Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 13 February 2019 –  
Etnia Dreams v EUIPO — Poisson (Etnik)

(Case T‑823/17)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark Etnik — Earlier EU trade mark — Relative ground for refusal — Failure to identify the earlier trade mark in the notice of opposition — Principle of sound administration — Right to an effective remedy — Equality of arms — Principle of good faith — Legitimate expectations)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))  (see para. 25) |

| 2. | Judicial proceedings — Application initiating proceedings — Pleas — Alteration once proceedings have been started — Condition  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 76(e), 84(2) and 86(2))  (see paras 29, 31) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court –Direction issued to the Office — Not Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(6))  (see para. 32) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Obligation of the opponent to clearly identify the earlier mark — Admissibility  (Council Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 15(2)(b)(i), replaced by Commission Delegated Regulation 2018/625, Art. 2(2)(b)(i))  (see para. 40) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Opposition proceedings — Communication relating to the admissibility of an opposition  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 47; Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 20, replaced by Commission Delegated Regulation 2018/625, Art. 8)  (see paras 83-85) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94)  (see paras 92, 93) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Boards of Appeal — Classification as administration of the Office — Right of the parties to a fair trial — None  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001; Commission Regulation No 2868/95; Commission Delegated Regulation 2018/625)  (see para. 104) |

| 8. | EU law — Principles — Equal treatment — Meaning  (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 20)  (see para. 109) |

| 9. | EU law — Principles — Protection of legitimate expectations — Conditions — Specific assurances given by the authorities  (see para. 120) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 19 October 2017 (Case R 880/2017-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Etnia Dreams and Mr Poisson.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Etnia Dreams SL to pay the costs. |

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