Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 12 June 2024 –  
Kirov v EUIPO – Pasticceria Cristiani (CRISTIANI)

(Case T‑149/23) (
[1](#t-ECR_62023TJ0149_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU figurative mark CRISTIANI – Genuine use of the mark – Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Expiry of the five-year period – Obligation to state reasons)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 17-21, 25, 27) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Territorial extent of the use  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 22-24) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Examination by EUIPO of its own motion – None  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paragraph 26) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Rights conferred by a trade mark – Right to prohibit the use of the mark – Use of an identical or similar sign covering identical or similar products or services – Extent of the exclusive right granted to the proprietor – Period of five years following registration  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 9(2)(b), 18(1) and 58(1)(a) and (2))  (see paragraph 33) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Concept of ‘proper reasons’ for non-use – Autonomous and uniform interpretation – Obstacles bearing a direct relation to the trade mark rendering its use unreasonable or impossible and independent of the volition of the trade mark proprietor  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1))  (see paragraph 34) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraph 64) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Figurative mark CRISTIANI  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 15(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 35, 39, 40, 49-53, 60) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Georgi Kirov to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by Pasticceria Cristiani Sas di Sergio Cristiani & C.; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62023TJ0149_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 173, 15.5.2023](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2023:173:TOC).

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