an examiner, an +Opposition Division or a Cancellation Division. It shall in +particular be responsible for decisions in respect of entries in the +Register of Community trade marks. +2. It shall also be responsible for keeping the list of professional +representatives which is referred to in Article 93. + +L 78/31 + +4. The composition of the enlarged Board and the rules on +referrals to it shall be laid down pursuant to the rules of +procedure of the Boards referred to in Article 162(3). +5. To determine which specific cases fall under the authority of +a single member, account should be taken of the lack of difficulty +of the legal or factual matters raised, the limited importance of +the individual case or the absence of other specific circumstances. +The decision to confer a case on one member in the cases +referred to shall be adopted by the Board handling the case. +Further details shall be laid down in the rules of procedure of the +Boards referred to in Article 162(3). + +Article 136 + +3. A decision of the Division shall be taken by one member. + +Independence of the members of the Boards of Appeal +Article 134 +Cancellation Divisions +1. A Cancellation Division shall be responsible for taking +decisions in relation to an application for the revocation or +declaration of invalidity of a Community trade mark. +2. The decisions of the Cancellation Divisions shall be taken by +three-member groups. At least one member shall be legally +qualified. In certain specific cases provided for in the +Implementing Regulation, the decisions shall be taken by a +single member. + +1. The President of the Boards of Appeal and the chairmen of +the Boards shall be appointed, in accordance with the procedure +laid down in Article 125 for the appointment of the President of +the Office, for a term of five years. They may not be removed +from office during this term, unless there are serious grounds for +such removal and the Court of Justice, on application by the +institution which appointed them, takes a decision to this effect. +The term of office of the President of the Boards of Appeal and +the chairmen of the Boards may be renewed for additional fiveyear periods, or until retirement age if this age is reached during +the new term of office. +The President of the Boards of Appeal shall, inter alia, have +managerial and organisational powers, principally to: +(a) + +chair the authority of the Boards of Appeal responsible for +laying down the rules and organising the work of the +Boards, which authority is provided for in the rules of +procedure of the Boards referred to in Article 162(3); + +(b) + +ensure the implementation of the authority's decisions; + +(c) + +Article 135 + +allocate cases to a Board on the basis of objective criteria +determined by the authority of the Boards of Appeal; + +(d) + +forward to the President of the Office the Boards' +expenditure requirements, with a view to drawing up the +expenditure estimates. + +Boards of Appeal +1. The Boards of Appeal shall be responsible for deciding on +appeals from decisions of the examiners, Opposition Divisions, +Administration of Trade Marks and Legal Division and +Cancellation Divisions. +2. The decisions of the Boards of Appeal shall be taken by three +members, at least two of whom are legally qualified. In certain +specific cases, decisions shall be taken by an enlarged Board +chaired by the President of the Boards of Appeal or by a single +member, who must be legally qualified. +3. In order to determine the special cases which fall under the +jurisdiction of the enlarged Board, account should be taken of +the legal difficulty or the importance of the case or of special +circumstances which justify it. Such cases may be referred to the +enlarged Board: +(a) + +(b) + +by the authority of the Boards of Appeal set up in +accordance with the rules of procedure of the Boards +referred to in Article 162(3); or +by the Board handling the case. + +The President of the Boards of Appeal shall chair the enlarged +Board. +Further details shall be laid down in the rules of procedure of the +Boards referred to in Article 162(3). +2. The members of the Boards of Appeal shall be appointed by +the Administrative Board for a term of five years. Their term of +office may be renewed for additional five-year periods, or until +retirement age if that age is reached during the new term of +office. + +L 78/32 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +3. The members of the Boards of Appeal may not be removed +from office unless there are serious grounds for such removal +and the Court of Justice, after the case has been referred to it by +the Administrative Board on the recommendation of the +President of the Boards of Appeal, after consulting the chairman +of the Board to which the member concerned belongs, takes a +decision to this effect. + +24.3.2009 +SECTION 5 + +Budget and financial control + +Article 138 +Budget Committee + +4. The President of the Boards of Appeal and the chairmen and +members of the Boards of Appeal shall be independent. In their +decisions they shall not be bound by any instructions. + +5. The President of the Boards of Appeal and the chairmen and +members of the Boards of Appeal may not be examiners or +members of the Opposition Divisions, Administration of Trade +Marks and Legal Division or Cancellation Divisions. + +1. A Budget Committee is hereby set up, attached to the Office. +The Budget Committee shall have the powers assigned to it in +this Section and in Article 38(4). +2. Articles 126(6), 127, 128 and 129(1) to (4), (6) and (7) shall +apply to the Budget Committee mutatis mutandis. +3. The Budget Committee shall take its decisions by a simple +majority of the representatives of the Member States. However, a +majority of three-quarters of the representatives of the Member +States shall be required for the decisions which the Budget +Committee is empowered to take under Articles 38(4), 140(3) +and 143. In both cases each Member State shall have one vote. + +Article 137 +Exclusion and objection + +Article 139 +Budget + +1. Examiners and members of the Divisions set up within the +Office or of the Boards of Appeal may not take part in any +proceedings if they have any personal interest therein, or if they +have previously been involved as representatives of one of the +parties. Two of the three members of an Opposition Division +shall not have taken part in examining the application. Members +of the Cancellation Divisions may not take part in any +proceedings if they have participated in the final decision on +the case in the proceedings for registration or opposition +proceedings. Members of the Boards of Appeal may not take part +in appeal proceedings if they participated in the decision under +appeal. + +2. If, for one of the reasons mentioned in paragraph 1 or for +any other reason, a member of a Division or of a Board of +Appeal considers that he should not take part in any +proceedings, he shall inform the Division or Board accordingly. + +3. Examiners and members of the Divisions or of a Board of +Appeal may be objected to by any party for one of the reasons +mentioned in paragraph 1, or if suspected of partiality. An +objection shall not be admissible if, while being aware of a reason +for objection, the party has taken a procedural step. No objection +may be based upon the nationality of examiners or members. + +1. Estimates of all the Office's revenue and expenditure shall be +prepared for each financial year and shall be shown in the +Office's budget, and each financial year shall correspond with the +calendar year. +2. The revenue and expenditure shown in the budget shall be in +balance. +3. Revenue shall comprise, without prejudice to other types of +income, total fees payable under the fees regulations, total fees +payable under the Madrid Protocol referred to in Article 140 of +this Regulation for an international registration designating the +European Community and other payments made to Contracting +Parties to the Madrid Protocol, total fees payable under the +Geneva Act referred to in Article 106c of Council Regulation +(EC) No 6/2002 of 12 December 2001 on Community +designs (1) for an international registration designating the +European Community and other payments made to Contracting +Parties to the Geneva Act, and, to the extend necessary, a subsidy +entered against a specific heading of the general budget of the +European Communities, Commission section. + +Article 140 +Preparation of the budget + +4. The Divisions and the Boards of Appeal shall decide as to the +action to be taken in the cases specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 +without the participation of the member concerned. For the +purposes of taking this decision the member who withdraws or +has been objected to shall be replaced in the Division or Board of +Appeal by his alternate. + +1. The President shall draw up each year an estimate of the +Office's revenue and expenditure for the following year and shall +send it to the Budget Committee not later than 31 March in each +year, together with a list of posts. +(1) OJ L 3, 5.1.2002, p. 1. + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +2. Should the budget estimates provide for a Community +subsidy, the Budget Committee shall immediately forward the +estimate to the Commission, which shall forward it to the budget +authority of the Communities. The Commission may attach an +opinion on the estimate along with an alternative estimate. +3. The Budget Committee shall adopt the budget, which shall +include the Office's list of posts. Should the budget estimates +contain a subsidy from the general budget of the Communities, +the Office's budget shall, if necessary, be adjusted. + +L 78/33 +Article 144 +Fees regulations + +1. The fees regulations shall determine in particular the +amounts of the fees and the ways in which they are to be paid. +2. The amounts of the fees shall be fixed at such a level as to +ensure that the revenue in respect thereof is in principle sufficient +for the budget of the Office to be balanced. +3. The fees regulations shall be adopted and amended in +accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 163(2). + +Article 141 +Audit and control +TITLE XIII + +1. An internal audit function shall be set up within the Office, +to be performed in compliance with the relevant international +standards. The internal auditor, appointed by the President, shall +be responsible to him for verifying the proper operation of +budget implementation systems and procedures of the Office. + +INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION OF MARKS + +SECTION I + +General provisions +2. The internal auditor shall advise the President on dealing +with risks, by issuing independent opinions on the quality of +management and control systems and by issuing recommendations for improving the conditions of implementation of +operations and promoting sound financial management. +3. The responsibility for putting in place internal control +systems and procedures suitable for carrying out his tasks shall +lie with the authorising officer. + +Article 142 +Auditing of accounts +1. Not later than 31 March in each year the President shall +transmit to the Commission, the European Parliament, the +Budget Committee and the Court of Auditors accounts of the +Office's total revenue and expenditure for the preceding financial +year. The Court of Auditors shall examine them in accordance +with Article 248 of the Treaty. +2. The Budget Committee shall give a discharge to the President +of the Office in respect of the implementation of the budget. + +Article 145 +Application of provisions +Unless otherwise specified in this title, this Regulation and its +Implementing Regulations shall apply to applications for +international registrations under the Protocol relating to the +Madrid Agreement concerning the international registration of +marks, adopted at Madrid on 27 June 1989 (hereafter referred to +as ‘international applications’ and ‘the Madrid Protocol’ respectively), based on an application for a Community trade mark or +on a Community trade mark and to registrations of marks in the +international register maintained by the International Bureau of +the World Intellectual Property Organisation (hereafter referred +to as ‘international registrations’ and ‘the International Bureau’, +respectively) designating the European Community. + +SECTION 2 + +International registration on the basis of applications for a +Community trade mark and of Community trade marks + +Article 146 +Filing of an international application + +Financial provisions + +1. International applications pursuant to Article 3 of the +Madrid Protocol based on an application for a Community trade +mark or on a Community trade mark shall be filed at the Office. + +The Budget Committee shall, after consulting the Court of +Auditors of the European Communities and the Commission, +adopt internal financial provisions specifying, in particular, the +procedure for establishing and implementing the Office's budget. +As far as is compatible with the particular nature of the Office, +the financial provisions shall be based on the financial +regulations adopted for other bodies set up by the Community. + +2. Where an international application is filed before the mark +on which the international registration is to be based has been +registered as a Community trade mark, the applicant for the +international registration must indicate whether the international +registration is to be based on a Community trade mark +application or registration. Where the international registration +is to be based on a Community trade mark once it is registered, + +Article 143 + +L 78/34 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +the international application shall be deemed to have been +received at the Office on the date of registration of the +Community trade mark. + +Article 147 +Form and contents of the international application +1. The international application shall be filed in one of the +official languages of the European Community, using a form +provided by the Office. Unless otherwise specified by the +applicant on that form when he files the international +application, the Office shall correspond with the applicant in +the language of filing in a standard form. + +2. If the international application is filed in a language which is +not one of the languages allowed under the Madrid Protocol, the +applicant must indicate a second language from among those +languages. This shall be the language in which the Office submits +the international application to the International Bureau. + +3. Where the international application is filed in a language +other than one of the languages allowed under the Madrid +Protocol for the filing of international applications, the applicant +may provide a translation of the list of goods or services in the +language in which the international application is to be +submitted to the International Bureau pursuant to paragraph 2. + +4. The Office shall forward the international application to the +International Bureau as soon as possible. + +5. The filing of an international application shall be subject to +the payment of a fee to the Office. In the cases referred to in the +second sentence of Article 146(2), the fee shall be due on the +date of registration of the Community trade mark. The +application shall be deemed not to have been filed until the +required fee has been paid. + +6. The international application must fulfil the relevant +conditions laid down in the Implementing Regulation. + +Article 148 + +24.3.2009 +Article 149 + +Request for territorial extension subsequent to the +international registration +A request for territorial extension made subsequent to +international registration pursuant to Article 3ter(2) of +Madrid Protocol may be filed through the intermediary of +Office. The request must be filed in the language in which +international application was filed pursuant to Article 147. + +the +the +the +the + +Article 150 +International fees +Any fees payable to the International Bureau under the Madrid +Protocol shall be paid direct to the International Bureau. + +SECTION 3 + +International registrations designating the European +Community + +Article 151 +Effects of international registrations designating the +European Community +1. An international registration designating the European +Community shall, from the date of its registration pursuant to +Article 3(4) of the Madrid Protocol or from the date of the +subsequent designation of the European Community pursuant to +Article 3ter(2) of the Madrid Protocol, have the same effect as an +application for a Community trade mark. +2. If no refusal has been notified in accordance with Article 5(1) and (2) of the Madrid Protocol or if any such refusal has +been withdrawn, the international registration of a mark +designating the European Community shall, from the date +referred to in paragraph 1, have the same effect as the +registration of a mark as a Community trade mark. +3. For the purposes of applying Article 9(3), publication of the +particulars of the international registration designating the +European Community pursuant to Article 152(1) shall take the +place of publication of a Community trade mark application, and +publication pursuant to Article 152(2) shall take the place of +publication of the registration of a Community trade mark. + +Recordal in the files and in the Register +1. The date and number of an international registration based +on a Community trade mark application, shall be recorded in the +files of that application. When the application results in a +Community trade mark, the date and number of the +international registration shall be entered in the Register. + +2. The date and number of an international registration based +on a Community trade mark shall be entered in the Register. + +Article 152 +Publication +1. The Office shall publish the date of registration of a mark +designating the European Community pursuant to Article 3(4) of +the Madrid Protocol or the date of the subsequent designation of +the European Community pursuant to Article 3ter(2) of the +Madrid Protocol, the language of filing of the international +application and the second language indicated by the applicant, + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +the number of the international registration and the date of +publication of such registration in the Gazette published by the +International Bureau, a reproduction of the mark and the +numbers of the classes of the goods or services in respect of +which protection is claimed. +2. If no refusal of protection of an international registration +designating the European Community has been notified in +accordance with Article 5(1) and (2) of the Madrid Protocol or if +any such refusal has been withdrawn, the Office shall publish this +fact, together with the number of the international registration +and, where applicable, the date of publication of such registration +in the Gazette published by the International Bureau. + +L 78/35 +Article 155 +Search + +1. Once the Office has received a notification of an +international registration designating the European Community, +it shall draw up a Community search report as provided for in +Article 38(1). +2. As soon as the Office has received a notification of an +international registration designating the European Community, +the Office shall transmit a copy thereof to the central industrial +property office of each Member State which has informed the +Office of its decision to operate a search in its own register of +trade marks as provided for in Article 38(2). + +Article 153 +Seniority + +3. Article 38(3) to (6) shall apply mutatis mutandis. + +1. The applicant for an international registration designating +the European Community may claim, in the international +application, the seniority of an earlier trade mark registered in +a Member State, including a trade mark registered in the Benelux +countries, or registered under international arrangements having +effect in a Member State, as provided for in Article 34. + +4. The Office shall inform the proprietors of any earlier +Community trade marks or Community trade mark applications +cited in the Community search report of the publication of the +international registration designating the European Community +as provided for in Article 152(1). + +2. The holder of an international registration designating the +European Community may, as from the date of publication of +the effects of such registration pursuant to Article 152(2), claim +at the Office the seniority of an earlier trade mark registered in a +Member State, including a trade mark registered in the Benelux +countries, or registered under international arrangements having +effect in a Member State, as provided for in Article 35. The Office +shall notify the International Bureau accordingly. + +Article 156 + +Article 154 +Examination as to absolute grounds for refusal +1. International registrations designating the European Community shall be subject to examination as to absolute grounds for +refusal in the same way as applications for Community trade +marks. +2. Protection of an international registration shall not be +refused before the holder of the international registration has +been allowed the opportunity to renounce or limit the protection +in respect of the European Community or of submitting his +observations. +3. Refusal of protection shall take the place of refusal of a +Community trade mark application. +4. Where protection of an international registration is refused +by a decision under this Article which has become final or where +the holder of the international registration has renounced the +protection in respect of the European Community pursuant to +paragraph 2, the Office shall refund the holder of the +international registration a part of the individual fee to be laid +down in the Implementing Regulation. + +Opposition +1. International registration designating the European Community shall be subject to opposition in the same way as +published Community trade mark applications. +2. Notice of opposition shall be filed within a period of three +months which shall begin six months following the date of the +publication pursuant to Article 152(1). The opposition shall not +be treated as duly entered until the opposition fee has been paid. +3. Refusal of protection shall take the place of refusal of a +Community trade mark application. +4. Where protection of an international registration is refused +by a decision under this Article which has become final or where +the holder of the international registration has renounced the +protection in respect of the European Community prior to a +decision under this Article which has become final, the Office +shall refund the holder of the international registration a part of +the individual fee to be laid down in the Implementing +Regulation. + +Article 157 +Replacement of a Community trade mark by an +international registration +The Office shall, upon request, enter a notice in the Register that +a Community trade mark is deemed to have been replaced by an +international registration in accordance with Article 4bis of the +Madrid Protocol. + +L 78/36 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN +Article 158 + +Invalidation of the effects of an international registration + +24.3.2009 + +registration designating the European Community must be put +to genuine use in the Community. +Article 161 + +1. The effects of an international registration designating the +European Community may be declared invalid. + +Transformation + +2. The application for invalidation of the effects of an +international registration designating the European Community +shall take the place of an application for a declaration of +revocation as provided for in Article 51 or for a declaration of +invalidity as provided for in Article 52 or Article 53. + +1. Subject to paragraph 2, the provisions applicable to +Community trade mark applications shall apply mutatis mutandis +to applications for transformation of an international registration +into a Community trade mark application pursuant to +Article 9quinquies of the Madrid Protocol. + +Article 159 + +2. When the application for transformation relates to an +international registration designating the European Community +the particulars of which have been published pursuant to +Article 152(2), Articles 37 to 42 shall not apply. + +Conversion of a designation of the European Community +through an international registration into a national trade +mark application or into a designation of Member States + +TITLE XIV + +1. Where a designation of the European Community through +an international registration has been refused or ceases to have +effect, the holder of the international registration may request the +conversion of the designation of the European Community: + +FINAL PROVISIONS + +Article 162 +(a) + +into a national trade mark application pursuant to +Articles 112, 113 and 114; + +(b) + +into a designation of a Member State party to the Madrid +Protocol or the Madrid Agreement concerning the +international registration of marks, adopted at Madrid on +14 April 1891, as revised and amended (hereafter referred +to as the ‘Madrid Agreement’), provided that on the date +when conversion was requested it was possible to have +designated that Member State directly under the Madrid +Protocol or the Madrid Agreement. Articles 112, 113 and +114 shall apply. + +Community implementing provisions +1. The rules implementing this Regulation shall be adopted in +an Implementing Regulation. +2. In addition to the fees provided for in the preceding Articles, +fees shall be charged, in accordance with the detailed rules of +application laid down in the Implementing Regulation, in the +cases listed below: +late payment of the registration fee; + +(b) + +issue of a copy of the certificate of registration; + +(c) + +registration of a licence or another right in respect of a +Community trade mark; + +(d) + +registration of a licence or another right in respect of an +application for a Community trade mark; + +(e) + +cancellation of the registration of a licence or another right; + +(f) + +alteration of a registered Community trade mark; + +(g) + +issue of an extract from the Register; + +(h) + +2. The national trade mark application or the designation of a +Member State party to the Madrid Protocol or the Madrid +Agreement resulting from the conversion of the designation of +the European Community through an international registration +shall enjoy, in respect of the Member State concerned, the date of +the international registration pursuant to Article 3(4) of the +Madrid Protocol or the date of the extension to the European +Community pursuant to Article 3ter(2) of the Madrid Protocol if +the latter was made subsequently to the international registration, or the date of priority of that registration and, where +appropriate, the seniority of a trade mark of that State claimed +under Article 153. + +(a) + +inspection of the files; + +(i) + +issue of copies of file documents; + +(j) + +issue of certified copies of the application; + +(k) + +communication of information in a file; + +(l) + +review of the determination of the procedural costs to be +refunded. + +3. The request for conversion shall be published. + +Article 160 +Use of a mark subject of an international registration +For the purposes of applying Article 15(1), Article 42(2), +Article 51(1)(a) and Article 57(2), the date of publication +pursuant to Article 152(2) shall take the place of the date of +registration for the purpose of establishing the date as from +which the mark which is the subject of an international + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +3. The Implementing Regulation and the rules of procedure of +the Boards of Appeal shall be adopted and amended in +accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 163(2). +Article 163 +Establishment of a committee and procedure for the +adoption of implementing regulations +1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee referred to +as the ‘Committee on Fees, Implementation Rules and the +Procedure of the Boards of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (trade marks and designs)’. +2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 +of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. +The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC +shall be set at three months. +Article 164 +Compatibility with other Community legal provisions +This Regulation shall not affect Council Regulation (EC) No 510/ +2006, and in particular Article 14 thereof. +Article 165 + +L 78/37 + +within the meaning of Article 8 was acquired in a new Member +State prior to accession, provided that it was acquired in good +faith and that the filing date or, where applicable, the priority +date or the date of acquisition in the new Member State of the +earlier trade mark or other earlier right precedes the filing date +or, where applicable, the priority date of the Community trade +mark applied for. +4. A Community trade mark as referred to in paragraph 1 may +not be declared invalid: +(a) + +pursuant to Article 52 if the grounds for invalidity became +applicable merely because of the accession of a new +Member State; + +(b) + +pursuant to Article 53(1) and (2) if the earlier national right +was registered, applied for or acquired in a new Member +State prior to the date of accession. + +5. The use of a Community trade mark as referred to in +paragraph 1 may be prohibited pursuant to Articles 110 and +111, if the earlier trade mark or other earlier right was registered, +applied for or acquired in good faith in the new Member State +prior to the date of accession of that State; or, where applicable, +has a priority date prior to the date of accession of that State. +Article 166 + +Provisions relating to the enlargement of the Community +1. As from the date of accession of Bulgaria, the Czech +Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, +Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia (hereinafter referred to +as ‘new Member State(s)’), a Community trade mark registered or +applied for pursuant to this Regulation before the respective +dates of accession shall be extended to the territory of those +Member States in order to have equal effect throughout the +Community. +2. The registration of a Community trade mark which is under +application at the date of accession may not be refused on the +basis of any of the absolute grounds for refusal listed in Article 7(1), if these grounds became applicable merely because of +the accession of a new Member State. +3. Where an application for the registration of a Community +trade mark has been filed during the six months prior to the date +of accession, notice of opposition may be given pursuant to +Article 41 where an earlier trade mark or another earlier right + +Repeal +Regulation (EC) No 40/94, as amended by the instruments set +out in Annex I, is repealed. +References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as +references to this Regulation and shall be read in accordance with +the correlation table in Annex II. +Article 167 +Entry into force +1. This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day +following its publication in the Official Journal of the European +Union. +2. The Member States shall within three years following entry +into force of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 take the necessary +measures for the purpose of implementing Articles 95 and 114. + +This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. +Done at Brussels, 26 February 2009. +For the Council +The President +I. LANGER + +L 78/38 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +ANNEX I +Repealed Regulation with list of its successive amendments +(referred to in Article 166) + +Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 +(OJ L 11, 14.1.1994, p. 1) +Council Regulation (EC) No 3288/94 +(OJ L 349, 31.12.1994, p. 83) +Council Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 +(OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36) + +Only point 48 of Annex III + +Council Regulation (EC) No 1653/2003 +(OJ L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 36) +Council Regulation (EC) No 1992/2003 +(OJ L 296, 14.11.2003, p. 1) +Council Regulation (EC) No 422/2004 +(OJ L 70, 9.3.2004, p. 1) +Council Regulation (EC) No 1891/2006 +(OJ L 386, 29.12.2006, p. 14) +Annex II, Part 4 (C)(I) of the 2003 Act of Accession +(OJ L 236, 23.9.2003, p. 342) +Annex III, Point 1.I of the 2005 Act of Accession +(OJ L 157, 21.6.2005, p. 231) + +Only Article 1 + +24.3.2009 + +24.3.2009 + +Official Journal of the European Union + +EN + +L 78/39 + +ANNEX II +Correlation Table + +Regulation (EC) No 40/94 + +Articles 1 to 14 + +This Regulation + +Articles 1 to 14 + +Article 15(1) + +Article 15(1), first subparagraph + +Article 15(2), introductory words + +Article 15(1), second subparagraph, introductory words + +Article 15(2), point a + +Article 15(1), second subparagraph, point a + +Article 15(2), point b + +Article 15(1), second subparagraph, point b + +Article 15(3) + +Article 15(2) + +Articles 16 to 36 + +Articles 16 to 36 + +Article 37 + +— + +Article 38 + +Article 37 + +Article 39 + +Article 38 + +Article 40 + +Article 39 + +Article 41 + +Article 40 + +Article 42 + +Article 41 + +Article 43 + +Article 42 + +Article 44 + +Article 43 + +Article 44a + +Article 44 + +Articles 45 to 48 + +Articles 45 to 48 + +Article 48a + +Article 49 + +Article 49 + +Article 50 + +Article 50 + +Article 51 + +Article 51 + +Article 52 + +Article 52 + +Article 53 + +Article 53 + +Article 54 + +Article 54 + +Article 55 + +Article 55 + +Article 56 + +Article 56 + +Article 57 + +Article 57 + +Article 58 + 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