Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 4 July 2014 — Construcción, Promociones e Instalaciones v OHIM — Copisa Proyectos y Mantenimientos Industriales (CPI COPISA INDUSTRIAL)

(Case T‑345/13)

‛Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for Community figurative mark CPI COPISA INDUSTRIAL — Earlier Spanish figurative mark Cpi construcción promociones e instalaciones, s.a. and earlier trade name Construcción, Promociones e Instalaciones, S.A.-C.P.I. — Relative grounds for refusal — Article 8(1) (b) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — No evidence of genuine use of the earlier mark — No evidence of use of the earlier trade name in the course of trade’

1. Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Interpretation having regard to the rationale of Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see para. 20)

2. Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 21-23)

3. Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Application of the criteria to the case in question (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 24, 25)

4. Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Determination of a quantitative threshold of minimum use — Exclusion (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see para. 25)

5. Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Criteria for assessment — Requirement of solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see para. 26)

6. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Conditions (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)) (see para. 40)

7. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Conditions — Interpretation in the light of EU law (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)) (see para. 41)

8. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Use of the sign in trade — Concept (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 42, 43)

9. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Use of the sign in trade — Concept — Use in the context of a commercial activity for economic advantage (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)) (see para. 44)

10. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Local scope of sign (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)) (see paras 45, 46)

11. Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the holder of an unregistered mark or other sign used in trade — Use of the sign in trade — Temporal criterion (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4)(a)) (see para. 47)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of OHIM of 10 April 2013 (Case R 1935/2012-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Construcción, Promociones e Instalaciones, SA, and Copisa Proyectos y Mantenimientos Industriales, SA.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;