Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 October 2025 – Doors Bulgaria v EUIPO – Top Ten (Doors)
(Case T‑585/24)
( EU design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered EU design representing doors – Late filing of the statement setting out the grounds of appeal before the Board of Appeal – Calculation of time limits – Action inadmissible – Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 and Article 51(2) of Regulation (EC) No 2245/2002 – Restitutio in integrum – Failure to pay the fee – Article 67(3) of Regulation No 6/2002 – Related to a counterclaim for a declaration of invalidity – Article 91(2) of Regulation No 6/2002 )
1.      EU designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Directions issued to EUIPO – Precluded
(Art. 263 TFEU; Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61(6))
(see paragraph 15)
2.      EU designs – Procedural provisions – Notification – Notification by ordinary mail
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 66)
(see paragraphs 29, 30, 33)
3.      EU designs – Decisions of EUIPO – No obligation to inform the parties of the judicial remedies available and of the time limits
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 67)
(see paragraph 43)
4.      EU designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Pleas in law – Plea not challenging the grounds of the decision – Plea ineffective
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61)
(see paragraph 48)
5.      EU designs – Surrender and invalidity – Application for a declaration of invalidity – Examination of the application – Division of jurisdiction between EUIPO and the EU design courts – Principle of priority
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 91(1) and (2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 132(1) and (2))
(see paragraphs 54-56, 60)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Doors Bulgaria EOOD, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Top Ten EOOD each to bear their own costs.