Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 10 November 2021 –  
VF International v EUIPO – National Geographic Society (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)

(Case T‑518/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – Earlier non-registered mark GEOGRAPHIC – Relative ground for refusal – Use in the course of trade of a sign of more than mere local significance – Article 8(4) and Article 52(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(4) and 52(1)(c))  (see paras 15, 16, 18) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Use of the sign in trade – Concept – Use in the context of a commercial activity with a view to economic advantage  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(4) and 52(1)(c))  (see paras 17, 30) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Figurative mark NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and non-registered mark GEOGRAPHIC  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(4) and 52(1)(c))  (see paras 26, 38, 43, 44, 46, 47) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Local scope of sign  (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 8(4) and 52(1)(c))  (see para. 31) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case  (Council Regulation No 40/94)  (see para. 45) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 21 May 2020 (Case R 1664/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VF International and National Geographic Society.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders VF International Sagl to pay the costs. |

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