Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 25 January 2023 –  
Zielonogórski Klub Żużlowy Sportowa v EUIPO – Falubaz Polska (FALUBAZ)

(Case T‑703/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0703_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark FALUBAZ – 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 – 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 49, 50, 60-65, 82, 93) |

| 2. | 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 57-59) |

| 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 paragraphs 66, 67) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Word mark FALUBAZ  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 77, 84, 86-88, 99) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Zielonogórski Klub Żużlowy Sportowa S.A. to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0703_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 11, 10.1.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:011:TOC).

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