Case C‑655/21

Criminal proceedings v G. ST. T.

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Rayonen sad – Nesebar)

Judgment of the Court (Fourth Chamber) of 19 October 2023

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48/EC – Article 13 – Criminal procedure – Scope – Harm suffered by the trade mark proprietor as a constituent element of the offence – Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS) – Article 61 – Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Article 51(1) – Implementation of EU law – Powers – Article 49(1) and (3) – Legality and proportionality of penalties)

1. Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Scope – Criminal procedures and penalties in the event of infringement of intellectual property rights – Not included

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, recital 28 and Arts 2(1), (2) and (3)(b) and (c), and 16)

   (see paragraphs 26-30)

2. Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Scope – Implementation of EU law – National legislation contributing to the fulfilment of obligations under international agreements concluded by the European Union – Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPs) – Obligation to provide for criminal procedures that are capable of resulting in effective, deterrent and proportionate penalties – Included

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 51(1); TRIPs Agreement, Art. 61)

   (see paragraphs 38, 39, 42-44)

3. Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Principle that offences and penalties must be defined by law – Use of a mark in the course of trade without consent – National legislation categorising the same conduct as a criminal offence and an administrative offence – Offence described in similar, or identical, terms, in the criminal law and the law on trade marks – No criteria enabling a distinction to be drawn – Whether permissible

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 49(1))

   (see paragraphs 50, 51, 55-59, operative part 1)

4. Fundamental rights – Charter of Fundamental Rights – Principle that penalties must be proportionate – Use of a mark in the course of trade without consent – National legislation providing, in the event of repeated use or use with significant harmful effects, for a custodial sentence of a minimum of five years – Not permissible

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 49(3); TRIPs Agreement, Art. 61)

   (see paragraphs 65-68, 76-78, 80, 81, 84, 86, operative part 2)

See the text of the decision.