Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 [2], which was codified in 2009 as Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 [3], created a system of trade mark protection specific to the European Union which provided for the protection of trade marks at the level of the Union, in parallel to the protection of trade marks available at the level of the Member States according to the national trade mark systems, harmonised by Council Directive 89/104/EEC [4], which was codified as Directive 2008/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council [5].
Le Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 40/94 ón gComhairle [2] a códaíodh in 2009 mar Rialachán (CE) Uimh. 207/2009 ón gComhairle [3], bunaíodh córas de chosaint trádmharcanna a bhaineann go sonrach leis an Aontas Eorpach, ar córas é a rinne foráil do chosaint ar thrádmharcanna ar leibhéal an Aontais, i gcomhthráth leis an gcosaint ar thrádmharcanna a bhí ar fáil ar leibhéal na mBallstát i gcomhréir leis na córais trádmharcanna náisiúnta, a comhchuibhíodh le Treoir 89/104/CEE ón gComhairle [4], ar Treoir í a códaíodh mar Threoir 2008/95/CE ó Pharlaimint na hEorpa agus ón gComhairle [5].