Article 41Relationship with trademarks
1.Where a traditional term is protected under this Regulation, the registration of a trademark, which corresponds to one of the situations referred to in Article 40, shall be refused if the application for registration of the trademark does not concern wines qualified to use such a traditional term and is submitted after the date of submission of the application for protection of the traditional term to the Commission and the traditional term is subsequently protected.
Trademarks registered in breach of the first subparagraph shall be declared invalid on application in accordance with the applicable procedures as specified by Directive 2008/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council(1) or Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94(2).
2.A trademark, which corresponds to one of the situations referred to in Article 40 of this Regulation, and which has been applied for, registered or established by use, if that possibility is provided for by the legislation concerned, in the territory of the Community before 4 May 2002 or before the date of submission of the application for protection of the traditional term to the Commission, may continue to be used and renewed notwithstanding the protection of the traditional term.
In such cases the use of the traditional term shall be permitted alongside the relevant trademark.
3.A name shall not be protected as a traditional term, where in the light of a trademark's reputation and renown, such protection is liable to mislead the consumer as to the true identity, nature, characteristic or quality of the wine.