Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 28 April 2021 –  
France Agro v EUIPO – Chafay (Choumicha Saveurs)

(Case T‑311/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Choumicha Saveurs – Absolute ground for refusal – Bad faith – Declaration of invalidity – 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 lodging the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 21-23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account of all relevant factors at the time of filing the application for registration – Intention of the applicant  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 24, 41, 55) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Figurative mark Choumicha Saveurs  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 32-35, 49-51) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Need to prove the existence of the likelihood of confusion between the marks at issue – Not included  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see para. 38) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – EU rules only taken into account – Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries – Decisions not binding EU bodies  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see para. 40) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Not included  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 48) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 March 2020 (Case R 1621/2019-5), relating to invalidity proceedings between Ms Chafay and France Agro.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders France Agro to pay the costs. |

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