Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 15 November 2018 –  
DRH Licensing & Managing v EUIPO — Merck (Flexagil)

(Case T‑831/17)

(EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — EU figurative mark Flexagil — Genuine use of the mark — Article 18(1), second subparagraph,(a) and Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade 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), second subpara., (a), of Regulation No 207/2009  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a) and 51(1)(a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1), second para., (a) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 15-20) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Meaning — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 23-30) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Figurative mark Flexagil  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a) and 51(1)(a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1), second para., (a) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 38, 44, 46, 59, 60, 67, 68) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Meaning — Criteria for assessment — Territorial extent of the use  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 64-66) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 October 2017 (Case R 2043/2016-4), relating to revocation proceedings between DRH Licensing & Managing and Merck.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders DRH Licensing & Managing AG to pay the costs. |

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