Bier en de uitzonderlijke reputatie van de Royal Shakespeare Company

B9 11432. Gerecht EU, 6 juli 2012, zaak T-60/10 Jackson International Trading Co. tegen OHIM / Royal Shakespeare Company.

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."(William Shakespeare, Henry VI).

Merkenrecht.  Nietigheidsactie door de Royal Shakespeare Company tegen het gemeenschapsmerk "ROYAL SHAKESPEARE" (voor bier). “The General Court concludes that OHIM was right to decide that there was a strong likelihood that the use of that mark would take unfair advantage of the repute of the earlier Community trade mark RSC-ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY,” aldus het persbericht van het Gerecht. Let wel: het gaat om de Royal Shakespeare Company, niet om de enkele naam Shakespeare. 

The case concerns above all the reputation of the earlier trade mark for theatre productions, which are, contrary to what Jackson International Trading claims, services aimed at the public at large, and not merely at a limited number of consumers or an elite. The Court emphasises that Jackson International Trading does not contest the Board of Appeal of OHIM’s conclusion that the trade mark RSC-ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY has an ‘exceptional’ reputation in the United Kingdom for ‘theatre productions’. Moreover, it notes that that reputation is sufficient to establish a reputation at EU level.

By using the contested trade mark, Jackson International Trading would benefit from the power of attraction, the reputation and the prestige of the earlier trade mark for its own goods (beer and other beverages) and for its services. In the beverages market, those goods would attract the consumer’s attention thanks to the association with the RSC and its earlier trade mark, which would give Jackson International Trading a commercial advantage over its competitors’ goods.

Lees het arrest hier en het persbericht hier (NL versies nog niet beschikbaar)