62019TJ0686_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 8 July 2020 –Euroapotheca v EUIPO – General Nutrition Investment (GNC LIVE WELL)
(Case T‑686/19)
(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark GNC LIVE WELL – Obligation to state reasons – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Genuine use of the mark – Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 71(1) and 94(1), first sentence)
(see paras 19-21)
2.
Acts of the institutions – Statement of reasons – Obligation – Scope – Plea alleging absence or inadequacy of the statement of reasons – Plea alleging incorrectness of the statement of reasons – Distinction
(Art. 296 TFEU)
(see para. 22)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paras 31-35, 65, 70)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Word mark GNC LIVE WELL
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paras 50, 57, 61, 63, 77, 78, 81, 82, 86)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1), second para.(a) and 58(1)(a))
(see paras 52-54)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Determination of a minimal quantitative use threshold – Precluded
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 58(1)(a))
(see para. 68)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Company name, commercial name or trade name
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))
(see para. 75)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 30 July 2019 (Case R 2189/2018-5) concerning revocation proceedings between Euroapotheca and General Nutrition Investment Company.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Euroapotheca UAB to pay the costs.