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European Union
Société des produits Nestlé SA v Mars UK Ltd (C-353/03)
Judgment
The question referred
24

Société des produits Nestlé SA v Mars UK Ltd (C-353/03)

Judgment of 7 Jul 2005law://eu/cjeu/2003/c-353-03/para_24@2026-11-10

24However, the provision mentioned in the preceding paragraph is rendered inapplicable if, before the date of application for registration and following the use which has been made of the mark, it has acquired a distinctive character.

Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.

Key facts

Court: Court of Justice · Second Chamber
Case: C-353/03 · ECLI:EU:C:2005:432
Decided: 7 Jul 2005
Procedure: Preliminary reference
Applicant: Société des produits Nestlé SA
Defendant: Mars UK Ltd
Rapporteur: C. Gulmann
Advocate General: J. Kokott
Bench: 5 judges
C.W.A. Timmermans, R. Silva de Lapuerta, C. Gulmann, P. Kūris, G. Arestis
Language: English
Official: CURIA · EUR-Lex 62003CJ0353

Topics

Approximation of laws System of property ownership

History · 1 version

7 Jul 2005Reading

Connections

Interprets 1: First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks
Cited by 23: Kapitan Navi Elżbieta Stramek i Waldemar Karpiński sp.j. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-90/24); Kapitan Navi Elżbieta Stramek i Waldemar Karpiński sp.j. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-89/24); Piaggio & C. SpA v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-19/22); Plusmusic AG v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-344/21); Tinnus Enterprises LLC v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-545/21); Beauty Biosciences LLC v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-750/21); Novartis AG v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-175/22); Devin EAD v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-526/20); The Bazooka Companies, Inc. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-273/21); Lemken GmbH & Co. KG v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-621/21); Olimp Laboratories sp. z o.o. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-9/22); VF International Sagl v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-518/20); VF International Sagl v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-517/20); Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-809/19); Galletas Gullón, SA v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-677/18); Igor Zhadanov v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-404/18); Igor Zhadanov v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-492/18); Crédit Mutuel Arkéa v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-13/18); Agencja Wydawnicza Technopol sp. z o. o. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-117/18, T-118/18, T-119/18, T-120/18, T-121/18)2 provisions; Marriott Worldwide Corp. v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-28/18); adidas AG v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-307/17)2 provisions; Eurolamp AVEE Eisagogis kai Emporias Lamptiron v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-465/18); Eurolamp AVEE Eisagogis kai Emporias Lamptiron v European Union Intellectual Property Office (T-466/18)
Cites 3: First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks; Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV v Remington Consumer Products Ltd (C-299/99); Windsurfing Chiemsee Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH (WSC) v Boots- und Segelzubehör Walter Huber and Franz Attenberger (C-108/97, C-109/97)