Internetportal und Marketing (Industrial policy) [2010] EUECJ C-569/08_O (10 February 2010)

Internetportal und Marketing (Industrial policy) [2010] EUECJ C-569/08_O (10 February 2010)

A registered national trade mark constitutes a 'right' within the meaning of Article 21(1)(a) of Regulation No 874/2004 unless and until it is cancelled by competent authorities, regardless of the registrant's intention to use it. The transcription rules for special characters do not establish a strict hierarchy; elimination is permissible if rewriting is not possible or logical. The lists of legitimate interests and bad faith circumstances in Article 21(2) and (3) are non-exhaustive. Mere intention to use a domain name is insufficient to establish legitimate interest without demonstrable preparation or evidence. Assessment of bad faith and legitimate interest depends on factual...

Citation
[2010] EUECJ C-569/08_O
Parties
Claimant: Internetportal und Marketing GmbH; Defendant: Richard Schlicht
Jurisdiction
European Union
Judgment Date
10 February 2010
Procedural Posture
Reference for a Preliminary Ruling / Opinion of Advocate General
Outcome
Preliminary ruling issued; interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 874/2004 provided to referring court.
Legal Topics
Domain Name Registration, Trade Mark Law, Bad Faith Registration, Legitimate Interest, Speculative and Abusive Registrations, Interpretation of Regulation (ec) No 874/2004
Intellectual Property Law European Union Law Internet Law Domain Name Registration Trade Mark Law Bad Faith Registration Legitimate Interest Speculative and Abusive Registrations +1 more

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Parties

Internetportal und Marketing GmbH

Claimant

Richard Schlicht

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Reference for a Preliminary Ruling / Opinion of Advocate General

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether a trade mark acquired solely to register a domain during the sunrise period constitutes a 'right' under Article 21(1)(a) of Regulation No 874/2004
  2. 2 Whether the transcription of special characters in trade marks to domain names affects the existence of a 'right'
  3. 3 Whether the list of legitimate interests in Article 21(2) is exhaustive

Ratio Decidendi

A registered national trade mark constitutes a 'right' within the meaning of Article 21(1)(a) of Regulation No 874/2004 unless and until it is cancelled by competent authorities, regardless of the registrant's intention to use it. The transcription rules for special characters do not establish a strict hierarchy; elimination is permissible if rewriting is not possible or logical. The lists of legitimate interests and bad faith circumstances in Article 21(2) and (3) are non-exhaustive. Mere intention to use a domain name is insufficient to establish legitimate interest without demonstrable preparation or evidence. Assessment of bad faith and legitimate interest depends on factual...

Court Disposition

Preliminary ruling issued; interpretation of Regulation (EC) No 874/2004 provided to referring court.