62021TJ0612_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 30 November 2022 –ADS L. Kowalik, B. Włodarczyk v EUIPO – ESSAtech (Accessory for wireless remote control)
(Case T‑612/21) (
1
)
(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing an accessory for a wireless remote control – Ground for invalidity – Features of appearance of a product which are solely dictated by its technical function – Article 8(1) and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 – Facts or evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal – Article 63(2) of Regulation No 6/2002 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 41(1) and (2)(c) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights)
1.
Community designs – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Discretion of EUIPO – Limits
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 55, 63(2) and 108(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))
(see paragraphs 29, 30, 33, 35, 36, 62, 65, 74)
2.
Community designs – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Facts and evidence not submitted in due time – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal – Obligation to state reasons
(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(1) and (2)(c); Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 62 and 63(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))
(see paragraphs 37-40, 45, 54)
3.
Community designs – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision taken by a department of EUIPO – Examination by the Board of Appeal – Scope – Examination of EUIPO’s own motion of pleas relating to essential procedural requirements – Whether permissible – Conditions – Party’s failure to challenge not exempting from examination or from obligation to state reason
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 63(1) and (2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(2) and (4))
(see paragraph 58)
4.
Community designs – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Interest in bringing proceedings – Plea based on infringement of essential procedural requirements – Circumscribed powers of EUIPO – No interest
(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61)
(see paragraph 73)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 14 July 2022 (Case R 1072/2020-3);
2.
Orders EUIPO to pay the costs incurred in the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO and before the General Court.
(
1
)	OJ C 502, 13.12.2021.