62023TJ0172_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 21 February 2024 –Dendiki v EUIPO – D Market (hepsiburada)
(Case T‑172/23) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark hepsiburada – Absolute ground for invalidity – Bad faith – Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraphs 15, 19)
2.
EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Scope – Obligation to prove matters within common knowledge –None – Dispute before the General Court
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 72(2) and 95(1))
(see paragraph 16)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant acting in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraph 24)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant acting 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 – Degree of legal protection of the signs at issue – Origin and use of the contested sign – Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark – Chronology of events leading up to the filing of the trade mark application
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 25, 26, 38, 49, 50, 55, 58)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant acting in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Burden of proof
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 27, 28, 61)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant acting 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 – Restriction to the EU market – Precluded
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraph 35)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant acting in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Word mark hepsiburada
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 37, 40, 42, 48, 54, 60, 62)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Dendiki BV to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by D-Market Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 179, 22.5.2023.