Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Case C-175/21

Harman International Industries Inc.

v

AB S.A.

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie)

Judgment of the Court (Fifth Chamber) of 17 November 2022

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Articles 34 and 36 TFEU – Free movement of goods – Intellectual property – EU trade mark – Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 15 – Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a trade mark – Placing on the market within the European Economic Area (EEA) – Consent of the proprietor of the trade mark – Place of first marketing of products by the proprietor of the trade mark or with its consent – Proof – Directive 2004/48/EC – Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Effective judicial protection – Operative part of judicial decisions not identifying the products covered – Difficulties in implementation – Restricted scope of action before the competent court for enforcement – Fair trial – Rights of the defence – Principle of the equality of arms)

1. EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a trade mark – Conditions

   (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 15(1))

   (see paragraphs 45-49)
2. EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a trade mark – Rule placing the burden of proof on the third party relying on exhaustion – Whether permissible – Limits

   (Art. 36 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 15(1))

   (see paragraphs 50-52, 72)
3. EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a trade mark – Designation of products placed on the market within the European Economic Area

   (Art. 36 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 15(1))

   (see paragraphs 53-55)
4. Approximation of laws – Enforcement of intellectual property rights – Directive 2004/48 – Scope

   (European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48, Arts 1 to 3)

   (see paragraphs 56, 57)
5. EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Exhaustion of the rights conferred by a trade mark – Identification of products placed on the market within the European Economic Area – Formulation of the operative part of national judicial decisions – Operative part drafted in general terms – Whether permissible – Conditions

   (Art. 36 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 15(1); European Parliament and Council Directive 2004/48)

   (see paragraphs 70, 71 and 73, operative part)

[See the text of the decision.](https://curia.europa.eu/juris/documents.jsf?num=C-175/21)

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