The Manual of Trade Mark Practice on Proof of Use has been modified to align it with the judgment of the Court of Justice in C-149/11 ‘Leno Merken’. The revision only affects Section II.4.1- Use on the “domestic” market and Section II.4.2 - CTMs: use in the European Union. The changes will enter into force immediately after publication.
In view of the above, the Office has decided to amend its Manual on Proof of Use to align it with the statements of the CJ:
• The revised version of the Manual now spells out the principle that the territorial borders of the Member States should be disregarded in the assessment of whether a CTM has been put to ‘genuine use in the Community’.
• Moreover, the previous reference to the Joint Statements by the Council and the Commission has been deleted. According to these Statements, ‘use which is genuine within the meaning of Article 15 in one country constitutes genuine use in the Community’. Such an automatic assumption can no longer stand.
• Finally, the exact territorial extent of the use that is needed in a particular case to meet the genuine use test has to be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account all the relevant facts and circumstances.
Lees hier de gewijzigde versie.
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BHIM wijzigt Manual 'Proof of Use' conform HvJEU-arrest OMEL/ONEL
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