62023TJ0010_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 13 December 2023 – Light Tec v EUIPO – DecoTrend (Lampshade)
(Case T‑10/23) (
1
)
(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing a star – Earlier design produced after the filing of the application for a declaration of invalidity – Article 28(1)(b)(v) of Regulation (EC) No 2245/2002 – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Article 63(1) and (2) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Obligation to state reasons – Right to be heard)
1.
Community designs – Surrender and invalidity – Application for a declaration of invalidity based on the existence of an earlier design – Burden of proof – Requirements relating to the reproduction of the earlier design
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 52(2) and 63(1); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 28(1)(b)(i)(v) and (vi))
(see paragraphs 24, 26)
2.
Community designs – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Earlier design produced after the filing of the application for a declaration of invalidity – Precluded
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 52(2) and 63(2); Commission Regulation No 2245/2002, Art. 28(1)(b)(i)(v) and (vi))
(see paragraphs 27, 28, 31, 44-48)
3.
Community designs – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 62 of Regulation No 6/2002 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 62, first sentence)
(see paragraphs 59-62)
4.
Community designs – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 60(2), second sentence)
(see paragraphs 72, 73)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Light Tec Ltd to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by DecoTrend GmbH;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.
(
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)	OJ C 71, 27.2.2023.