62020TJ0697_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 1 September 2021 –Bimbo Donuts Iberia v EUIPO – Hijos de Antonio Juan (DONAS DULCESOL)
(Case T‑697/20)
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark DONAS DULCESOL – Earlier national word mark DONAS – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of proof of genuine use of earlier mark – Classification of the goods in respect of which genuine use has been shown – Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Need to determine that question, once raised by the applicant before the decision on the opposition
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))
(see paras 18, 19, 58)
2.
EU trade mark – Observations of third parties and opposition – Examination of the opposition – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Identification of the goods or services concerned by the trade mark – Requirements of clarity and precision – Determination, by the competent authorities and the economic operators, of the extent of the protection conferred by the trade mark – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47(2))
(see paras 28, 29, 35, 48)
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 para. 36)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 7 September 2020 (Case R 514/2020-5), relating to opposition proceedings between Bimbo Donuts Iberia and Hijos de Antonio Juan.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Bimbo Donuts Iberia, SA to pay the costs.