Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 17 February 2017 —  
Unilever v EUIPO — Technopharma (Fair & Lovely)

(Case T‑811/14)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative mark Fair & Lovely — Earlier national and Benelux word marks FAIR & LOVELY — Decision on the appeal — Article 64(1) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Right to be heard — Second sentence of Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Suspension of the administrative proceedings — Rule 20(7)(c) and Rule 50(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 — Legitimate expectations — Misuse of powers — Manifest errors of assessment)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of EUIPO — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope — Observance of the rights of the defence  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 64(1), and 75)  (see paras 31, 35-37) |

| 2. | EU law — Principles — Protection of legitimate expectations — Conditions — Specific assurances given by the authorities  (see para. 39) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal to a Board of Appeal — Stay of proceedings — Conditions  (Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rules 20(7)(c), and 50(1))  (see paras 54-56, 61) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 October 2014 (Case R 1004/2013-4), relating to opposition proceedings between Technopharma and Unilever.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 6 October 2014 (Case R 1004/2013‑4) concerning opposition proceedings between Technopharma Ltd et Unilever NV; |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay half of the costs incurred by Unilever; |

| 3. | Orders Technopharma to bear its own costs and to pay half of the costs incurred by Unilever. |

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