Eleonora Rosati in IPKat ci notizia della decisione finale sulla domanda di marchio COVIDIOT per Class 6: Metal clips. Class 9: Computer gaming software; Mobile apps. Class 28: Board games; Toys.
V. mio post 13.06.2022 sulla decisione di appello di rimettere alla corte allargata.
Si tratta di Grand Board of Appeal 16.05.2024, Matthias Zirnsack applicant: qui la traduzione inglese offerta dall’Ufficio (qui invece la pagina del database)
Il G. Board conferma il rigetto sia per contrarietà ad ordine pubblico che per assenza di distintività.
La decisione è importante per profondità di analisi e sarà un punto di riferimento.
Mi limito ricordare solo che l’apparentemente political expression nel caso de quo è invece una commercial espression, quindi con minor tutela (§ 136 ss.)
Sintesi:
<§ 146 To summarise, it is important that within the interpretation of the conditions of Article 7 EUTMR, the interests of the applicant must be balanced with public interests. An application for trade mark registration does not enjoy a stronger scope of protection under the right of freedom of expression because the word is also part of the political debate. Rather, it is treated merely as a commercial term. Such trade mark applied for must be refused like any other sign, once the conditions of Article 7 EUTMR are met. (…)
Consequently, the trade mark applied for must be refused in accordance with Article 7(1)(f) EUTMR, because when used as a trade mark for the contested goods, such as games and similar products, it would trivialise one of the deadliest pandemics ever, in a way that is contrary to human dignity and hence accepted principles of morality >