Nematomo žymens registravimo Europos Bendrijos prekių ženklu problematika : kai kurie teoriniai ir praktiniai aspektai

LTŪkio subjektai išimtinėmis teisėmis gali siekti apsaugoti ne tik tradicinius, klasikinius savo prekėms ar paslaugoms žymėti skirtus prekių ženklus (žodžius, etiketes), bet ir prekių ženklus, kuriuose yra nematomas žymuo, suvokiamus kitais nei rega žmogaus jutimais (garsą, kvapą, skonį). Straipsnyje taikant mokslinius teorinius ir empirinius metodus tiriama prekių ženklo, kuriame yra nematomas žymuo, samprata, aptariamos pagrindinės šios kategorijos ženklų teisinio reglamentavimo nuostatos, kai kurių absoliučių reikalavimų prekių ženklui, kuriame yra nematomas žymuo, taikymo ypatumai, grafinio pavaizdavimo reikalavimo taikymo ypatumai kvapo bei skonio prekių ženklams, grafinio pavaizdavimo reikalavimo taikymo ypatumai garsiniams prekių ženklams. Tyrimas atliekamas remiantis Europos Sąjungos teisės aktais, analizuojant prekių ženklo, kuriame yra nematomas žymuo, registravimo Europos Bendrijos prekių ženklu galimybes. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Garsas; Kvapas; Netradicinis prekių ženklas; Skonis; Ženklas, kuriame yra nematomas žymuo; Žymens grafinio pavaizdavimo reikalavimas; Žymuo; Mark consisting of a non-visible sign; Non-traditional trademark; Requirement of graphic representation of a sign, smell, taste, sound; Smell; Sound; Taste; The requirement of graphic representation of a sign.

ENRegistration of sounds, smells and tastes as Community Trademarks, became possible from April 1, 1996. Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trademarks and Designs) (OHIM) began accepting applications for these new forms of marks when EC Regulation 40/94 on the Community Trademark came into force. These new forms of trademarks (sounds, smells and tastes) are known as trademarks consisting of a non-visible sign. One of the requirements, which have to be satisfied by trademarks consisting of a non-visible sign before registration will be granted, is that mark must be capable of graphical representation. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that infringement rights can be determined and third parties can understand from the graphical representation, the nature of the mark. A number of cases, analyzed in the article (Case C-273/00, Ralf Sieckmann v. Deutsches Patent-und Markenamt, Case C-283/01, Shield Mark BV v. Joost Kist h.o.d.n. Memex, etc.) have considered whether the requirement of graphical representation can be satisfied by marks consisting of sounds, tastes and smells. The first decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) relating to trademarks consisting of a non-visible sign was Sieckmann decision (Case C-273/00, Ralf Sieckmann v. Deutsches Patent-und Markenamt), which dealt with the issue of graphic representation, specifically for smells.The ECJ confirmed that a trademark may consist of a sign which is not in itself capable of being perceived visually, provided that it can be represented graphically, particularly by means of images, lines or characters, and that the representation is clear, precise, self-contained, easily accessible, intelligible, durable and objective. In principle ECJ has not ruled out the possibility of a smell being registered as a trademark, the criteria it has set out are likely to be very difficult to satisfy and this is the main reason why non-visual marks have been available to register as a Community Trademark for more than fourteen years, but still prove problematic. [From the publication]