John Reddington La Protection des Formes:

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1 John Reddington La Protection des Formes:
La perspective du Royaume Uni John Reddington Staple Inn London WC1V 7QH United Kingdom Tel: Fax: Copyright Williams Powell 2012

2 2. Jugements des tribunaux britanniques 3. Exemples 4. Conclusions
Introduction: les conditions de protection de la forme en tant que marque 1. Le cadre législatif 2. Jugements des tribunaux britanniques 3. Exemples 4. Conclusions

3 Le cadre législatif Règlement instituant
La Marque communautaire (“RMC”) Trade Marks Act 1994 (“TMA 1993”) Art 7(1)(b) -Marques dépourvues de S. 3(1)(b) Art 7(1)(b) - Marques descriptives - S. 3(1)(c) Art 7(1)(e)(i) - La nature même du produit - S. 3(2)(a)  Art 7(1)(e)(ii) - résultat technique - S. 3(2)(b) Art 7(1)(e)(iii) - valeur substantielle - S. 3(2)(c)

4 UKIPO Work Manual Le Work Manual est une synthèse des décisions des cours britanniques et de la jurisprudence de la cour de justice de l’Union Européenne, crée principalement pour informer/conseiller les examinateurs de l’UKIPO. Il a pour but l’application des grands principes au cas par cas.

5 S. 3(1)(B) – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Work Manual : “There is no distinction in law between different types of marks with regard to the test for distinctiveness. This was confirmed by the ECJ in Linde, joined cases C-53/01 to 55/01 … Further, the Court stated that whilst the legal test for distinctiveness is the same for shape marks as for other marks, recognition must be given to the differing perceptions of the average consumer in relation to non-traditional trade marks. In particular, the average consumer may not as readily accept the appearance of the goods themselves as an indication of trade origin. This is because “average consumers are not in the habit of making assumptions about the origin of the products on the basis of their shape or the shape of their packaging in the absence of any graphic or word element”: Linde, joined cases C-53/01 to 55/01

6 S. 3(1)(B) – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Work Manual : Proctor & Gamble v OHIM (C-468/01P à C-472/01P Henkel (C-218/01) “…Only a (shape-of-goods) trade mark which departs significantly from the norms or customs of the sector and thereby fulfils its essential function of indicating origin possesses the distinctive character necessary for registration”. “The more closely the shape for which registration is sought resembles the shape most likely to be taken by the product in question, the greater the likelihood of the shape being devoid of distinctive character.”

7 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Marque Internationale  : décision de L’Appointed Person (15/3/2001) The tablet is of a basic geometric shape and there is nothing fanciful about selecting a round tablet shape for the manufacture of solid detergents. White is a natural colour for cleaning agents and I see nothing unusual in the presence of a single contrasting colour which may, in addition to being decorative, indicate the presence of different ingredients such as laundry whiteners or scents. These features do not make the shape of the tablet recognisable as a trade mark in the sense that a typical consumer of the product would deduce that the tablets emanate from a particular source.

8 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Kabushiki Kaisha Yakult Honsha’s Application (Chancery Division 8 March 2001) “The fact that a particular design is eye-catching because it is unusual or decorative is not enough by itself. At all times the Registry has to ask whether the design is distinctive as a badge of origin”. “The relevant question is not whether the container would be recognised on being seen a second time, that is to say, whether it is of memorable appearance but whether by itself its appearance would convey trade mark significance to the average consumer.” “…I am prepared to accept that the bottle shape….is both new and visually distinctive, meaning that it would be recognised as different to other bottles on the market. That does not mean that it is inherently distinctive in a trade mark sense”.

9 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Dualit Ltd’s Trade Mark Application (1999) RPC 890 “……Does the mark have a meaning denoting the origin of the goods?”

10 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Societe de Produits Nestle SA –v- Unilever plc (18/12/2002)  …in some Member States Trade Mark Registries are accepting unusual shapes without any proof that they have become recognised or served as a trade mark. I regard that as undesirable in principle - it would mean that many new designs could also be registered as a trade mark with a consequential perpetual monopoly. Trade mark registries would in effect be acting as design registries if they accept novel or attractive shapes merely on grounds of novelty or attractiveness. That is not what was intended by the Directive. Jacob J, Nestle –v- Unilever

11 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Societe de Produits Nestle SA –v- Unilever plc (18/12/2002)    “The presumed expectation of a member of the public is that the shape of Viennetta is there to make it attractive to the eye and to indicate its virtue as a delicious ice-cream product. I see no material in the evidence which rebuts that presumed expectation. On thecontrary the way the product has been advertised reinforces that expectation. The advertisements say, and very effectively say, “look   at this attractive and delicious product and buy it for those attributes.” They do not teach the public to regard the appearance on its own as saying “here is a Walls product” or “here is a product from a unique source.” Jacob J, Nestle –v- Unilever

12 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Bongrain SA’s Trade Mark [2004] EWCA Civ 1690 Work Manual : “….the average consumer would not place any trade mark significance on the “fancy” edging of this basically round cheese. This is because the curves appear decorative and designed to give the individual slices of the cheese an attractive rounded end when the cheese is sliced into sections for sale.”

13 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Registry Work Manual It may be easier to show that a shape has the necessary distinctive character where there is evidence that…. Consumers in the relevant sector do in fact rely upon the appearance of the shape of the product or its packaging as a means of identifying the origin of the product. An example of this is the use of vehicle radiator grilles, which are used by manufacturers as means to differentiate their products, in a trade mark sense. This formed the basis for the CFI’s judgment in the DaimlerChrysler “Jeep” grille case (T-128/01) where it was found that the appearance of the grille did have the necessary capacity to distinguish the product of that vehicle manufacturer from those of other economic operators in that trade.

14 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
[If] there is evidence, or it is well known, that shapes are a customary means of distinguishing the source of a particular category of goods, shapes which stand out to a lesser degree may be acceptable as trade marks. Examples of such goods include perfume bottles, such as:

15 S. 3(1)(B) TMA 1994 – Marques dépourvues de caractère distinctif
Par contre : “Le niveau de distinctivité requis est plus élevé lorsqu’il est démontré que le secteur concerné est caracterisé par une offre importante de produits aux formes diverses. En effet, l’existence de formes très differentes utilisées pour la promotion de produits d’un même genre exige un surcroit de distinctivité”. (Arnaud Folliard-Monguiral, Chronique, Fevrier 2003)    Objection typique de l’IPO : “The average consumer would see the mark as a container for the goods and would not give it trade mark significance. They would first have to be educated, that the mark belonged to one single undertaking…manufacturers package perfumery, cosmetics and other class 3 goods in a variety of shapes and it is my view that the shape of the container in question does not stand out from the norm in the perfumery cosmetic trade.

16 Désodorisant classes 3, 5, 11 & 21
– Acceptée (2007) Désodorisant classes 3, 5, 11 & 21

17 Désodorisant domestique, classes 3, 5, 11 & 21
– Acceptée (2007) Désodorisant domestique, classes 3, 5, 11 & 21

18 – Refusée (2010) Sal volatile

19 Refusée (2010) Chewing gum

20 – Acceptée (2007) Boissons alcoolisées

21 Refusée (2010) Whiskey

22 – Demande (2012) Parfum

23 Demande (Décembre 2011) Boissons non-alcoolisées, mais aussi bouteilles metalliques, en verre ou en plastique

24 – Acceptée (2012) Yaourt

25 (Refusée) Boissons alcoolisées

26 M – Refus provisoire (2011) Parfum

27 M Refus provisoire (2102) Parfum

28 10690394 – Marque communautaire acceptée 2012
Parfum

29 Produits de soin de la peau classes 3, 5 & 16
– Marque communautaire acceptée Produits de soin de la peau classes 3, 5 & 16

30 Conclusions 1. Le cadre législatif
1. En principe l’examen des marques tridimensionelles n’est pas plus stricte que celui des marques verbales, 2. Le consommateur ne s’attend pas à ce que la forme du produit ou de son conditionnnement fonctionne come indication d’origine de la même manière qu’une marque verbale; 3. La gamme de nouveauté visuelle 4. Le secteur 5. Indication d’origine ou message descriptif? 6. Le problème de la distinctivité acquise par l’usage 1. Le cadre législatif 2. Jugements des tribunaux britanniques 3. Exemples 4. Conclusions

31 Pour choisir une marque tridimensionelle:
Considérer la forme dans le contexte du produit et du secteur – ne pas choisir une forme qui peut être considérée comme typique Essayer d’ intégrer d'autres éléments de branding dans la marque tridimensionelle 3. Attirer l’attention du consommateur sur le rôle de la forme comme garantie d’origine

32 Merci de votre attention!
La Protection des Formes La perspective du Royaume Uni Merci de votre attention! Staple Inn London WC1V 7QH United Kingdom Tel: Fax: Copyright Williams Powell 2012