Information;Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2022:451
Date: 2022-07-13
Language of the case: English
Court formation: Sixth Chamber
Subject matter: Trade marks;Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 July 2022 – Unimax Stationery v EUIPO – Mitsubishi Pencil (uni) (Case T‑369/21) (1) (EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark uni – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Signs or indications which have become customary – Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(d) of Regulation 2017/1001)) 1. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Figurative mark UNI (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b) and 51(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 36-38, 45, 49, 51, 52) 2. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Presumption of validity of the registered mark (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7 and 51(1)(a)) (see paragraph 41) 3. EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1); Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7 and 51(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 42, 58) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Unimax Stationery to pay the costs. 1 OJ C 338, 23.8.2021.