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Document C2012/399/14
Case C-409/12: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Patent- und Markensenat (Austria) lodged on 6 September 2012 — Backaldrin Österreich The Kornspitz Company GmbH v Pfahnl Backmittel GmbH
Case C-409/12: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Patent- und Markensenat (Austria) lodged on 6 September 2012 — Backaldrin Österreich The Kornspitz Company GmbH v Pfahnl Backmittel GmbH
Case C-409/12: Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Patent- und Markensenat (Austria) lodged on 6 September 2012 — Backaldrin Österreich The Kornspitz Company GmbH v Pfahnl Backmittel GmbH
IO C 399, 22.12.2012, p. 9–9
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
22.12.2012 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 399/9 |
Reference for a preliminary ruling from the Oberster Patent- und Markensenat (Austria) lodged on 6 September 2012 — Backaldrin Österreich The Kornspitz Company GmbH v Pfahnl Backmittel GmbH
(Case C-409/12)
2012/C 399/14
Language of the case: German
Referring court
Oberster Patent- und Markensenat
Parties to the main proceedings
Applicant: Backaldrin Österreich The Kornspitz Company GmbH
Defendant: Pfahnl Backmittel GmbH
Questions referred
1. |
Has a trade mark become ‘the common name. for a product or service’ within the meaning of Article 12(2)(a) of Directive 2008/95/EC, (1) where
|
2. |
Can the conduct of a proprietor be regarded as ‘inactivity’ for the purposes of Article 12(2)(a) of Directive 2008/95/EC simply if the proprietor of the trade mark remains inactive notwithstanding the fact that traders do not inform customers that the name is a registered trade mark? |
3. |
If, as a consequence of acts or inactivity of the proprietor, a trade mark has become a common name for end consumers, but not in the trade, is that trade mark liable to be revoked if, and only if, end consumers have to use this name because there are no equivalent alternatives? |
(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), (OJ 2008 L 299, p. 25).