Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 15 July 2015 —

Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll v OHIM — Recticel (λ)

(Case T‑215/13)

‛Community trade mark — Revocation proceedings — Community figurative mark λ — Genuine use — Use as part of a composite mark — Proof of use — Articles 15 and 51(1) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009’

1. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 21-24, 31-33)

2. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment — Requirement for solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see para. 26)

3. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Mark used solely as an element of a complex mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 30, 59)

4. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No genuine use of a trade mark — Figurative mark λ (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a)) (see paras 41, 42, 48, 56-60)

5. Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Revocation proceedings — Evidence not submitted within the time-limit — Account taken — Discretion of the Board of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 51(1)(a), 57(1), and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(5)) (see paras 63-67, 69)

6. Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Condition for admissibility — Grounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(1)) (see para. 77)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 4 February 2013 (Case R 112/2012-5), relating to cancellation proceedings between Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG and Recticel SA.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG to pay the costs.

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 15 July 2015 —

Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll v OHIM — Recticel (λ)

(Case T‑215/13)

‛Community trade mark — Revocation proceedings — Community figurative mark λ — Genuine use — Use as part of a composite mark — Proof of use — Articles 15 and 51(1) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009’

1. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 21-24, 31-33)

2. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment — Requirement for solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see para. 26)

3. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Mark used solely as an element of a complex mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 30, 59)

4. Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No genuine use of a trade mark — Figurative mark λ (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a)) (see paras 41, 42, 48, 56-60)

5. Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Revocation proceedings — Evidence not submitted within the time-limit — Account taken — Discretion of the Board of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 51(1)(a), 57(1), and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(5)) (see paras 63-67, 69)

6. Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Condition for admissibility — Grounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(1)) (see para. 77)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 4 February 2013 (Case R 112/2012-5), relating to cancellation proceedings between Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG and Recticel SA.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;