Court of Justice interprets ‘Aceto Balsamico di Modena’ PGI narrowly (Consorzio Tutela Aceto Balsamico di Modena v Balema)

Table of contents

• What are the practical implications of this case?
• What was the background?
• What did the court decide?
• Case details

Article summary

IP analysis: Following a reference from the Federal Court of Justice, Germany, the Court of Justice has held that Article 1 of Regulation (EC) 583/2009 must be interpreted as meaning that the protection afforded by the protected geographical indication (PGI) for ‘Aceto Balsamico di Modena’ does not extend to the use of the individual non-geographical terms of that name such as ‘Aceto,’ ‘Balsamico’ or ‘Aceto Balsamico’.