62022TJ0316_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 6 September 2023 –QC and Others v EUIPO – Wyrębski (BLUE BRAND CHICKEN)
(Case T‑316/22) (
1
)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Three-dimensional EU trade mark BLUE BRAND CHICKEN – Shape of a white and blue rectangular box – 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 – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 20, 22, 23)
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 – Intention of the applicant
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraph 24)
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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraph 25)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Three-dimensional trade mark BLUE BRAND CHICKEN
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))
(see paragraphs 31-38)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 24 March 2022 (Case R 1166/2020‑2);
2.
Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by QC, QD and QE during the proceedings before the General Court;
3.
Orders Mr Grzegorz Wyrębski to bear his own costs.
(
1
)	OJ C 284, 25.7.2022.