Community Design Registrations for Packaging?

In "European Union: Eight out of Ten Cats Prefer," (free subscription) Howrey's David Stone discusses a decision of the High Court of England & Wales, refusing an injunction sought by cat food manufacturers Masterfoods. According to Stone,

"The case demonstrates some of the difficulties of proving passing off, particularly at an interim stage of proceedings. Proving a likelihood of deception (or, preferably, actual deception) based merely on colours and slogans is difficult, especially where the allegedly infringing product is also branded with dissimilar word trade marks.
Masterfoods' case may have been easier if its registered rights were more solid, rather than having to rely on packaging registrations from 1995.

Producers of consumer goods may therefore wish to consider:

• Registering Community Designs, which now provide a quick and cost effective method of obtaining registered rights (including in colour) for each year's range of new packaging. The "overall impression" test for infringement of amRegistered Community Design may well provide additional protection against copycat or look- alike products;
• Applying to register as colour per se marks the key colour/s of their
  product packaging. These registrations have been affirmed by the European Court of Justice in limited circumstances; and
• Reviewing their IP portfolio, to ensure that trade mark and design
  registrations for logos and packaging are up to date: there is little point to
  maintaining old trade mark registrations for packaging that has not been used
  for five years, as the marks will be vulnerable to revocation for
  non-use."