Den præceptive karakter af den frist, der fastsættes i medfør af den pågældende regel, udelukker således, at Harmoniseringskontoret tager hensyn til beviser, der er fremlagt for sent.
Consequently, if, in a specific case, there exists a likelihood of confusion between an earlier national trade mark and a sign for which an application for registration as a Community trade mark has been made, the use of that sign may be prohibited by the national courts in infringement proceedings.