A new case has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union from the Patent and Market Court of Appeal of Sweden (Patent- och marknadsöverdomstolen, Svea hovrätt) on the valuation and purchase of gold by a company from individual consumers.
In Case C-379/23, Guldbrev AB v Consumer Ombudsman, the Consumer Ombudsman claims that Guldbrev offers a bundled service, in that it values gold owned by consumers (provision of a service), and then can purchase such gold from consumers (purchase of a good/product). The practice, in the facts of the case, they argue, is contrary to Directive (2005/29) on Unfair Commercial Practices).
The referring national court is essentially asking whether the valuation and purchase of gold from consumers amounts to a ‘combined product’ within the meaning of the directive.
The full referral from the Patent and Market Court of Appeal in Case C-379/23, Guldbrev AB v Consumer Ombudsman is available here (in English) and here (på svenska).