62023TJ1135_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 5 March 2025 –Funline International v EUIPO – MS Trade (JUNGLE PREMIUM)
(Case T‑1135/23)
(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark JUNGLE PREMIUM – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Article 58(1)(a) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Action for annulment – Representation by a lawyer – Admissibility)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Signature by a lawyer – Applicant represented by a patent agent who is not a lawyer – Lack of legal representation
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 19, fourth para., and 53)
(see paragraphs 16-20)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraph 29)
3.
EU trade mark – Lodging of application for EU trade mark – Identification of the goods or services concerned by the trade mark – Use of the general indications in the headings of the classes of the Nice Classification – Scope
(see paragraphs 34, 35)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Word mark JUNGLE PREMIUM
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 36, 43, 51, 52)
5.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraphs 48, 49, 56)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Funline International Corp. to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);
3.
Orders MS Trade s. r. o. to bear its own costs.