11.6.2011 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 173/4 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Bundespatentgericht (Germany) lodged on 25 February 2011 — Securvita Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung alternativer Versicherungskonzepte mbH v Öko-Invest Verlagsgesellschaft mbH; Other party: Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
(Case C-91/11)
2011/C 173/06
Language of the case: German
Referring court
Bundespatentgericht
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Securvita Gesellschaft zur Entwicklung alternativer Versicherungskonzepte mbH
Defendant: Öko-Invest Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Other party: Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt
Question referred
Is the ground for refusal under Article 3(1)(b) and/or (c) of Directive 2008/95/EG (1) also applicable to a word sign which consists of a letter sequence which is non-descriptive — when considered on its own — and a descriptive word combination, if the trade perceives the letter sequence as an abbreviation of the descriptive words because it reproduces their initial letters, and the trade mark as a whole can thus be construed as a combination of mutually explanatory descriptive indications or abbreviations?
(1) Directive 2008/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (Codified version) (Text with EEA relevance); OJ 2008 L 299, p. 25.