Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 July 2020 –  
Austria Tabak v EUIPO – Mignot & De Block (AIR)

(Case T‑800/19)

(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – European Union word mark AIR – Genuine use of the trade mark – Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Alteration of the distinctive character)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of its earlier mark – Genuine use – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))  (see para. 12) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of its earlier mark – Simultaneous use of several signs  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))  (see para. 14) |

| 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 – Subject matter and scope of Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 15, 19-23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of its earlier mark – Genuine use – Definition – Mark used solely as an element of a complex mark or in combination with another mark  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 18(1)(a))  (see paras 16, 17) |

| 5. | 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 – Simultaneous use of several signs  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))  (see para. 18) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Word mark AIR  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))  (see paras 32, 36-38) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 September 2019 (Case R 1665/2018-4), concerning revocation proceedings between Mignot & De Block and Austria Tabak.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action. |

| 2. | Orders Austria Tabak GmbH to pay the costs. |

[Top](#document1)