62020TJ0566_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 1 September 2021 – Residencial Palladium v EUIPO – Palladium Gestión (PALLADIUM HOTEL GARDEN BEACH)
(Case T‑566/20)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark PALLADIUM HOTEL GARDEN BEACH – Earlier national trade name GRAND HOTEL PALLADIUM – Relative ground for refusal – Use in the course of trade of a sign of more than mere local significance – 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))
1.
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 – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 53(1)(c))
(see para. 22)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Local scope of sign – Means of proof
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 53(1)(c))
(see paras 23-25)
3.
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 – Concept
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), 15(1), 42(2), 51(1)(a) and 53(1)(c))
(see paras 34, 35)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Figurative mark PALLADIUM HOTEL GARDEN BEACH and trade name GRAND HOTEL PALLADIUM
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 53(1)(c))
(see paras 43, 56, 57)
5.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal – Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies – Precluded
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 72 and 95)
(see para. 47)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 June 2020 (Case R 1542/2019-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Residencial Palladium and Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, SL.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Authorises Palladium Gestión, SL to replace Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, SL as intervener;
2.
Dismisses the action;
3.
Orders Residencial Palladium, SL to pay the costs incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Palladium Gestión.