Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 10 October 2017 – Cofra v EUIPO – Armand Thiery (1841)

(Case T-233/15)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark 1841 — Earlier national word mark AD-1841-TY — Relative ground for refusal — Genuine use of the earlier mark — Taking into account of additional evidence — Articles 57(2) and 76(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Articles 64(2) and 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Rule 40(6) of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 (now Article 19(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1430) — Point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 18(1) of Regulation 2017/1001) — Likelihood of confusion — Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark–Procedural provisions–Invalidity proceedings–Facts and evidence not submitted in support of the claim for invalidity within the time-limit–Account taken–Discretion of the Board of Appeal  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 57(1)(2) and (3), and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(6))  (see paras 23-28, 34, 36, 37) |

| 2. | EU trade mark–Surrender, revocation and invalidity–Examination of the application–Proof of use of the earlier mark–Genuine use–Meaning–Interpretation taking account of the rationale of Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, tenth recital and Art. 57(2) and (3))  (see para. 41) |

| 3. | EU trade mark–Surrender, revocation and invalidity–Examination of the application–Proof of use of the earlier mark–Genuine use–Meaning–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 57(2) and (3))  (see paras 42, 50, 52, 56, 57, 60, 63) |

| 4. | EU trade mark–Surrender, revocation and invalidity–Examination of the application–Proof of use of the earlier mark–Genuine use–Application of the criteria to the case in question  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 57(2) and (3))  (see para. 58) |

| 5. | EU trade mark–Surrender, revocation and invalidity–Examination of the application–Proof of use of the earlier mark–Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark  Subject-matter and scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a) and 57(2))  (see paras 67-69) |

| 6. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Relative grounds for refusal–Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 80, 81, 114) |

| 7. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Relative grounds for refusal–Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark–Assessment of the likelihood of confusion–Attention level of the public  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 83) |

| 8. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Relative grounds for refusal–Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Similarity between the goods or services in question–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 85) |

| 9. | EU trade mark–Surrender, revocation and invalidity–Relative grounds for invalidity–Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark–Word marks 1841 and AD-1841-TY  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))  (see paras 86, 113, 116, 117, 119) |

| 10. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Relative grounds for refusal–Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Similarity between the goods or services in question–Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see paras 87, 88) |

| 11. | EU trade mark–Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark–Relative grounds for refusal–Opposition by the proprietor of an earlier identical or similar mark registered for identical or similar goods or services–Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark–Similarity of the marks concerned–Whether conceptual differences may neutralise visual or aural similarities–Conditions  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(1)(b))  (see para. 110) |

| 12. | EU trade mark–Appeals procedure–Action before the EU judicature–Jurisdiction of the General Court–Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal–Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies–Not included  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65)  (see para. 122) |

| 13. | Judicial proceedings–Costs–Litigation concerning intellectual property rights–Recoverable costs–Costs necessarily incurred by the parties for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal  (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 190(2))  (see paras 124-128) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 February 2015 (Case R 805/2014-1) relating to invalidity proceedings between Armand Thiery and Cofra Holding.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Cofra Holding AG to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred, in connection with the present proceedings, by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and by Armand Thiery SAS. |

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