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Case-Law of the Court of Justice of the European Union

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Free movement of goods

Date Case-law Key-words
01/12/2011 C-446/09 and
C-495/09		 Philips, Nokia – Common commercial policy - Combating the entry into the European Union of counterfeit and pirated goods - Regulations (EC) No 3295/94 and No 1383/2003 - Action by the authorities of the Member States - Conditions.
12/02/2009 C-93/08 NOKIA – Regulation (EC) No 1383/2003 - Article 11 - Simplified procedure of abandoning goods for destruction - Prior determination whether an intellectual property right has been infringed - Administrative penalty
15/11/2007 C-319/05 Commission/Federal Republic of Germany – Directive 2001/83/EC - Garlic preparation in capsule form - Preparation classified as a medicinal product in the Member State of importation - Definition of ‘medicinal product' - Public health.
23/10/2003 C-115/02 Administration des douanes et droits indirects/Rioglass – Measures having equivalent effect - Procedures for detention under customs control - Goods in transit intended for the market of a non-member country - Spare parts for motor cars.
16/01/2003 C-14/00 Commission/Italian Republic – Products lawfully manufactured and marketed in the Member State of production under the sales name “chocolate” - Requirement to use the name “chocolate substitute”.
14/12/2000 C-99/99 Italian Republic/Commission - Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) N. 2815/98 - Marketing standards for olive oil
05/12/2000 C-448/98 JP Guimont - Measures having equivalent effect to a quantitive restriction - Manufacture and marketing of Emmental cheese without rind.
06/04/2000 C-383/98 Polo/Lauren - Regulation (EC) N. 3295/94 - Prohibition of the release for free circulation, export, re-export, or entry for a suspensive procedure of counterfeit and pirated goods
13/01/2000 C-220/98 Estée Lauder/Lancaster - Marketing of a cosmetic product whose name includes the term 'lifting' - EEC Treaty, Arts. 30 and 36 - Directive 76/768/EEC
16/07/1998 C-210/96 Gut Springenheide - Regulation (EEC) N. 1907/90 - Marketing standards for eggs - Promotional descriptions or statements liable to mislead the purchaser - Reference consumer
02/02/1994 C-315/92 Clinique - Name of a cosmetic product liable to mislead consumers
24/11/1993 C-267/91
C-268/91
 		 Keck-Mithouard - Prohibition of resale at a loss
22/09/1988 286/86
 		 Ministère public/G. Deserbais - National legislation protecting the trade name for a type of cheese

Geographical indications and designations of origin

Date Case-law Key-words
08/11/2012 T-194/10
FR		 Vinohradnícka oblast’ Tokaj – Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) N. 1234/2007 - Regulation (EC) N.607/2009 - 'E-Bacchus register' - Registration of the Slovak protected designation of origin 'Vinohradnícka oblasť Tokaj'.
14/07/2011 C-4/10 and
C-27/10		 COGNAC L & P HIENOA KONJAKKIA, KAHVI KONJAKKI Cafe Cognac – Regulation (EC) No 110/2008 - Geographical indications of spirit drinks - Temporal application - Trade mark incorporating a geographical indication.
22/12/2010 C-120/08   Bavaria/Genuine Bavarian Beer, Bayrisch Bier, Bayerisches Bier, Reinheitsgebot seit 1516 Bayrisches Bier – Regulations (EEC) No 2081/92 and (EC) No 510/2006 - Temporal application - Article 14.
10/09/2009 C-446/07   “Salame tipo Felino”/”Salame Felino” – Labelling likely to mislead the purchaser as to the origin or provenance of the foodstuff - Generic names within the meaning of Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 - Effect.
08/09/2009 C-478/07   Budweiser Budvar, Budweiser, Bud/American Bud – Protection in a Member State of a geographical indication of provenance of another Member State - Designation ‘Bud’ - Use of the mark ‘American Bud’ - Articles 28 EC and 30 EC.
02/07/2009 C-343/07   Bavaria/Bayrisch Bier, Bayerisches Bier – Assessment of validity - Admissibility - Regulations (EEC) No 2081/92 and (EC) No 1347/2001 - Validity - Coexistence of a trade mark and a protected geographical indication.
12/06/2008 C-23/07
C-24/07
ES-FR-IT		 Tocai friulano, Tocai italico – Regulation (EC) Nos 1493/1999, 753/2002 and 1429/2004 - Common organisation of the market in wine - Labelling of wines - Use of the list of vine varieties and their synonyms.
26/02/2008 C-132/05 Parmigiano Reggiano – Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 - ‘Parmigiano Reggiano' cheese - Use of the name ‘Parmesan' - Obligation on a Member State to proceed on its own initiative against the abuse of a protected designation of origin.
11/09/2007 T-35/06
ES-DE-FR-IT		 Honig aus der Provence/Miel de Provence – Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) No 1854/2005 - Protected geographical indication - Measure of general application - Lack of individual concern - Inadmissibility.
12/03/2007 T-417/04
ES-DE-FR-IT		 Tocai friulano, Tocai italico – Regulation (EC) No 1429/2004 - Common organisation of the market in wine - Set of rules governing the use of the list of vine varieties and their synonyms.
20/10/2005 C-465/02
C-466/02		 Feta - Geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs - The name “feta” -Regulation (EC) N. 1829/2002 - Validity
12/05/2005 C-347/03
 		 Tocai friulano, Tocai italico  – Protection in the Community of a name relating to certain wines originating in Hungary - Quality wines produced in specified regions (“quality wines psr”)
18/11/2003 C-216/01
 		 Budweiser, Budweiser Budvar, Bud/ American Bud - Bilateral convention between a Member State and a non-member country protecting indication of geographical source from that non-member country.
20/05/2003 C-108/01
 		 Prosciutto di Parma - Protected designations of origin - Regulation (EEC) N. 2081/92 - Requirement for ham to be sliced and packaged in the region of production
20/05/2003 C-469/00
 		 Grana Padano - Protected designations of origin - Regulation (EEC) N. 2081/92 - Condition that the cheese is grated and packaged in the region of production
25/06/2002 C-66/00
 		 Parmigiano Reggiano - Regulation (EEC) N. 2081/92 - Protection of geographical indications and designations of origin of agricultural products and foodstuffs
30/01/2002 C-151/01P
ES-DE-FR-IT
 		 Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest - Community protection of geographical indications - Regulation (EC) N. 1338/2000
06/12/2001 C-269/99
 		 Spreewälder Gurken - Agricultural products and foodstuffs - Geographical indications and designations of origin - Simplified registration procedure
30/01/2001 T-215/00
 		 Canard à foie gras du Sud-Ouest - Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) N. 1338/2000 - Registration of a protected geographical indication - Measure of general application
07/11/2000 C-312/98
 		 Warsteiner - Protection of geographical indications and designations of origin - Regulation (EEC) N. 2081/92 - Scope - Directive 79/112/EEC
26/10/2000

C-447/98P
 

 Altenbuger Ziegenkäse - Community protection of designations of origin - Commission Regulation registering the designation "Altenburger Ziegenkäse"
16/05/2000 C-338/95
 		 Belgium/Spain - Quality wines produced in a specified region - Designations of origin - Obligation to bottle in the region of production - Regulation (EEC) N. 823/87
09/11/1999 T-114/99
 		 Pays d'Auge - Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) N. 378/1999 - Registration of a designation of origin - "Pays d'Auge/Pays d'Auge-Cambremer" - Inadmissible
29/04/1999 T-78/98 Tuscan - Action for annulment - Regulation (EC) N. 644/98 - Registration of a geographical indication - "Tuscan" olive oil - Interest in bringing proceedings - Inadmissible
26/03/1999 T-114/96
 		 Jijona/Alicante - Regulation (EC) N. 1107/96 - Registration of geographical indications - "Turrón de Jijona" and "Turrón de Alicante" - Locus Standi - Inadmissible
16/03/1999 C-289/96
C-293/96
C-299/96
 		 FETA - Council Regulation (EEC) N. 2081/92 - Commission Regulation (EC) N. 1107/96 - Registration of geographical indications and designations of origin
04/03/1999 C-87/97
 		 Gorgonzola/Cambozola - EEC Treaty, Arts. 30 and 36 - Reg. (EEC) N. 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural prod. and foodstuffs
15/09/1998 T-109/97
 		 Altenburger Ziegenkäse - Registration by a Commission regulation of a designation for a geographical area considered by the applicants to be too large
09/06/1998 C-129/97
C-130/97 		Epoisses - Regulation (EEC) n. 2081/92 - Exclusive competence of the Commission - Scope of the protection of names comprising several terms
07/05/1997 C-321/94
C-322/94
C-323/94
C-324/94
 Mountain - Regulation (EEC) n. 2081/92 - Domestic legislation on the use of the description "mountain" for agricultural products and foodstuffs
10/11/1992 C-3/91

 Jijona/Alicante - Franco-Spanish Convention on the protection of indications of provenance and designations of origin - Compatibility with the rules on the free movement of goods
09/06/1992 C-47/90

 Rioja - Exportation of wine in bulk - Prohibition - Wine of designated origin - Articles 34 and 36 of the Treaty
25/04/1985 207/83
 Commission/United Kingdom - Measures having equivalent effect - Indications of origin - Quantitative restrictions - Prohibited
20/02/1975 12/74 Sekt, Weinbrand, Prädikatssekt - Indirect appellation of origin - Quantitative restrictions on imports - Definition in relation to unprotected appellations

Designs

Date Case-law Key-words
27/01/2011 C-168/09 “Arco” lamp/”Fluida” lamp – Industrial and commercial property - Directive 98/71/EC - Legal protection of designs - Article 17 - Obligation concerning the cumulation of design protection with copyright protection.
26/09/2000 C-23/99 Commission/French Republic – Free movement of goods - Procedures for detention under customs control - Goods in transit - Industrial property right - Spare parts for the repair of motor vehicles.
11/05/2000 C-38/98 Renault/Maxicar - Brussels Convention - Enforcement of judgments - Intellectual property relating to vehicle body parts
05/10/1988 238/87 Volvo/Erik Veng – Abuse of a dominant position - Refusal by the proprietor for a registered design to grant a licence.
05/10/1988 53/87 Maxicar/Renault – Exercise of design rights for car bodywork components - Compatibility with Articles 30 to 36 and 86 of the Treaty.
14/09/1982 144/81 Keurkoop/Nancy Kean Gifts – Protection of industrial and commercial property - Designs - Free movement of similar products.

Community designs

Date Case-law Key-words
16/02/2012 C-488/10 Road markers – Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 - Article 19(1) - Community designs - Infringement or threatened infringement - Definition of ‘third parties’.
02/07/2009 C-32/08

Cuckoo clocks “Santamaría”/”TIMELESS” – Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 - Community designs - Articles 14 and 88 - Proprietor of the right to the Community design - Unregistered design.