Interflora and Others (Intellectual property) [2011] EUECJ C-323/09

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(Reference for a preliminary ruling from the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Chancery Division (United Kingdom))

(Trade marks – Keyword advertising corresponding to the trade mark of a competitor of the advertiser – Trade marks with a reputation – Blurring – Tarnishment – Free-riding – Directive 89/104 – Article 5(2) – Regulation No 40/94 – Article 9(1)(c))

1. This case represents the latest preliminary reference in the chain of cases relating to keyword advertising on an internet search engine.

2. The parties in the national proceedings offer a delivery service of flowers. The applicant companies in the national proceedings (hereinafter jointly referred to as ‘Interflora’) claim that the defendant, Marks & Spencer, (2) is infringing the INTERFLORA trademark, (3) in essence by having bought various strings of signs corresponding to or resembling that trade mark as keywords in the AdWords advertising service offered by Google.

4. The first group of questions concerns the rights conferred to all trade marks. The relevant provisions are set out in Article 5(1) of the First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (4) and the corresponding provision in Article 9(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark. (5) For this group of questions, the replies can be found in the judgments given in 2010 in Google France and Google, (6) followed by BergSpechte, eis.de and Portakabin. (7) These cases related to the ‘use’ by competitors, in internet search engine advertising services, of signs identical to the trademarks owned by the applicants in the cases. (8)

5. The second group of questions is the novelty of this case: these questions concern the protection of trade marks with a reputation. As regards such marks, a more extensive protection may be granted by Member States by virtue of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/109. This extended protection for trade marks with a reputation (9), which is also foreseen in Article 9(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94 for Community trade marks, has been subject to less case-law of the Court than the general protection referred to in the previous point. The new issues here relate to the protection of a trademark with a reputation and the question under which conditions a competitor blurs that mark (dilution by blurring) or takes unfair advantage thereof (free-riding) when that competitor buys a corresponding keyword in an internet advertisement service. (10)

6. In fact, the word ‘Interflora’ has three different functions in this case. First, it is a search term which can be typed into an internet search engine by choice by any internet user. Second, it is a keyword, which advertisers have bought from the advertising service of an internet search engine operator in order to trigger a given advertisement to be displayed. Third, it is a meaningful symbol that has been registered and is being used as a trade mark denoting that certain goods or services come from a single commercial source.

7. It should be mentioned in this context that the Commission has criticised aspects of the Court’s case-law concerning trade mark functions other than the indication of origin function because they find it erroneous and problematic from the point of view of legal certainty. However, it would seem that only the function relating to the indication of origin of goods or services is relevant to the application of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 in this preliminary reference. Neither does the interpretation of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 seem to lead in this case to an unreasonably wide protection of the interests of the trade mark proprietor. Therefore, I do not find it necessary to dwell further on the subject.

8. Having said this it cannot be denied that the Court finds itself at a rather challenging situation as to the acceptability of its case-law relating to Article 5 of Directive 89/104 also in view of the criticism presented by numerous academic commentators and leading national trade mark judges. (11)

9. However, in my opinion these issues partly stem from the problematic drafting of Article 5 of Directive 89/104. Therefore the actual situation might be better remedied by appropriate legislative measures than a reorientation of case-law, as the example of the development of the United States federal legislation on trade mark dilution shows. (12) I observe that the Commission in December 2010 received a study relating to the overall functioning of the trade mark system in Europe, and further steps in this area can hopefully be expected. (13)

13. Article 5 of Directive 89/104, headed ‘Rights conferred by a trade mark’, provides: (15) (16)

(a) any sign which is identical with the trade mark in relation to goods or services which are identical with those for which the trade mark is registered;

(b) any sign where, because of its identity with, or similarity to, the trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by the trade mark and the sign, there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public, which includes the likelihood of association between the sign and the trade mark.

(b) offering the goods, or putting them on the market or stocking them for these purposes under that sign, or offering or supplying services thereunder;

14. The 7th recital in the preamble to Regulation No 40/94 (17) is mutatis mutandis identical with the 10th recital in the preamble to Directive 89/104. Articles 8(5), 9 and 12(1) of Regulation No 40/94 correspond in substance with Articles 4(4), 5 and 6(1) of Directive 89/104.

15. Article 9 (‘Rights conferred by a Community trade mark’) of Regulation No 40/94 reads as follows:

(a) any sign which is identical with the Community trade mark in relation to goods or services which are identical with those for which the Community trade mark is registered;

(b) any sign where, because of its identity with or similarity to the Community trade mark and the identity or similarity of the goods or services covered by the Community trade mark and the sign, there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public; the likelihood of confusion includes the likelihood of association between the sign and the trade mark;

(c) any sign which is identical with or similar to the Community trade mark in relation to goods or services which are not similar to those for which the Community trade mark is registered, where the latter has a reputation in the Community and where use of that sign without due cause takes unfair advantage of, or is detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the Community trade mark.

(b) offering the goods, putting them on the market or stocking them for these purposes under that sign, or offering or supplying services thereunder;

III – The dispute in the main proceedings and the questions referred for a preliminary ruling

16. Google operates an internet search engine. When an internet user performs a search on the basis of one or more words, the search engine will display the sites which appear best to correspond to those words, in decreasing order of relevance. These are referred to as the ‘natural’ results of the search.

17. In addition, Google offers a paid referencing service called ‘AdWords’. That service enables any economic operator, by means of the reservation of one or more keywords, to obtain the placing, in the event of a correspondence between one or more of those words and that/those entered as a request in the search engine by an internet user, of an advertising link to its site. That advertising link appears under the heading ‘sponsored links’, which is displayed either on the right-hand side of the screen, to the right of the natural results, or on the upper part of the screen, above the natural results.

18. That advertising link is accompanied by a short commercial message. Together, that link and that message constitute the advertisement (‘ad’) displayed under the heading ‘sponsored links’.

19. A fee for the referencing service is payable by the advertiser for each click on the advertising link. That fee is calculated on the basis, in particular, of the ‘maximum price per click’ which the advertiser agreed to pay when concluding with Google the contract for the referencing service, and on the basis of the number of times that link is clicked on by internet users.

20. A number of advertisers can reserve the same keyword. The order in which their advertising links are then displayed is determined according to, in particular, the maximum price per click, the number of previous clicks on those links and the quality of the ad as assessed by Google. The advertiser can at any time improve its ranking in the display by fixing a higher maximum price per click or by trying to improve the quality of its ad.

21. Google has set up an automated process for the selection of keywords and the creation of ads. Advertisers select the keywords, draft the commercial message, and input the link to their site.

22. Interflora Inc., a company incorporated in the State of Michigan (United States of America), operates a worldwide flower delivery network. Interflora British Unit is a licensee of Interflora Inc.

23. The Interflora network is made up of independent florists with whom orders may be placed in person or by telephone. However, Interflora also has websites that enable orders to be placed via the internet, orders which are fulfilled by the network member closest to the address to which the flowers are to be delivered. The address of the main website is www.interflora.com. That site redirects to country-specific websites such as www.interflora.co.uk.

24. INTERFLORA is a national trade mark in the United Kingdom and also a Community trade mark. (18) It is common ground that those marks have a substantial reputation in the United Kingdom and in other Member States of the European Union.

25. Marks & Spencer plc, a company governed by English law, is one of the main retailers in the United Kingdom. It retails a wide range of goods and supplies services through its network of shops and via its website www.marksandspencer.com. One of its activities is the sale and delivery of flowers. That commercial activity is in competition with that of Interflora. Marks & Spencer is not part of the Interflora network.

26. In connection with the ‘AdWords’ referencing service, Marks & Spencer reserved the keyword ‘interflora’, as well as variants made up of that keyword with ‘minor errors’, and expressions containing the word interflora (such as ‘interflora flowers’, ‘interflora delivery’, ‘interflora.com’, ‘interflora co uk’), as keywords. (19)

27. Consequently, when internet users entered the word ‘interflora’ or one of those variants or expressions as a search term in the Google search engine a Marks & Spencer ad appeared under the heading ‘sponsored links’.

28. It is common ground that the ad displayed did not contain any expressions referring to Interflora chosen as keyword; neither did the ad display Interflora’s trade mark in any other way.

29. After establishing these facts, Interflora brought an action against Marks & Spencer for infringement of its trade mark rights before the national court, which decided to stay the proceedings and refer a number of questions to the Court for a preliminary ruling.

30. By order of 16 July 2009, the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Chancery Division (the ‘High Court’) referred 10 questions for a preliminary ruling, the first four of which are as follows:

‘(1) Where a trader which is a competitor of the proprietor of a registered trade mark and which sells goods and provides services identical to those covered by the trade mark via its website (i) selects a sign which is identical … with the trade mark as a keyword for a search engine operator’s sponsored link service, (ii) nominates the sign as a keyword, (iii) associates the sign with the URL of its website, (iv) sets the cost per click that it will pay in relation to that keyword, (v) schedules the timing of the display of the sponsored link and (vi) uses the sign in business correspondence relating to the invoicing and payment of fees or the management of its account with the search engine operator, but the sponsored link does not itself include the sign or any similar sign, do any or all of these acts constitute “use” of the sign by the competitor within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of [Directive 89/104] and Article 9(1)(a) of [Regulation No 40/94]?

(2) Is any such use “in relation to” goods and services identical to those for which the trade mark is registered within the meaning of Article 5(l)(a) of [Directive 89/104] and Article 9(1)(a) of [Regulation No 40/94]?

(a) Article 5(1)(a) of [Directive 89/104] and Article 9(1)(a) of [Regulation No 40/94]; and

(b) Article 5(2) of [Directive 89/104] and Article 9(l)(c) of [Regulation No 40/94]?

(a) the presentation of the competitor’s sponsored link in response to a search by a user by means of the sign in question is liable to lead some members of the public to believe that the competitor is a member of the trade mark proprietor’s commercial network contrary to the fact; or

(b) the search engine operator does not permit trade mark proprietors in the relevant Member State … to block the selection of signs identical to their trade marks as keywords by other parties?’

31. Following the judgment in Google France and Google and after receiving, by letter from the Registry of the Court of 23 March 2010, a request for clarification, the High Court, by decision of 29 April 2010 which was received at the Court on 9 June 2010, withdrew the 5th to 10th questions it had referred for a preliminary ruling, thus retaining only the first four questions quoted in the preceding point. The High Court also shortened question 3(b) to the wording retained in the preceding point.

32. Written observations were submitted by Interflora, Marks & Spencer, the Portuguese Republic and the Commission. With the exception of the Portuguese Republic, all these parties attended the hearing on 13 October 2010 and presented oral argument. For the purposes of the hearing, the Court had requested the parties to concentrate their pleadings on question 3(b).

33. For the purposes of the assessment of the two groups of questions outlined in the beginning, I shall first make some general observations in relation to the protection offered by Article 5 of Directive 89/104. I should also point out in limine that the questions will be examined solely in the light of Article 5(1)(a) and (2) of Directive 89/104, but that the interpretation reached at the end of that examination will apply mutatis mutandis to Article 9(1)(a) and (1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94. (20)

34. The protection offered for trade marks under Article 5 of Directive 89/104 concerns use of a sign for the purposes of distinguishing goods or services since paragraph 5 of the provision excludes protection offered by the Member States regarding other uses from its scope of application. As to the scope of the protection provided by the article, its paragraph 1 covers situations where the sign and trade mark in opposition are used in relation to the same or similar goods or services whereas this requirement is absent from paragraph 2.

35. The protection provided in Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 relating to identical signs and goods or services is ‘absolute’ in the sense that the trade mark proprietor does not need to show likelihood of confusion. (21) That, in contrast, is required for protection under Article 5(1)(b) covering situations where the ‘double identity’ between signs and goods or services is missing but the signs, goods or services or both are similar. By situations of double identity I refer to cases in which the rights of a trade mark proprietor are infringed by a third party using an identical sign for identical products. (22)

36. What Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 adds for trade marks with a reputation is the following:

– it creates an option for further protection of certain trade marks, which the Member States may choose to implement or not; the United Kingdom has implemented it, as well as numerous other Member States, if not all; (23)

– the protection it provides goes beyond the protection foreseen in Article 5(1);

37. It should be pointed out here that in a rather apparent contradiction with the wording of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104, the Court has ruled in Davidoff (24) and Adidas-Salomon and AdidasBenelux (25) that Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 establishes specific protection in cases of use by a third party of a later mark or sign which is identical with or similar to the registered mark with a reputation, not only in relation to goods or services which are not similar, but also in relation to goods or services which are identical with or similar to those covered by that mark. (26)

B – Application of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 [questions 1, 2, 3(a) and 4]

38. For questions 1, 2, 3(a) and 4 (in so far as it relates to question 3a) it is necessary to analyse the interpretation of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 in a situation where an advertiser has chosen to use a keyword identical with a trademark, without the consent of the proprietor, in connection with a paid internet referencing service.

39. I recall that in the only judgment involving a search engine operator (Google France and Google) one of the central issues established was that a search engine operator or its paid referencing service are not ‘using’ signs similar to trade marks, thus their activities did not fall under Article 5(1) of Directive 89/104. (27)

40. In my opinion, it follows therefore that the attitude of the referencing service provider as to the possibility of the trade mark proprietor to forbid the use of its trade marks as keywords is irrelevant to the answers to be given to questions 1 to 3(a). The only trade mark law relevant point here is that if the referencing service operator gives such possibility to the trade mark proprietors it may in some cases be inferred that there is silent consent of the trade mark proprietor to the use of his trade marks as keywords. (28)

41. It also follows from the Google France and Google case-law that its is the advertiser who chooses a keyword identical to a trade mark of another and who uses the trade mark in relation, as the case may be, to his own goods or to those of the trade mark proprietor. This is liable to affect the origin function if the ad displayed in the sponsored link does not enable an average internet user, or enables said user only with difficulty, to ascertain whether the goods or services referred to originate from the proprietor of the trade mark or from an undertaking economically connected to it or, on the contrary, originate from a third party. (29)

42. As to the notion of use in relation to goods or services, it seems immaterial whether the resulting ad did display the trade mark or not. (30) For me it is obvious that an adverse effect to the origin function can be excluded if the ad in the sponsored link mentions the trade mark but effectively dissociates the advertiser from it, for example by means of legitimate comparative advertising. However, at the outset an ad displayed in the sponsored link mentioning or reproducing the trade mark that was chosen as the keyword represents ‘using the sign on business papers and in advertising’ that can be forbidden by the trade mark proprietor under Article 5(3)(d) of Directive 89/104, unless Articles 6 or 7 of Directive 89/104 or provisions of the directive on comparative advertising apply. (31)

43. As the standard applied by the Court is liability of use to have an adverse effect on some of the trade mark functions, in this case the origin function, (32) it is necessary to analyse this use in concrete terms. If the trade mark is not mentioned in the ad, the significance of that issue depends in my opinion on the nature of goods and services protected by the trade mark taking into account not only the scope of protection registered for the trade mark but also the meaning and repute the trade mark has acquired through use in the minds of the relevant sector of the public.

44. The Court stated in Google France and Google that ‘in most cases an internet user entering the name of a trade mark as a search term is looking for information or offers on the goods or services covered by that trade mark. Accordingly, when advertising links to sites offering goods or services of competitors of the proprietor of that mark are displayed beside or above the natural results of the search, the internet user may, if he does not immediately disregard those links as being irrelevant and does not confuse them with those of the proprietor of the mark, perceive those advertising links as offering an alternative to the goods or services of the trade mark proprietor.’ (33)

45. In many cases display of commercial alternatives does not seem harmful for the origin function of the trade mark because the appearance of an ad in a sponsored link following the typing of a keyword identical with a trade mark does not create an association or a link between the trade mark and the good or the service promoted by the ad. As the Court has stated, the internet user may perceive the advertising links as offering commercial alternatives to the goods or services of the trade mark proprietor. This applies to identical or similar goods or services. The risk of error is even less likely in the case of different but related goods or services. This is the case, for example, if the trade mark chosen as a keyword relates to air travel and the ad displayed concerns car rental or hotel accommodation. Moreover, one of the blessings of the internet is precisely that it greatly enhances consumers’ possibilities to make enlightened choices between goods and services. (34)

46. However, in the case of a trade mark such as INTERFLORA which identifies a well-known commercial network of independent enterprises providing a special uniform service, i.e. delivery of flowers according to a standard procedure, the display of the name of another enterprise in a sponsored link is in my opinion likely to create the impression that the enterprise mentioned in the ad belongs to the network of undertakings identified by that trade mark. (35)

47. Therefore, in my understanding, in addition to its registered meaning, the trade mark INTERFLORA has gained a ‘secondary meaning’ (36) denoting a certain commercial network of florists providing a certain type of delivery service, and the reputation of that trade mark relates to or is identical with the positive associations this meaning has in the minds of the relevant circles of consumers. (37)

48. Consequently, an association between the trade mark of Interflora and an identical delivery service of flowers provided by Marks & Spencer is possible and even likely in the mind of an average consumer seeking information about such services in the internet when faced with the following ad: (38)

49. In view of this analysis as regards questions 1, 2 and 3(a), I propose that Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 and of Article 9(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94 must be interpreted as meaning that

– A sign identical with a trade mark is used ‘in relation to goods or services’ within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 and of Article 9(1)(a) of Regulation No 40/94 when it has been selected as a keyword in connection with an internet referencing service without the consent of the trade mark proprietor, and the display of ads is organised on the basis of the keyword.

– The proprietor of a trade mark is entitled to prohibit such conduct under the abovementioned circumstances, in the case where that ad does not enable an average internet user, or enables said user only with difficulty, to ascertain whether the goods or services referred to in the ad originate from the proprietor of the trade mark or an undertaking economically connected to it or from a third party.

– An error concerning the origin of goods or services arises when the competitor’s sponsored link is liable to lead some members of the public to believe that the competitor is a member of the trade mark proprietor’s commercial network when it is not. As a result of this the trade mark proprietor has the right to prohibit the use of the keyword in advertising by the competitor in question.

– The attitude of the referencing service provider as to the possibility of the trade mark proprietor to forbid the use of its trade marks as keywords is irrelevant as regards the replies given above.

C – Extended trade mark protection for trade marks with a reputation pursuant to Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 [questions 3(b) and 4]

50. Trade mark dilution (39) relates to the idea that the proper purpose of trade mark law should be to protect the efforts and investments made by the trade mark proprietor and the independent value (good will) of the trade mark. This ‘property-based’ approach to trade marks differs from the ‘deception-based’ idea that trade mark law primarily protects the origin function with a view to preventing consumers and other end users from erring as to the commercial origin of goods and services. (40) The property-based approach also protects the communication, advertising and investment functions of trade marks with a view of creating a brand with a positive image and independent economic value (brand equity or good will). Consequently, the trade mark can be used for various goods and services having nothing in common apart from being under the control of the trade mark proprietor. The origin and quality functions (41) would be protected as factors contributing to the value of the brand.

51. This dilution theory, currently specifically associated with well-known trade marks, extends trade mark protection to goods and services other than those belonging to the registered domain of protection. Historically it has served a function similar to that of the so-called Kodak doctrine that justifies an extensive scope of protection against confusion for well-known trade marks. (42)

52. Both in EU law and in the United States the notion of dilution protection refers especially to two phenomena: protection against blurring and protection against tarnishment. (43) Protection against blurring (or dilution in the strict sense) is given against uses that entail the danger that the trade mark loses its distinctive character and thereby its value. Protection against tarnishment means protection against uses that endanger the reputation of the trade mark.

53. Furthermore in EU trade mark law, unlike in the United States, (44) dilution protection also covers a third phenomenon, namely protection against free-riding or the taking of unjustified advantage of the reputation or distinctiveness of another’s trade mark. The essence of the protection against free-riding is not the protection of the trade mark proprietor against detriment to his trade mark, but rather protection of the trade mark proprietor against the infringer receiving unfair advantage from unauthorised use of the trade mark. (45)

54. As to the terminology, it seems to me that in EU trade mark law dilution in the wide sense comprises blurring, tarnishment (or degradation) and free-riding (or parasitism). Blurring (or whittling away or dilution in the narrow sense) means use that can lead to a process of dilution of the trade mark in the strict sense, i.e. diminishing of the distinctiveness of the trade mark.

55. By its questions 3(b) and 4, the referring court seeks to establish the circumstances under which an advertiser using a sign identical to a competitor’s trade mark with a reputation must be regarded as acting

– as taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or repute of that trade mark. (46)

2. Is Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 applicable if the situation also falls under Article 5(1)(a)?

56. A preliminary issue to question 3(b) is to analyse whether Articles 5(1)(a) and 5(2) of Directive 89/104 can be applied simultaneously or whether only one of them can be applied at a time.

57. Protection against the three forms of dilution is given under Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 to trade marks with a reputation against identical and similar signs used in relation to goods and services that are not identical or similar to those covered by the trade mark. However, as noted above, Davidoff has enlarged the application of the provision also to cases where the identical or similar sign is used in relation to identical or similar goods or services. This extends dilution protection to situations where there exists a relation of direct economic competition between the trade mark proprietor and the user of the identical or similar sign. I recall that there is no disagreement between the parties as to the fact that INTERFLORA has a reputation in the sense of Article 5(2).

58. It follows from recent case-law of the Court concerning Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 that the use of an identical sign falls under that provision provided that it is likely to have an adverse effect on any of the functions of the trade mark, not only the origin function. (47)

59. However, I do not think that the Court has meant that the role of all trade mark functions would be restricted to the application of Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104. In cases of double identity of signs and goods or services all or some of the functions are relevant for the application of Article 5(2). I recall that trade mark functions other than the origin function are protected by Article 5(2) in cases referred to in Article 5(1)(b) if no likelihood of confusion can be established.

60. In the case of double identity it is possible to think that protection against blurring, tarnishment and free-riding would be based on Article 5(1)(a) only, and not involving Article 5(2) at all. This would be the case provided that the use of a sign identical with a trade mark in relation to identical goods or services would be liable to have an adverse effect on any of the functions of the trade mark. Here concerned would be most obviously the quality, communication, advertising or investment functions, but also the identification or distinguishing function in so far as the sign is used to distinguish between goods and services for purposes other than for indicating their origin.

61. Such interpretation would be consistent with the idea expressed in the 10th recital in the preamble to Directive 89/104 according to which the protection provided by Article 5(1)(a) is ‘absolute’. For me it is also obvious that any of the uses covered by Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 are likely to have an adverse effect on at least some of the trade mark functions mentioned above, especially since the widened protection provided by Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 is usually motivated with reference to the communication, advertising and investment functions of trade marks.

62. This reasoning would entail that Article 5(1)(a) would protect against the forms of dilution mentioned in Article 5(2) in cases of double identity between signs and goods or services. Moreover, the distinctiveness and repute would in this case be protected irrespective of whether the trade mark has a reputation or not in the sense of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104, i.e. whether it is well known or not.

63. Nevertheless, such an interpretation would contradict the letter though perhaps not the ratio decidendi of Davidoff. There the Court declared Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 applicable not only in the case of similar goods but also in the case of identical goods, even if the reasoning put forward by the Court would seem to be relevant only with respect of the first mentioned situation. (48)

64. However, I would be reluctant to recommend the Court to answer question 3 along the lines that only Article 5(1)(a) of Directive 89/104 is applicable, especially since the Court already seems to have accepted parallel application of Article 5(1)(a) and (2) of Directive 89/104. (49) Whatever the merits of the role of the trade mark functions in the application of Article 5(1)(a) (50) it seems to me that trade mark dilution as a legal phenomenon should in all cases be analysed on the basis of Article 5(2). This would entail that the notions relating to trade mark dilution are interpreted uniformly despite the differences in the degrees of similarity required to exist between allegedly infringing goods or services and those covered by a trade mark in the situations referred to in Article 5(1)(a), (1)(b) and (2) of Directive 89/104 respectively. Therefore in my opinion all trade mark functions – with the exception of the origin function – can have a role to play in the application of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 even if they have already been applied in determining the applicability of Article 5(1)(a).

65. According to the case-law there has to be a ‘link’ between a trade mark with a reputation and a sign used by the third party in order that the use of the signs falls within the scope of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104. The Court has defined the existence of such a link in the following way: ‘The types of injury referred to in Article 4(4)(a) of the Directive, where they occur, are the consequence of a certain degree of similarity between the earlier and later marks, by virtue of which the relevant section of the public makes a connection between those two marks, that is to say, establishes a link between them even though it does not confuse them … In the absence of such a link in the mind of the public, the use of the later mark is not likely to take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier mark.’ (51)

66. In the present case the trade mark in question INTERFLORA is identical with a keyword bought by Marks & Spencer in Google’s advertising service. Therefore, the question of the existence of the link might seem meaningless. Unfortunately this is not the case: the existence of a link between a trade mark and an identical keyword is far from trivial.

67. A keyword that can be used in the context of an internet referencing service is a string of signs that can correspond and usually does, with a word, a string of words or a sentence of natural language. The keyword as such does not have a meaning in the referencing system as the algorithms of the search engine pick up identical strings of signs regardless of their meanings in any linguistic system. Hence keywords as such are semantically empty; (52) they have specific meanings and references only in the minds of the internet users typing them. The advertisers buying the keywords rely on the existence of such associations in the minds of internet users.

68. For trade mark law this causes various problems when the invisible operation consisting of the selection of a string corresponding to a trade mark belonging to another is considered as use of that trade mark, as it has been decided in Google France and Google.

69. These problems relate to the uniqueness of trade marks. Some trade marks are unique. (53) When there is a well-known trade mark that is arbitrary, coined or fanciful (for example, a fantasy word or a meaningless set of letters and/or numbers), and which belongs to a single source, it can easily be assumed that the internet user typing it as a search term has that trade mark in his mind. The same applies to an undertaking buying that keyword.

70. However, most trade marks are not unique. An identical word mark is often registered by other proprietors in relation to dissimilar goods or services in the same country or abroad. Neither is such requirement inherent in the EU trade law concept of a trade mark with a reputation. (54) There also are trade marks composed of common words or descriptive words that have gained a widespread reputation or a strong secondary meaning as a trade mark in a specific sector. Yet it would be daring to assume that an internet user who chooses ‘apple’ or ‘diesel’ as a search term is always looking for computers or jeans of a certain brand, and not for fruit or fuel. Or that the search term ‘nokia’ would always be used only in searches relating to mobile phones and never in searches relating to a town, a lake, a religious movement and a tyre brand all bearing a similar name.

71. Equally daring would it be to assume at a general level that an enterprise buying signs as keywords in a paid internet referencing service is always targeting this or that trade mark, especially if there are several identical trade marks registered for different proprietors in different jurisdictions. (55)

72. In conclusion, the identity between a keyword and a trade mark can with certainty be assumed as indicating a link between them in the case of truly unique trade marks that are inherently highly distinctive. Similarly an enterprise buying a keyword can be assumed to target an identical trade mark only if the trade mark has those characteristics and the keyword is acquired by a competitor, i.e. an undertaking selling goods or services that compete with those covered by the trade mark. In my opinion these conditions seem to be fulfilled in the rather exceptional case of the INTERFLORA trade mark.

73. In other cases the existence of a link cannot be established without recourse to factors that are external to the ‘invisible’ use of a trade mark consisting of the choice of an identical keyword for the purposes of search engine advertising. These factors should, in my opinion, relate to the marketing information displayed in the ad appearing in the sponsored link. (56)

74. In my opinion the Court has followed this path in its reasoning in Google France and Google. There the Court rejected the proposal of the Advocate General, according to which the selection of keywords should be classified as private use by the advertiser (57) and ruled instead that the advertiser does ‘use’ a trade mark by choosing it as a keyword in a paid referencing service. As I have mentioned earlier, this finding was not dependent on whether the sign was included in the ad displayed in the sponsored link or not.

75. The Court continued in Google France and Google, however, despite the fact that the case did not concern the advertisers but only the internet referencing service provider, that ‘[t]he question whether that function of the trade mark [of indicating the origin of the goods or services] (58) is adversely affected when internet users are shown, on the basis of a keyword identical with a mark, a third party’s ad, such as that of a competitor of the proprietor of that mark, depends in particular on the manner in which that ad is presented’. (59)

76. In my opinion it can be inferred from Google France and Google that despite the keyword selection representing a use of the trade mark in relation to goods or services by the advertiser, the conditions of permissibility of that use must primarily (60) be evaluated on the basis of its visible outcome, which is the ad in the sponsored link of the advertiser displayed to the internet user who has typed the search term. As the Court did not declare that the selection of keywords identical with third party trade marks contravenes as such the exclusive right of the trade mark proprietor to use the trade mark in the advertising of goods or services identical to those covered by the trade mark, it is logical that the effects of the ad in the sponsored link visible to the internet user must be the starting point of the analysis.

77. According to Article 2 of Directive 89/104 a sign that can be registered as a trade mark has to be distinctive, i.e. capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. The extended trade mark protection under Article 5(2) may be provided by the Member States ‘where use of that sign without due cause takes unfair advantage of, or is detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the trade mark’.

78. In order to be distinctive (and thus capable of being a trade mark) a sign should not have any primary meaning at all or have a primary meaning that is not descriptive in the generic sense, i.e. does not refer to the goods or services covered by the trade mark or their origin or qualities but to different things (like APPLE for computers). On the border line are suggestive trade marks that have a primary meaning which is not descriptive of the goods and services concerned but creates an association that is related to (the properties of) the goods or services (like TRÉSOR for quality perfumes). (61)

79. The Court has defined dilution by blurring in the following terms: ‘As regards, in particular, detriment to the distinctive character of the earlier mark, also referred to as “dilution”, “whittling away” or “blurring”, such detriment is caused when that mark’s ability to identify the goods or services for which it is registered and used as coming from the proprietor of that mark is weakened, since use of the later mark leads to dispersion of the identity and hold upon the public mind of the earlier mark. That is notably the case when the earlier mark, which used to arouse immediate association with the goods and services for which it is registered, is no longer capable of doing so.’ (62)

80. Blurring refers thus to the use of a sign identical with or similar to a trade mark with a reputation in a fashion that is likely to weaken its distinctiveness by decreasing its capacity to distinguish goods and services. At the end of the process of blurring (or dilution in the strict sense) the trade mark is no longer capable of creating an association in the minds of consumers of the existence of an economic link between a specific commercial source (63) of certain goods or services and the trade mark. Therefore, what is at stake is the very capacity of a sign to serve as a trade mark, or in other words the identification or distinguishing function of the trade mark.

81. Blurring or dilution in this sense primarily means that the distinctiveness of the trade mark is ‘watered’ down (‘Verwässerung’ in German) as the trade mark becomes banal. A sign used as a trade mark which refers to various goods or services from different commercial sources is no longer able to identify the goods and services covered by the trade mark with a single source. (64) This risk relates mostly to cases where a well-known mark is exposed to the presence of identical or similar signs referring to different goods and services and their origins.

82. Yet such development is difficult to see in the context of identical or similar goods or services. As Marks & Spencer is not using the trade mark INTERFLORA in relation to different goods or services than those provided by Interflora, it seems to me that we are not faced with dilution in the sense defined in the case-law. Hence here the problem of Interflora is not its INTERFLORA trade mark becoming banal and thereby losing its distinctiveness but the risk of its degeneration, i.e. the trade mark becoming a generic term or a common noun. This indicates also a loss of distinctiveness but of a different nature than dilution in the sense of the trade mark becoming watered down. (65)

83. Provided that Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 is also applicable in the cases of double identity between the signs and the goods or services, it seems to me that protection against degeneration should also be afforded on the basis of this provision because the basic problem, i.e. the gradual loss of distinctiveness, is the same.

84. Degeneration results either from the absence of an alternative generic term denoting to the class of products of which the only or the most important representative is the good or service covered by the trade mark, or from the overwhelming success of a certain brand in a certain class of products. Degeneration especially threatens trade marks that cover a new innovation or those that are well known in specific fields. (66)

85. Degeneration may result from acts and omissions of the trade mark proprietor himself, for example his use of the trade mark as a generic term or his omission to develop a suitable alternative generic term in order to facilitate references to such products without using the trade mark as a generic term. However, degeneration may also result from the use of the trade mark by others in a way that contributes to its development in becoming a generic term.

86. Interflora claims that the choice as keywords of their trade mark and terms deviating from it only with small modifications by Marks & Spencer would imply a risk of dilution of the INTERFLORA trade mark and thus constitute blurring which they should be entitled to forbid under Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104. Their argument is that by typing ‘interflora’ the internet user is seeking information about florists marketing their services (and goods, i.e. flowers) under the trademark INTERFLORA. The conduct of Marks & Spencer would thus entail a risk that the INTERFLORA trade mark is diluted as it gains a generic meaning denoting any group of florists offering delivery services where the delivery may be undertaken by a different shop than the one who received the order.

87. I am afraid that this line of argument cannot succeed after Google France and Google because it implies that the choice of third party trade marks as keywords would as such constitute blurring, at least in case of trade marks with a reputation. The argument namely identifies the association resulting from the causal chain that unites the typing of the keyword to the display of the sponsored link with the third party’s ad as the factor that causes a risk of degeneration of the trade mark.

88. However, as I have already mentioned, the Court did not condemn keyword advertising using third party trade marks as such but linked the question of its permissibility to the contents of the ad displayed in the sponsored link. If the conjunction of a keyword and an ad in the sponsored link would as such amount to dilution, then any trade mark would be blurred if it were chosen as a keyword leading to an ad of an undertaking other than that of the trade mark proprietor.

89. In this case the sponsored link shown after the internet user has typed the search term ‘interflora’ does not itself include the sign or any similar sign. As I have explained earlier, in the case of a trade mark covering goods and services provided by a commercial network of enterprises this does not exclude the possibility of an error to the effect that there is an economic link between the trade mark and the advertiser. In other words, an adverse effect to the origin function is possible even if the trade mark is not mentioned in the ad displayed in the sponsored link.

90. However, I do not think that dilution of a trade mark, i.e. weakening of its meaning as denoting goods or services of a specific abstract commercial origin, could legally be seen as resulting from advertising where the trade mark is not mentioned. After all, blurring in the sense of loss of distinctiveness means that the sign perceived by the consumer is acquiring an alternative meaning in his mind. The alternative meaning can either be an ambivalent indication of different goods or services from different sources, in the case of dissimilar goods or services, or that of a generic category of goods or services, in the case of identical or similar ones. (67)

91. In my opinion, the use of third party trade marks as keywords in search engine advertising is detrimental to the distinctiveness of a trade mark with a reputation in cases of identical goods or services when the following conditions are met: the sign is mentioned or displayed in the ad in the sponsored link, and the marketing message or communication in the ad uses the sign in a generic sense to refer to a category or class of goods or services, and not as distinguishing between goods and services of different origins.

92. For the sake of clarity, I should also mention the second element covered by Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104, namely tarnishment, which refers to detriment to the repute of the trade mark. In L’Oréal and Others, the Court noted that ‘such detriment is caused when the goods or services for which the identical or similar sign is used by the third party may be perceived by the public in such a way that the trade mark’s power of attraction is reduced. The likelihood of such detriment may arise in particular from the fact that the goods or services offered by the third party possess a characteristic or a quality which is liable to have a negative impact on the image of the mark.’ (68) However, this case is not about tarnishment.

93. In L’Oréal and Others, the Court characterises free-riding as a situation ‘where a third party attempts, through the use of a sign similar to a mark with a reputation, to ride on the coat-tails of that mark in order to benefit from its power of attraction, its reputation and its prestige, and to exploit, without paying any financial compensation and without being required to make efforts of his own in that regard, the marketing effort expended by the proprietor of that mark in order to create and maintain the image of that mark, the advantage resulting from such use must be considered to be an advantage that has been unfairly taken of the distinctive character or the repute of that mark’. (69)

94. The Court stated in L’Oréal and Others that the existence of unfair advantage is not dependent on the use being detrimental to the trade mark proprietor. I find this very problematic from the point of view of competition because the Court is actually stating that the trade mark proprietor is entitled to use his right to prohibit the use of a sign in circumstances where this would result in a move away from a Pareto optimal situation. The situation of the trade mark proprietor would not improve as he by definition would not suffer any detriment because of the use, but the competitor’s situation would worsen because he would lose a part of his business. Also the situation of the consumers who had not been misled by the ad but consciously preferred to buy the competitor’s products would be impaired. (70)

95. It is important to recall that the case L’Oréal and Others was about imitating luxury products. In the present case, the products/services are ‘normal’ and not replicas or imitations; at least it has not been claimed that Marks & Spencer is imitating Interflora in any manner.

96. In this case Marks & Spencer endeavours to present itself as a commercial alternative to those customers who are either searching for information about Interflora’s services or about delivery services of flowers in general, remembering probably the best-known trade mark relating such services. It is obvious that in both cases Marks & Spencer is taking advantage of the repute of Interflora’s trade mark, as it is inconceivable that this selection of keywords could be explained with any other motive. Hence, the question that remains relates to the fairness of that use. I recall that according to the Google France and Google case-law the selection of keywords under these circumstances represents use of Interflora’s trade mark in relation to Marks & Spencer’s goods and services.

97. In L’Oréal and Others the Advocate General has also proposed that the test of unfairness of use becomes applicable only if there is due cause for using the other party’s trade mark. If there is no due cause, the use is automatically unfair. (71)

98. The relevant use here, defined as the selection of the trade mark as a keyword in internet search engine advertising, must have due cause. In so far as we discuss the typical cases under Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104, i.e. those concerning dissimilar goods or services, it is very difficult to see how that condition should be interpreted. As I have mentioned, the link between the keyword and the trade mark is very difficult to establish without recourse to information referring to circumstances external to that use.

99. In the case of identical or similar goods or services, the purpose of presenting a commercial alternative to the goods or services protected by a trade mark with a reputation should count as due cause in the context of modern marketing relying on keyword advertising on the internet. Otherwise keyword advertising using well-known third party trade marks would be as such prohibited free-riding. Such a conclusion cannot be justified in view of the need to promote undistorted competition and the possibilities of consumers to seek information about goods and services. The point with market economy is, after all, that well-informed consumers can make choices in accordance with their preferences. I would find it inappropriate that the trade mark proprietor could prohibit such use unless he has reasons to object the ad resulting from typing of a search term corresponding to a keyword.

100. Interflora contends that the keyword advertising by Marks & Spencer has considerably increased its own advertising costs because of the rise of the price per click charged by Google resulting from competition in relation to these AdWords.

101. The Court stated in Google France and Google the following: (72) ‘With regard to the use by internet advertisers of a sign identical with another person’s trade mark as a keyword for the purposes of displaying advertising messages, it is clear that that use is liable to have certain repercussions on the advertising use of that mark by its proprietor and on the latter’s commercial strategy. … Having regard to the important position which internet advertising occupies in trade and commerce, it is plausible that the proprietor of a trade mark may register its own trade mark as a keyword with a referencing service provider in order to have an ad appear under the heading “sponsored links”. Where that is the case, the proprietor of the mark must, as necessary, agree to pay a higher price per click than certain other economic operators if it wishes to ensure that its ad appears before those of those operators which have also selected its mark as a keyword. Furthermore, even if the proprietor of the mark is prepared to pay a higher price per click than that offered by third parties which have also selected that trade mark, the proprietor cannot be certain that its ad will appear before those of those third parties, given that other factors are also taken into account in determining the order in which the ads are displayed. … Nevertheless, those repercussions of use by third parties of a sign identical with the trade mark do not of themselves constitute an adverse effect on the advertising function of the trade mark.’

102. Hence, as increased pay per click costs do not affect the advertising function of a trade mark with a reputation, in my opinion such increased costs cannot per se constitute unfairness or taking an advantage of the repute of the trade mark.

103. Furthermore, as the Court has in its Google France and Google case-law approved in principle keyword advertising using third party trade marks, I think that also the question of free-riding has to be analysed on the basis of the ad shown in the sponsored link. If that ad mentions or displays the trade mark, the acceptability of the use depends on whether we are faced with legitimate comparative advertising or, on the contrary, with riding on the coat-tails of the trade mark proprietor. (73)

104. In its ads Marks & Spencer is neither comparing its goods and services with those of Interflora (‘our goods and services are better/cheaper than those by Interflora’) nor presenting its goods as imitations or copies (‘… we are offering an Interflora type of service’) or even expressly presenting them as alternatives (‘Are you an Interflora customer? Why not try this time Marks & Spencer?’) to them.

105. Yet the choice of keywords in search engine advertising by Marks & Spencer implies a marketing message that they offer an alternative to Interflora. However, in my opinion this does not amount to free-riding in the sense of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104.

106. Finally, in my view the aspects mentioned in question 4 are irrelevant in relation to the answer to be given to question 3(b).

107. In view of above analysis I propose the following replies to the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, Chancery Division:

(1) Article 5(1)(a) of First Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks and Article 9(1)(a) of Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark must be interpreted as follows:

– A sign identical with a trade mark is used ‘in relation to goods or services’ within the meaning of these provisions when it has been selected as a keyword in connection with an internet referencing service without the consent of the trade mark proprietor, and the display of ads is organised on the basis of the keyword.

– The proprietor of a trade mark is entitled to prohibit such conduct under abovementioned circumstances, in the case where that ad does not enable an average internet user, or enables the said user only with difficulty, to ascertain whether the goods or services referred to in the ad originate from the proprietor of the trade mark or an undertaking economically connected to it or from a third party.

(2) Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 and Article 9(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94 must be interpreted as meaning that the use of a sign as a keyword in an internet referencing service in relation to goods or services identical to those covered by an identical trade mark with a reputation also falls within the scope of application of those provisions and it can be forbidden by the trade mark owner when

(a) the ad shown as a result of the internet user having typed as a search term the keyword identical with a trade mark with a reputation mentions or displays that trade mark; and

– is either used therein as a generic term covering a class or category of goods or services;

– or the advertiser attempts thereby to benefit from its power of attraction, its reputation or its prestige, and to exploit the marketing effort expended by the proprietor of that mark in order to create and maintain the image of that mark.

(3) The fact that the internet search engine operator does not permit trade mark proprietors in the relevant geographical area to block the selection of signs identical to their trade marks as keywords by other parties is as such immaterial in so far as the liability of the advertiser using of the keywords is concerned.

2^–The national case against the second defendant has been settled, leaving Marks & Spencer the sole defendant in the proceedings.

3^– Interflora is the proprietor of United Kingdom Trade Mark No 1329840 INTERFLORA in respect of various goods and services in classes 16, 31, 35, 38, 39, 41 and 42 of the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purpose of the Registration of Marks of 15 June 1957, as revised and amended. These include ‘natural plants and flowers’ in class 31, ‘advertising services provided for florists’ and ‘information services relating to the sale of ... flowers’ in class 35, ‘transportation of flowers’ in class 39. Interflora is also the proprietor of Community Trade Mark No 909838 INTERFLORA in respect of various goods and services in classes 16, 31, 35, 38, 39, 41 and 42. These include ‘natural plants and flowers’ in class 31, ‘advertising services ... provided for florists’ in class 35, ‘transportation of flowers’ in class 39 and ‘information services relating to the sale of ... flowers’ in class 42.

6– Joined Cases C-236/08 to C-238/08 Google France and Google [2010] ECR I-0000.

7 – Case C-278/08 BergSpechte [2010] ECR I-0000; order of 26 March 2010 in Case C-91/09 eis.de, and Case C-558/08 Portakabin [2010] ECR I-0000.

9 – A note on terminology: Directive 89/104 and Regulation No 40/94 both speak of ‘trade mark with a reputation’, which term will be used here. However, the term a ‘well-known trade mark’ is used when the discussion is not specifically related to EU law context. For the sake of clarity I should add that Directive 89/104 contains a reference to Article 6 bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, which speaks of ‘well-known trade marks’. Therefore, Article 16(2) of the TRIPS Agreement, when referring to the Paris Convention, also speaks of well-known trade marks (see Article 16(2) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which constitutes Annex 1C to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, signed in Marrakech on 15 April 1994 and approved by Council Decision 94/800/EC of 22 December 1994 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community, as regards matters within its competence, of the agreements reached in the Uruguay Round multilateral negotiations (1986-1994); OJ 1994 L 336, p. 1; also known as ‘the TRIPS Agreement’). In the United States, the term used is ‘famous marks’. For an overview, see Senftleben, M., ‘The trademark Tower of Babel: dilution concepts in international, US and EC trademark law’, International review of intellectual property and competition law, Vol. 40 (2009), No 1, p. 45-77. Furthermore, I note that the different expressions referred to above also differ in regard to the conditions required for a trade mark to be considered well known.

10 – It should be added that the perception of what amounts to a trade mark with a reputation may vary between the Member States despite the criteria defined by the Court in Case C-375/97 General Motors [1999] ECR I-5421, paragraphs 19 to 30; see opinion of Advocate General Sharpston in Case C-252/07 Intel Corporation [2008] ECR I-8823, point 23.

11 – For the latter, see for example requests for preliminary ruling by the Court of Appeal (England and Wales) (Civil Division) in L’Oréal SA & Ors v Bellure NV & Ors [2007] EWCA Civ 968 (10 October 2007) and High Court of Justice (England and Wales) (Chancery Division) in L’Oréal SA & Ors v EBay International AG & Ors [2009] EWHC 1094 (Ch) (22 May 2009), and, in particular the Court of Appeal (England and Wales) (Civil Division), judgment following the Court’s reply (Case C-487/07 L’Oréal and Others [2009] ECR I-5185), in L’Oréal SA & Ors v Bellure NV & Ors [2010] EWCA Civ 535 (21 May 2010).

12 – In the United States, protection against trade mark dilution became part of federal trade mark law in 1995 by the Federal Trade Mark Dilution Act, which added a new section 45(c) into the Lanham Act. It was subsequently amended by Trademark Dilution Revision Act 2005; see, for example, Long, C., ‘The political economy of trademark dilution’, in Dinwoodie, G., and Janis, M. (eds.), Trademark Law and Theory. A Handbook of Contemporary Research, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2008, p. 132.

13– Following a Communication (‘An Industrial Property Rights Strategy for Europe, COM(2008) 465 final’), the European Commission commissioned in 2009 from Max-Planck-Institut für Immaterialgüter- und Wettbewerbsrecht a study on the overall functioning of the Trade Mark System in Europe. The Final Report was submitted to the European Commission on 12 December 2010. At the time of writing, it has not yet been made public, see http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/indprop/index_en.htm.

14– Directive 89/104 was repealed by Directive 2008/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (codified version) (OJ 2008 L 299, p. 25), which entered into force on 28 November 2008. The wording of Article 5(1) and 5(2) of Directive 2008/95 corresponds in essence to that of Article 5(1) and (2) of Directive 89/104. However, having regard to the time at which the facts occurred, the disputes in the main proceedings remain governed by Directive 89/104.

15 – For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the language versions of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 differ from each other: see the analysis by the Court in General Motors, paragraph 20.

16 – I recall that Article 4(3) and (4) of Directive 89/104, applicable at the stage of trade mark registration, provides rules identical to Article 5(1) and (2).

17 – Regulation No 40/94 was repealed by Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 of 26 February 2009 on the Community trade mark (codified version) (OJ 2009 L 78, p. 1), which entered into force on 13 April 2009. The wording of Article 9(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 is identical to that of Article 9(1) of Regulation No 40/94. However, having regard to the time at which the facts occurred, the disputes in the main proceedings remain governed by Regulation No 40/94.

19 – In light of the case-law, these signs can be qualified as identical with the trade mark (see Case C-291/00 LTJ Diffusion [2003] ECR I-2799, paragraph 54; BergSpechte, paragraph 25; and Portakabin, paragraph 47): the sign is identical with the trade mark where it reproduces, without any modification or addition, all the elements constituting the trade mark or where, viewed as a whole, it contains differences so insignificant that they may go unnoticed by an average consumer.

20– Yet there are some differences between the directive and the regulation. For example, Article 5(2) of the directive is optional, whereas the corresponding provision in Article 9(1)(c) in the regulation is not. Another difference relates to the geographical reference used in the appreciation as to whether the trade mark has a reputation. However, with respect to the latter issue the Court of Justice has held that, territorially, the existence of a reputation in a substantial part of a Member State, as regards Directive 89/104, or of the Community, as regards Regulation No 40/94, was sufficient to prohibit use of that sign (see General Motors, paragraphs 28 and 29, and Case C-301/07 PAGO International [2009] ECR I-9429, paragraphs 27 and 30). While the differences in wording should not be forgotten, they do not prevent extending the results of the present analysis of the directive to the regulation.

21 – See Strasser, M., ‘The Rational Basis of Trademark Protection Revisited: Putting the Dilution Doctrine into Context’, Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal, Vol. 10 (2000), p. 375, at p. 393-395.

22– For case-law on double identity situations, see for example Case C-17/06 Céline [2007] ECR I-7041.

23 – The Court has ruled that if a Member State transposes Article 5(2) of the directive, it must grant protection which is at least as extensive for identical or similar goods or services as for non-similar goods or services. The Member State’s option thus relates to the principle itself of granting greater protection to marks with a reputation, but not to the situations covered by that protection when the Member State grants it. See Case C-408/01 Adidas-Salomon and Adidas Benelux [2003] ECR I-12537, paragraph 20.

26 – Given that no changes of substance may be made to the instruments affected by a codification procedure, I think that the adoption in 2008 of a codified version of Directive 89/104 by Directive 2008/95 has in no way overruled the Davidoff case-law of 2003 (see also Commission proposal in document COM(2006)812) final.

27 – Google France and Google, paragraph 99, as well as eis.de, paragraph 28; BergSpechte, paragraph 41, and Portakabin, paragraph 54.

28 – This could be the case where the trade mark proprietors are informed of this possibility to prohibit the use of their trade marks as keywords by third parties and its use does not require unreasonable formalities or raise any costs.

30 – I recall that the Court observed in Google France and Google (paragraph 65) that ‘the fact that the sign used by the third party for advertising purposes does not appear in the ad itself cannot of itself mean that that use falls outside the concept of “[use] … in relation to goods or services” within the terms of Article 5 of Directive 89/104’. The judgment in Google France and Google concerned three cases: in Case C-236/09 the trade mark in question appeared in the third party’s ad, whereas in Cases C-237/08 and C-238/08 the trade mark in question did not appear in the ad (see paragraphs 62 and 63 of the judgment).

31 – See Directive 2006/114/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 concerning misleading and comparative advertising (codified version), OJ 2006 L 376, p. 21.

32 – As to the advertising function, the argumentation adopted by the Court in Google France and Google (paragraph 98) seems to be transposable to this case. However, I will return to the question of increased ‘pay by click’ costs of Interflora in the context of my debate on free-riding below.

33 – Google France and Google, paragraph 68. For the reasons I will explain later I think that this assumption is incontestable in the case of an inherently highly distinctive and unique trade mark. However, in the case of several identical trade marks belonging to different owners or trade marks that are based on descriptive or generic words or names this assumption may be erroneous. For example, an internet user typing ‘nike’ as a keyword may be searching information or offers not only on sportswear, but perhaps on a Greek goddess or technology produced by the Swedish firm Nike Hydraulics AB.

34 – It may be useful to remind that ‘trade mark rights constitute an essential element in the system of undistorted competition which the Treaty is intended to establish and maintain’ (see Case C-206/01 Arsenal Football Club [2002] ECR I-10273, paragraph 47). In my opinion, the purpose of economic competition is to enhance consumer welfare by the introduction of better (in terms of quality, characteristics or price) substitutes to existing products, thereby promoting efficiency and innovations leading to more rational allocation of the factors of production.

35 – The following statement can be found on one of Interflora’s websites: ‘Interflora is the world’s largest and most popular flower delivery network. Interflora has become synonymous with a concept that once would have been impossible to believe – that within a day a beautiful bouquet or gift can be personally delivered with style across the world.’ See http://www.interflora.co.uk/page.xml?page_name=help_about (visited 31 January 2011).

36 – The notion ‘secondary meaning of a trade mark’ is known in all jurisdictions but its meaning (sic!) and its scope of application vary. In some jurisdictions it relates to situations where a trade mark right is acquired through use instead of registration, in others also to situations where a non-distinctive sign may be registered as a trade mark because it has acquired distinctive secondary meaning. It is also possible to think that every trade mark without exception needs to be used in order to become established in the minds of the interested circles, thereby acquiring reputation or established secondary meaning. Cf. Holmqvist, L., Degeneration of Trade Marks. A Comparative Study of the Effects of Use on Trade Mark Distinctiveness, Jurist- och samhällvetareförbundets Förlags AB (JSF), Malmö 1971, p. 117-126.

37 – Whether INTERFLORA has such a secondary meaning is up to the national court to decide. However, question 4(a) seems to imply such meaning as the relevant trade mark registrations (see above, footnote 3) do not give any hint of INTERFLORA being used as a trademark in relation to a commercial network.

38 – See order for reference of 16 July 2009 (cited above at point 30), paragraph 29.

39 – The notion of trade mark dilution was developed in German law on unfair competition, and introduced to United States doctrine by Schechter (Schechter, F., ‘The rational basis of trademark protection’, Harvard Law Review 1927, p. 813). Schechter emphasised the preservation of the distinctiveness of unique (e.g. arbitrary, coined or fanciful) trade marks as the main objective of the protection against dilution. Later development has turned the emphasis to the issue of protecting well-known trade marks against loss of distinctiveness resulting from the use of identical or similar signs covering different goods or services, see Holmqvist, op. cit., p. 147, 155-156, opinion of Advocate General Jacobs in Adidas-Salomon and Adidas Benelux, at point 37, and opinion of Advocate General Sharpston in Intel Corporation, at point 30.

40 – See Lunney, G., ‘Trademark Monopolies’, Emory Law Journal Vol. 48 (1999), p. 367. Lunney considers the recent progress of property-based approach in legislation and case-law as harmful from the competition policy point of view as it enables the proprietors of well-known trade marks to gain monopoly rent without any real benefits to consumers. Strasser, op. cit., defends an opposite view and regards the property-based approach beneficial also from an economic point of view.

41 – As Advocate General Kokott stated in her opinion in Case C-59/08 Copad [2009] ECR I-3421 (point 50), ‘trade mark rights are granted in order to guarantee the possibility of control over the quality of goods, not the actual exercise of that control’.

42 – See, for example, Levin, M., ‘The wording is not always what it seems to be – On Confusion, Association and Dilution’, in Kooy, L. (ed.), 25th Anniversary of ECTA. Past, Present and the Future. The Development of Trade Marks, Designs and Related IP Right in Europe, European Communities Trade Mark Association, The Hague 2005, p. 51–64, 60. She also refers to the so-called rat poison doctrine in the Nordic countries (owner of a trade mark for foodstuffs can prevent the use of a similar mark for rat poison) and CLAERYN / KLAREIN case-law in the Benelux (see Benelux Court of Justice, Colgate-Palmolive / Bols, Case A 74/1, judgment of 1 March 1975).

44 – In the United States free-riding or misappropriation has not been included in the federal statutory protection against trade mark dilution despite it being recognised in some judgments. See Simon, I., ‘Dilution by blurring – a conceptual roadmap’, Intellectual Property Quarterly, 2010, p. 44-87, at p. 56.

45 – Yet in many legal systems protection against tarnishment and free-riding can also or alternatively be afforded within the context of law on unfair competition.

46– It seems to be that Interflora does not accuse Marks & Spencer of tarnishment relating to its trade marks.

47 – See L’Oréal and Others, paragraphs 58-59, and Google France and Google, paragraphs 75-79.

48 – In Davidoff the Court based its reasoning on the fact that the protection of trade marks with a reputation would be less efficient in the case of similar goods than in the case of dissimilar goods since Article 5(1)(b) requires a likelihood of confusion (paragraphs 27-29). To me this reason does not seem to apply in the case of identical signs and identical goods or services as the application of Article 5(1)(a) does not require that there is a risk of confusion (see L’Oréal and Others, paragraphs 58 and 59).

50 – See the analysis by Advocate General Mengozzi in L’Oréal and Others, points 31-61, and the critical statements of the English Courts referred to in footnote 11 above.

52 – It should be added that there exist at various stages of development a group of methods and technologies called ‘semantic web’ to allow machines to understand the meaning – or ‘semantics’ – of information on the World Wide Web. If I am correctly informed, the internet reference service providers have developed several methods for enhancing the relevance of search results taking this into account but this does not mean that the internet search engines would ‘understand’ the meaning of a keyword.

53 – It seems to me that the INTERFLORA word mark as such is unique. Nevertheless, there are somewhat similar registrations as Community trade marks (e.g. No 3371549 word mark INTERFLO for classes 9, 12, 37; No 2178887 word mark INTERFORUM SIGLO XXI for class 42; or No 3036944 figurative mark INTERFLOOR for classes 1, 6, 8, 17, 19, 20, 27, 37). As a trademark, INTERFLORA appears to be a suggestive mark, close to being descriptive (it is formed from a Latin word denoting flowers, with a Latin prefix meaning between or among).

55 – I recall that in the application of EU trade mark law as regards trade marks with a reputation these trade marks are protected also in relation to dissimilar goods or services. According to the case-law, also ‘niche’ trade marks that are not unique but are well known in a relatively limited geographical area count as trade marks with a reputation in the application of Article 5(2) of Directive 89/104 (see General Motors, paragraph 31, and Senftleben, op. cit., p. 54). There can be, for example trade marks for medical devices which certainly have a reputation and are extremely well known by those concerned yet unknown to the general public (imaging systems needed in radiology or the equipment used in dental surgery for instance). The trade marks can also have a reputation within a specialised public in a rather limited area (e.g. certain makes of surgeon’s knifes in one German Land). While this is the situation under Directive 89/104, under Regulation No 40/94 the reputation has to be EU wide (see Article 9(1)(c) of the regulation). In the United States, on the contrary, federal statutory protection against dilution requires, pursuant to the Trade Mark Dilution Revision Act of 2005, that the trade mark is widely recognised by the general consuming public of the United States (see footnote 9 above).

56– I should add that the traditional trade mark law framework of assessing consumer response to the use of a sign is problematic if applied only to keyword selection because in search engine advertising the association in the mind of the internet user running a search with a particular search term precedes the display of the sponsored ad, i.e. the moment when the causal effect of the use of the trade mark becomes perceptible to the user.

57 – Google France and Google, paragraphs 51 and 52; see also the opinion of Advocate General Maduro, point 150.

60 – As I have concluded above, in very specific circumstances relating to the nature of the goods or services with reference to the reputation or secondary meaning of the trade mark, adverse effect to the origin function may be likely even if the ad does not mention or refer to the trade mark.

61 – On this spectrum of distinctiveness see Holmqvist, op. cit., p. 17 – 22.

62 – See Intel Corporation, paragraph 29, and L’Oréal and Others, paragraph 39.

63 – I am here speaking of a source or origin in an abstract sense referring to the undertaking that controls the production of the goods or the provision of the services covered by the trade mark, not a concrete manufacturer or service provider; see for example Arsenal, paragraph 48.

64 – Blurring in this sense is not caused by the trade mark proprietor using the trade mark as a brand in relation to various goods and services provided that the trade mark has acquired repute and a high degree of distinctiveness resulting from advertising and other marketing efforts the trade mark proprietor has invested in to create an image for the trade mark. In such cases the public rightly identifies the different goods or services of the brand with a single commercial source. What is detrimental to the distinctiveness of the trade mark is the co-existence of identical or similar trade marks covering different goods or services from various sources as that prevents the development of an image for the trade mark or dilutes the existing one.

65 – In my opinion blurring in the sense of watering down is analogous to a family name losing its ability to distinguish between different families as groups with a common origin. Hence Smith is less distinctive as a family name than Windsor. Dilution by blurring does not, however, mean that the mark loses its distinctiveness altogether, i.e. the capacity to work as a trade mark. Smith is capable of functioning as a family name despite being common and STAR is capable of functioning as a trade mark despite being banal, i.e. weak in terms of distinctiveness. A degenerated trade mark, on the other hand, has lost its distinctiveness and therefore cannot function as a trade mark anymore. Hence, theoretically diluted trademarks are not semi-degenerated trade marks (see Holmqvist, p. 152). Regardless, it seems useful to accept degeneration as a variant of blurring for the purposes of protecting well-known marks, at least in legal systems where protection in relation to identical or similar goods or services requires a likelihood of confusion. In the United States degeneration or genericisation is often included in the concept of dilution, see for example Simon, op. cit., p. 72-74.

66 – The classic textbook example of ‘cellophane’ represents both categories.

67 – In my view, to qualify keyword selection in internet search engine advertising as such as use of a sign capable of blurring would lead very far from established doctrine of trade mark dilution. This would lead to insurmountable problems in terms of evidence because sponsored ads usually represent only a fraction of the information displayed as search results to the internet user.

68 – For the United States, see Supreme Court of the United States, Moseley et al., DBA Victor’s Little Secret v. V Secret Catalogue, Inc., et al., 537 U.S. 418 (2003), reversing the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 259 F.3d 464.

70– See Klerman, D., ‘Trademark Dilution, Search Costs, and Naked Licensing’, Fordham Law Review, Vol. 74 (2006), p. 1759-1773, at p. 1771.

71 – Opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi in L’Oreal and Others, point 105-111.

73 – In the United States Sec. 43 (c), 4(A) of the Lanham Act provides that ‘[f]air use of a famous mark by another person in comparative commercial advertising or promotion to identify the competing goods or services of the owner of the famous mark’ shall not be actionable under Section 43(c) which concerns trade mark dilution.

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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Court of Justice of the European Communities (including Court of First Instance Decisions) >> Interflora and Others (Intellectual property) [2011] EUECJ C-323/09_O (24 March 2011) URL: http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/2011/C32309_O.html Cite as: [2011] EUECJ C-323/09_O, [2011] EUECJ C-323/9_O

Court of Justice of the European Communities (including Court of First Instance Decisions)