1. The proprietor of an earlier trade mark registered in a Member State, including a trade mark registered in the Benelux countries, or registered under international arrangements having effect in a Member State, who applies for an identical trade mark for registration as a Community trade mark for goods or services which are identical with or contained within those for which the earlier trade mark has been registered, may claim for the Community trade mark the seniority of the earlier trade mark in respect of the Member State in or for which it is registered.

1. Once the Office has accorded a date of filing, it shall draw up a Community search report citing those earlier Community trade marks or Community trade mark applications discovered which may be invoked under Article 8 against the registration of the Community trade mark applied for.

In the EU a trade mark can be registered either at national level, at a Member State’s industrial property office (the Member States’ laws on trade marks were partially harmonised by Council Directive 89/104/EEC of 21 December 1988, codified as Directive 2008/95/EC), or at EU level, as a Community trade mark (under Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20 December 1993 on the Community trade mark, codified as Regulation (EC) No 207/2009).

5. Furthermore, upon opposition by the proprietor of an earlier trade mark within the meaning of paragraph 2, or of an earlier Community or geographical indication, the trade mark applied for shall not be registered where it is identical with or similar to the earlier trade mark or geographical indication and is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the earlier trade mark or geographical indication is registered, where, in the case of an earlier Community trade mark or geographical indication, the trade mark or geographical indication has a reputation in the Community and, in the case of an earli ...[+++]er national trade mark, the trade mark has a reputation in the Member State concerned and where the use without due cause of the trade mark applied for would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark or geographical indication ".

5. Furthermore, upon opposition by the proprietor of an earlier trade mark within the meaning of paragraph 2, the trade mark applied for shall not be registered where it is identical with or similar to the earlier trade mark and is to be registered for goods or services which are not similar to those for which the earlier trade mark is registered, where in the case of an earlier Community trade mark or geographical indication the trade mark has a reputation in the Community and, in the case of an earlier national trade mark, the trade mark has a reputation in the Member State concerned and where the use without due cause of the trade mar ...[+++]k applied for would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark".

3. Without prejudice to paragraph 2, an assignment of the Community trade mark shall be made in writing and shall require the signature of the parties to the contract, except when it is a result of a judgment; otherwise it shall be void.