62023TJ0161_INF
Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 10 April 2024 –Schönegger Käse-Alm v EUIPO – Jumpseat3D plus Germany (Rebell)
(Case T-161/23) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark Rebell – Partial revocation – Genuine use of the trade mark – Article 58(1)(a) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Right to be heard – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Partial use – Effect – Concept of ‘some of the goods or services covered by the registration’ – Independent subcategory of goods or services – Concept – Cheese and cheese products
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 58(1)(a) and (2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 21(1)(e))
(see paragraphs 17, 30, 32-34)
2.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)
(see paragraph 23)
3.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – Aim
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraphs 28, 29)
4.
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraph 31)
5.
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraph 39)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Word mark Rebell
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 35-38)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 13 January 2023 (Case R 295/2022‑1) to the extent that the EU word mark Rebell was declared to be revoked for ‘milk products, in particular butter, butter preparations, clarified butter, butter oils, quark, quark desserts, milk products, dried milk products, dietetic foodstuffs made using milk and milk products’;
2.
Orders EUIPO to pay the costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 173, 15.5.2023.