Case C‑559/20
Koch Media GmbH
v
FU
(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Landgericht Saarbrücken)
Judgment of the Court (Tenth Chamber) of 28 April 2022
(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48/EC – Article 14 – Concepts of ‘legal costs’ and ‘other expenses’ – Warning notice to ensure enforcement of intellectual property rights out of court – Lawyers’ fees – Classification – National provision limiting the amount of those costs recoverable under certain conditions)
Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48)
(see paragraphs 33, 35)
Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Other expenses – Concept
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, Art. 14)
(see paragraphs 41-45, operative part 1)
Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Other expenses – Infringement of an intellectual property right committed by a natural person outside of his or her trade or profession – National provision providing for the reimbursement of other expenses calculated on a flat-rate basis of a limited dispute value – Whether permissible – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, recitals 10 and 17 and Arts 3 and 14)
(see paragraphs 49, 51, 55-65, operative part 2)
Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Measures, procedures and remedies – Conditions under which applicable – Acts carried out on a commercial scale – Requirement for a limited scope
(European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, recital 14 and Arts 6, 8, 9 and 14)
(see paragraphs 53, 54)