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Counterfeit goods in transit - A study regarding counterfeit goods in transit and liability of intermediaries

Åkesson, Gustaf (2010) JURM01 20101
Department of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Tullförordning 1383/2004 ger tullen befogenhet att beslagta varumärkesförfalskade varor som kommer in, respektive lämnar, den Europeiska Unionen. Förordningen är tillämplig på i stort sett alla varuslag och oavsett vilken tullstatus de har. Genom att sätta varor under ett tullförfarande som kallas transit beläggs dessa varor inte med importavgifter eller tullar förrän de ankommer och deklareras vid den slutgiltiga destinationen. Varumärkesförfalskade varor som är satta under transit är enligt Europeiska unionens domstol att anse som om de överhuvudtaget inte har förts in i Unionen. Varor som befinner sig i transit anses följaktligen inte vara satta på marknaden och därmed används de inte i näringsverksamhet som är det avgörande rekvisit... (More)
Tullförordning 1383/2004 ger tullen befogenhet att beslagta varumärkesförfalskade varor som kommer in, respektive lämnar, den Europeiska Unionen. Förordningen är tillämplig på i stort sett alla varuslag och oavsett vilken tullstatus de har. Genom att sätta varor under ett tullförfarande som kallas transit beläggs dessa varor inte med importavgifter eller tullar förrän de ankommer och deklareras vid den slutgiltiga destinationen. Varumärkesförfalskade varor som är satta under transit är enligt Europeiska unionens domstol att anse som om de överhuvudtaget inte har förts in i Unionen. Varor som befinner sig i transit anses följaktligen inte vara satta på marknaden och därmed används de inte i näringsverksamhet som är det avgörande rekvisit för att ett intrång i varumärkesrätten ska anses föreligga.
Svårigheterna att komma åt varumärkesförfalskade varor i transit, men även intrång i immateriella rättigheter generellt, gör det intressant för immaterialrättsinnehavare att rikta in sig mot andra led i distributionskedjan. Allt större insatser görs, och allt större möjligheter ges, för att komma åt problemen med intrång i immateriella rättigheter genom att hålla mellanhänder, såsom transportörer och speditörer, ansvariga på grund av att deras tjänster används till intrång.
Denna uppsats syftar till att utreda rättsläget vad som gäller för varumärkesförfalskade varor som befinner sig i transit samt vilket ansvar mellanhänder har i transporten av dessa varor. Utstående frågor som skulle kunna tolkas annorlunda, eller i vart fall, inte har behandlats uttömmande av nationella domstolar har tagits upp till diskussion.
Slutligen konstateras det att tillämpningen av lagstiftningen inte är felaktig men trots det är det svårt att komma åt varumärkesförfalskade varor som befinner sig i transit. Svårigheterna att stoppa varumärkesförfalskade varor som befinner sig i transit genom Europiska Unionen är alltså ett problem av politisk karaktär, eller snarare ett problem som grundar sig i bristen på politisk vilja att komma tillrätta med problemet. (Less)
Abstract
Customs Regulation (EC) No 1383/2004 allows Customs to seize counterfeit goods entering or leaving the European Union's borders. It is applicable to almost any type of goods, whatever customs status they have. Transit is a customs procedure used to facilitate trade, meaning that goods are not subject to import charges and duties until they arrive and cleared at the final destination. However, counterfeit goods put under customs transit procedure is considered by the ECJ as if the goods had not entered the Union at all. Consequently, goods in transit are not considered to be put on the market and hence not used in the course of trade which is the decisive element when determine an trademark infringement.
The difficulties of reaching... (More)
Customs Regulation (EC) No 1383/2004 allows Customs to seize counterfeit goods entering or leaving the European Union's borders. It is applicable to almost any type of goods, whatever customs status they have. Transit is a customs procedure used to facilitate trade, meaning that goods are not subject to import charges and duties until they arrive and cleared at the final destination. However, counterfeit goods put under customs transit procedure is considered by the ECJ as if the goods had not entered the Union at all. Consequently, goods in transit are not considered to be put on the market and hence not used in the course of trade which is the decisive element when determine an trademark infringement.
The difficulties of reaching counterfeit goods in transit, but also in general, make it necessary for intellectual property right-holders to focus on other parts of the distribution chain. Increasing efforts are being made, and more opportunities are given proprietors of intellectual property rights to enforce their rights by targeting intermediaries such as forwarding agents and carriers which could be held liable.
This thesis aims to study the legal situation relating to counterfeit goods in transit and the responsibilities of intermediaries in the transport of such goods. Outstanding issues that could be interpreted differently, or at least, has not been treated exhaustively by the national courts have been discussed.
Finally, it is noted that the application of the law is not wrong, despite that it is difficult to stop counterfeit goods in transit. The difficulties in stopping counterfeit goods in transit are in the European Union a problem of political nature, or rather, a problem which is based in the lack of political will to tackle the problem. (Less)
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author
Åkesson, Gustaf
supervisor
organization
course
JURM01 20101
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
EG-rätt, Immaterialrätt
language
English
id
1713403
date added to LUP
2010-11-04 16:53:26
date last changed
2010-11-04 16:53:26
@misc{1713403,
  abstract     = {{Customs Regulation (EC) No 1383/2004 allows Customs to seize counterfeit goods entering or leaving the European Union's borders. It is applicable to almost any type of goods, whatever customs status they have. Transit is a customs procedure used to facilitate trade, meaning that goods are not subject to import charges and duties until they arrive and cleared at the final destination. However, counterfeit goods put under customs transit procedure is considered by the ECJ as if the goods had not entered the Union at all. Consequently, goods in transit are not considered to be put on the market and hence not used in the course of trade which is the decisive element when determine an trademark infringement.
The difficulties of reaching counterfeit goods in transit, but also in general, make it necessary for intellectual property right-holders to focus on other parts of the distribution chain. Increasing efforts are being made, and more opportunities are given proprietors of intellectual property rights to enforce their rights by targeting intermediaries such as forwarding agents and carriers which could be held liable.
This thesis aims to study the legal situation relating to counterfeit goods in transit and the responsibilities of intermediaries in the transport of such goods. Outstanding issues that could be interpreted differently, or at least, has not been treated exhaustively by the national courts have been discussed.
Finally, it is noted that the application of the law is not wrong, despite that it is difficult to stop counterfeit goods in transit. The difficulties in stopping counterfeit goods in transit are in the European Union a problem of political nature, or rather, a problem which is based in the lack of political will to tackle the problem.}},
  author       = {{Åkesson, Gustaf}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Counterfeit goods in transit - A study regarding counterfeit goods in transit and liability of intermediaries}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}