Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 3 September 2025 – Kartroi v EUIPO – Luxvide Finanziaria per Iniziative Audiovisive e Telematiche (SANDOKAN)
(Case T‑1/24)
( EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark SANDOKAN – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 )
1.      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 – Not included
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 14)
2.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Legality of the decision of a Board of Appeal – Account taken, for the purposes of applying EU law, of national legislation, case-law or academic writing – Whether permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 17)
3.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 24, 25, 27-33, 46, 50-52, 67, 68, 71, 86)
4.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Word mark SANDOKAN
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 45, 56-59, 63, 78, 80)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Kartroi LLC to pay the costs.