Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 July 2023 – aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik v EUIPO – aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik (aTmos)
(Case T‑694/21) (1)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark aTmos – Earlier national trade names aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH and aTmos – Relative ground for invalidity – Article 53(1)(c) and Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 60(1)(c) and Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Examination of the facts by the Office of its own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning relative grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of the Office’s own motion – Condition
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))
(see paragraphs 24-26)
2.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 39, 40)
3.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Invalidity action based on the existence of an earlier national right – Burden of proof
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 41, 74)
4.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Use of the mark capable of being prohibited by virtue of another earlier right – Review by the competent bodies of the Office and by the Court as to the national law applicable – Scope
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 42, 64)
5.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Word mark aTmos – Trade names aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH and aTmos
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 61, 65, 76, 77, 85)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders ATmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH, Düsseldorf to pay the costs.
1 OJ C 2, 3.1.2022.