Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 14 March 2018 – Crocs v EUIPO – Gifi Diffusion (Footwear)

(Case T-651/16)

(Community design — Invalidity proceedings — Registered Community design representing footwear — Earlier Community design — Ground for invalidity — Lack of novelty — Disclosure prior to the priority date — Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion — Additional evidence adduced before the Board of Appeal — Articles 5, 7 and Article 63(2) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002)

| 1. | Community designs–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  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 85(3), 173(3) and 188; Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 61)  (see paras 15, 17) |

| 2. | Judicial proceedings–Application initiating proceedings–Formal requirements–Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based–Similar requirements for submissions made in support of a plea  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para. and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 76(1)(d))  (see paras 22-24) |

| 3. | Community designs–Procedural provisions–Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion–Facts and evidence not submitted in time–Account taken–Power of assessment of the Office  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 63(2))  (see paras 31-34) |

| 4. | Community designs–Ground for invalidity–Lack of novelty–Previous disclosure of identical design–Additional evidence adduced before the Board of Appeal–Representation of a shoe  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 5, 7 and 63(2))  (see paras 36, 52, 63, 65, 70, 71) |

| 5. | Community designs–Ground for invalidity–Lack of novelty–Disclosure to the public–Exception–Facts not reasonably capable of being known to specialist circles of the sector concerned–Events taking place outside the EU–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 7(1))  (see paras 47, 51, 55, 56) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 June 2016 (Case R 853/2014-3), relating to invalidity proceedings between Gifi Diffusion and Crocs.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Crocs, Inc. to bear its own costs and pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Gifi Diffusion in the proceedings before the General Court. |

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