Case T-526/20: Judgment of the General Court of 14 December 2022 — Devin v EUIPO — Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DEVIN) (EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark DEVIN — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — Geographical name — Not contrary to public policy — Mark not of such a nature as to mislead the public — Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Distinctive character acquired through use — Article 7(3) and Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001) — Cross-claim)
Date: 2022-12-14
Institutions: General Court
Subjects: EU trade mark, non-alcoholic beverage, registered trade mark, trade-mark law








C_2023063EN.01003302.xml










20.2.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 63/33






Judgment of the General Court of 14 December 2022 — Devin v EUIPO — Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DEVIN)
(Case T-526/20) (1)

(EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - EU word mark DEVIN - Absolute grounds for refusal - Descriptive character - Geographical name - Not contrary to public policy - Mark not of such a nature as to mislead the public - Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c), (f) and (g) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) - Distinctive character acquired through use - Article 7(3) and Article 52(2) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation 2017/1001) - Cross-claim)
(2023/C 63/41)
Language of the case: English

Parties


Applicant: Devin EAD (Devin, Bulgaria) (represented by: B. Van Asbroeck, G. de Villegas and C. Haine, lawyers)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: A. Folliard-Monguiral, acting as Agent)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Haskovo, Bulgaria) (represented by: D. Dimitrova and I. Pakidanska, lawyers)

Re:

By its action based on Article 263 TFEU, the applicant seeks annulment of the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 28 May 2020 (Case R 2535/2019-1).

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:






1.


Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 28 May 2020 (Case R 2535/2019-1) in so far as it declared the EU trade mark number 9 408 865 to be invalid for all the goods covered other than the product ‘mineral water complying with the specifications of the [protected geographical indication] Devin Natural Mineral Water’ in Class 32;










2.


Dismisses the cross-claim;










3.


Orders, in respect of the main action, EUIPO to bear, in addition to its own costs, the costs incurred by Devin EAD; and orders Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bear its own costs;










4.


Orders, in respect of the cross-claim, Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bear its own costs and to pay the costs incurred by Devin and by EUIPO.






(1)  OJ C 339, 12.10.2020.