Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 29 April 2020 –Lidl Stiftung v EUIPO — Plásticos Hidrosolubles (green cycles)
(Case T‑78/19)
(EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — European Union figurative mark green cycles — Genuine use of the mark — Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 — Article 10(3) and (4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 — Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character — Lack of use of the sign as a company logo)
1.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Definition — Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))
(see paras 23-25, 30-33, 74)
2.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Partial use — Effect — Definition of (some of the goods or services) covered by the registration
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a) and (2))
(see para. 26)
3.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Figurative mark green cycles
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))
(see paras 43, 45, 58, 62, 69, 70, 80)
4.      EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Procedural role of the Office — Right of the Office, although designated as the defendant, to support the applicant’s claims
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 172)
(see para. 47)
5.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Objective of the requirement
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 64(2) and (3))
(see para. 57)
6.      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 — Subject matter and scope of Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 18(1)(a))
(see paras 66, 67)
7.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Proof of use — Genuine use — Definition — 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); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))
(see para. 75)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 29 November 2018 (Case R 778/2018-5) relating to revocation proceedings between Lidl Stiftung and Plásticos Hidrosolubles.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 29 November 2018 (Case R 778/2018-5) in so far as it found genuine use of the contested mark in respect of the goods in Class 20;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG, EUIPO and Plásticos Hidrosolubles, SL, to each bear their own costs incurred during the proceedings before the Court.