Source: http://rychlicki.net/en/issue/trademark-law/famous-trade-marks/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:19:34+00:00

Document:
Nike International Ltd., filed a notice of opposition to the decision of the Polish Patent Office on the grant of the right of protection for the figurative trade mark R-215109 that was registered for Sinda Poland Corporation sp. z o. o. for goods in Class 25 such as shoes. Nike claimed similarity of its signs and the unfair use of reputation.
The Adjudicative Board of the Polish Patent Office in its decision of 26 October 2012 case no. Sp. 484/10 dismissed the opposition. The PPO did not find similarity between the opposed trade marks, and ruled that the disputed signs brings to mind an arrowhead. The decision is not final yet.
Categories: Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Art. 132(2)(iii) IPL | famous trade marks | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | Polish Patent Office | reputed trade marks | similarity of signs | trade mark opposition.
The Supreme Administrative Court in its judgment of 31 May 2011 case file II GSK 522/10 held that the reputation of trade mark is a matter of fact and it is not enough to show that there is evidence that suggests that the sign could be known and recognized as attractive in Poland. It was necessary to examine and assess whether according to the methods developed by the doctrine and jurisprudence, the sign on the date it was applied for in Poland, was known and recognized as a reputed trade mark in this country.
Categories: Art. 8(1) TMA | Directive 89/104/EEC | EU law | famous trade marks | Polish Act on Trade marks | Polish courts | Polish Supreme Administrative Court | reputed trade marks | trade mark invalidation | trademark law.
The Court for the Community Trade Marks and Community Designs (in Polish: Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie Wydział XXII Sąd Wspólnotowych Znaków Towarowych i Wzorów Przemysłowych) in its judgment of 31 May 2010 case file XXII GWzt 5/10 ruled that when deciding whether a trade mark has a repute, the Court examines in detail the evidence offered with respect to the scope and level of commercial, sponsorship and promotional actions of the proprietor, used for building the reputation. The Court pays attention to the type of goods, their volume of sale, popularity among consumers, the size, frequency and regularity of sponsoring of various events attracting a large number of viewers, allowing it to decide that the trade mark meets the requirement of repute and thus should be known to a significant part of the public.
Categories: Art. 296(2)(iii) IPL | Directive 89/104/EEC | EU law | famous trade marks | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | Polish Court for the Community Trade Marks and Community Designs | Polish courts | Polish law | Regulation 40/94 | reputed trade marks | trade mark infringement | trademark law.
The Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw in its judgment of 8 April 2010, case file VI SA/Wa 2013/09, held that the reputation is not a simple consequence of circulation of a trade mark on the market.
The renown trade mark is one that has its own reputation, and so in addition to its recognition it must be distinguished by additional characteristics, i.e. market share (in terms of both quantity and value of traded goods), the extent and continuity of advertising of the product marked with the sign, territorial and temporal scope of trade mark use, licenses granted for the use of the trade mark, the quality of the goods, the value of a trade mark in the assessment of independent financial institutions, the amount of expenditures incurred in connection with the promotion of trade mark, the relationship to the price of substitute goods, whether (and if so, to what extent) the mark was used by third parties.
Categories: Art. 131(1)(ii) IPL | Art. 131(2)(i) IPL | Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Art. 132(2)(iii) IPL | Art. 246 IPL | famous trade marks | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | reputed trade marks | trademark law | Voivodeship Administrative Court.
The Polish Patent Office invalidated the right of protection for 3MA R-171362 trade mark owned by the Polish company MARMA Polskie Folie Sp. z o.o. The proceeding were initiated by the 3M Company, the owner of 3M R-84046 and word-figurative 3M R-84047 trade marks. The American company has claimed the reputation of its signs and argued that the registration of 3MA R-171362 trade mark would bring its owner unfair advantage and it would be detrimental to the distinctive character and the reputation of 3M’s trade marks. The complaint of MARMA Polskie Folie Sp. z o.o. company was rejected by the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw in a judgment of 9 October 2009, case file VI SA/Wa 233/09.
The VAC ruled that in the absence of a legal definition of the reputation it was the legal doctrine and the courts who have defined the essential criteria for determining the reputation of the trade mark. Accordingly, the reputation of the trade mark is associated with the established opinion among customers about the characteristics of the goods bearing the mark. The reputation is not a simple consequence of the use and circulation of a trade mark, but it’s also a well-established and deeply rooted image in the consciousness of buyers of vital goods. The reputation of a trade mark is a result of the care for the high quality of products, the consistent preservation of a sign on the market by long and intensive advertising. An established reputation of a trade mark occurs when the quality of the goods bearing the sign satisfy customers who can easily recognize it and connect with the goods marked by the proprietor, even if it means that the goods are placed on the market for the first time. The reputation of a trade mark means its attractive value of advertising, the positive perceptions of the goods bearing the sign. In assessing whether the sign is reputed, one cannot take into the account only the degree of knowledge of a sign among the customers and the extent and intensity of advertising of goods bearing the sign, but also the quality of these goods. Prizes and certificates awarded for the goods bearing the sign, expert opinions and presentation of the goods at trade fairs in order to promote products also show the reputation of the trade mark. This judgment is not yet final. A cassation complaint may be filed to the Supreme Administrative Court.
See also “Poland: proving the fame of a trade mark“.
Categories: Art. 131(2)(i) IPL | Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | Art. 132(2)(iii) IPL | case law | famous trade marks | Polish Act on Industrial Property Law | reputed trade marks | trademark law | Voivodeship Administrative Court.
Zino Davidoff’s attempted to invalidate the Polish trade mark for COOL WOMAN R-164594 registered in class 3 for goods such as for perfumery products including perfumes, toilet water, lavender water, cologne water and deodorants for personal use and owned by A&S Parfume Factory, a Polish company from Katowice.
The Swiss Company, being the owner of the Polish registered trade mark DAVIDOFF COOL WATER R-71968 and other International and Community trade marks, argued that COOL WATER brand had gained world renown and that the company incurred significant expenses in the brand’s promotion and advertising in Poland in the years 2002-2004. The Company from Fribourg alleged that A&S took the advantage of reputation of Davidoff’s trade marks.
A&S further argued that there was no risk of confusion because the word “cool” has no distinctive character and it appears in many trade marks registered in class 3 for cosmetics. There are 26 marks including the word “cool” that were registered under the Madrid Agreement procedure and 38 marks registered at the national level. The company from Katowice claimed that both elements had a clear meaning for buyers and that both of these English words were well-known to Polish consumers. A&S also argued that it is the Davidoff brand which has reputation – not its Cool Water trade marks.
The PPO in its decision case file Sp. 441/06 rejected the motion brought by Zino Davidoff. According to Polish Patent Office the word “cool” does not possess “the dominant meaning”, because it is included in different previously registered signs. The disputed marks, when assessed in their entirety, are not sufficiently similar to lead to a risk of consumer confusion regarding the origin of the goods. Therefore, the argument based on (the use of) the reputation of Davidoff’s trade marks was also regarded as unfounded.
The decision is not final. Both parties may appeal to the Voivodeship Administrative Court in Warsaw.
Categories: Art. 132(2)(ii) IPL | famous trade marks | Polish Patent Office | reputed trade marks | trade mark invalidation | trademark law.

References: Art. 132
 Art. 132
 Art. 8
 Art. 296
 Art. 131
 Art. 131
 Art. 132
 Art. 132
 Art. 246
 Art. 131
 Art. 132
 Art. 132
 Art. 132