European Union – Trade marks. The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling deciding that art 9(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) 207/2009, read in conjunction with arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a) of that regulation, had to be interpreted as meaning that, during the period of five years following registration of an EU trade mark, its proprietor could, if there was a likelihood of confusion, prevent third parties from using in the course of trade a sign identical or similar to his mark in respect of all goods and services identical or similar to those for which that mark had been registered without having to demonstrate genuine use of that mark in respect of those goods or services.