62021TJ0515_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 23 November 2022 –Zeta Farmaceutici v EUIPO – Specchiasol (EUPHYTOS)
(Case T‑515/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark EUPHYTOS – Earlier EU figurative mark EuPhidra – Proof of genuine use of the earlier mark – Article 56(2) and Article 43(2) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 64(2) and Article 47(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Relevant periods – Submission of evidence for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Classification of new or complementary evidence – Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625)
1.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Legality – Examination by the EU judicature – Criteria – EUIPO examination guidelines – Effect
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraph 43)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Meaning – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 43(2) and (3))
(see paragraphs 52, 57)
3.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Invalidity proceedings – Facts and evidence not submitted in support of the claim for invalidity within the time limit – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 56(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))
(see paragraphs 79, 80, 91-93, 95-97)
4.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))
(see paragraph 116)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 10 June 2021 (Case R 2094/2019-1);
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Zeta Farmaceutici SpA.
(
1
)	OJ C 422, 18.10.2021.