Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 8 June 2017 —  
Kaane American International Tobacco v EUIPO — Global Tobacco (GOLD MOUNT)

(Case T‑294/16)

(EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — EU figurative mark GOLD MOUNT — No genuine use of the trade mark — No proper reasons for non-use — Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009)

| 1. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No genuine use of a trade mark — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 12-14) |

| 2. | 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 — Assessment of the distinctive elements of the earlier trade mark having to precede that of genuine use  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1), second subpara., (a))  (see paras 15, 16) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No 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 GOLD MOUNT  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second subpara., (a), and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 28, 29) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No genuine use of a trade mark — Concept of ‘proper reasons’ for non-use — Independent and uniform interpretation — Obstacles bearing a direct relation to the trade mark rendering its use unreasonable or impossible and independent of the volition of the trade mark proprietor  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 33, 41-44) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 8 April 2016 (Case R 1857/2015-4) relating to revocation proceedings between Global Tobacco and Kaane American International Tobacco.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Kaane American International Tobacco Company FZE to pay the costs. |

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