62021TJ0627_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 7 September 2022 –Segimerus v EUIPO – Karsten Manufacturing (MONSOON)
(Case T‑627/21) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark MONSOON – Absolute ground for invalidity – Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001 – Article 34 of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 23-25)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account all relevant factors at the time of filing of the application for registration – Applicant’s knowledge that a third party is using an identical or similar sign – Intention of the applicant – Origin and use of the sign in dispute – Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark – Chronology of events characterising the filing of the trade mark application
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 26-29)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Burden of proof
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 31-33)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account all relevant factors at the time of filing of the application for registration – Intention of the applicant – Repeated filing of a trade mark seeking to obtain a blocking position by monopolising the sign and to extend by six months the period during which the person filing has a right of priority
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 34(1) and 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 35-37)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Word mark MONSOON
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 37, 41, 45)
6.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)
(see paragraphs 49, 50)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Segimerus Ltd to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Karsten Manufacturing Corp.
(
1
)	OJ C 471, 22.11.2021.