62022TJ0552_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 September 2023 –mataharispaclub v EUIPO – Rouha (SpaClubMatahari)
(Case T‑552/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark SpaClubMatahari – Absolute ground for invalidity – No bad faith – Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Inadmissibility – Article 177(1)(d) of the Rules of Procedure of the General Court)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Clear and precise statement of the pleas relied on
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paragraph 12)
2.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Repetition, wholly or in part, of the arguments already relied on before EUIPO – Whether permissible
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 24)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 31, 32)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account all relevant factors at the time of filing of the application for registration – Applicant’s knowledge that a third party is using an identical or similar sign – Intention of the applicant – Degree of legal protection of the signs at issue – Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark – Chronology of events leading up to the filing of the trade mark application
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 33, 34, 45, 48)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Burden of proof
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraph 35)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Word mark SpaClubMatahari
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 42, 44, 49-53)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders each party to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 408, 24.10.2022.