62022TJ0777_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 29 May 2024 –Penguin Random House v EUIPO – Ediciones Literarias Independientes (PLAN B)
(Case T‑777/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Figurative mark PLAN B – Earlier trade name Ediciones Plan B – Absolute ground for invalidity – Bad faith – Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
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 21-23)
2.
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 – Origin and use of the contested sign – 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 24-26, 90)
3.
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 paragraphs 27, 28, 78, 79)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Figurative mark PLAN B and trade name Ediciones Plan B
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 40, 58, 64, 76, 85, 93, 107, 114)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, S.A.U., to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 71, 27.2.2023.