62022TJ0067_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 26 July 2023 –Guma Holdings v EUIPO – XTB (XTRADE)
(Case T‑67/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Figurative mark XTRADE – Relative ground for invalidity – Article 8(4) and Article 53(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Use of the sign in trade – Temporal criterion – Proof of the acquisition and continued existence of the earlier right
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4)(a) and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 20, 53, 63, 64)
2.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Discretion of EUIPO
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))
(see paragraphs 21, 22, 25, 33)
3.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraphs 37-39)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4)(a) and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 51, 52)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Use of the sign in trade – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4)(a) and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 54, 55)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Guma Holdings Ltd to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 138, 28.3.2022.