Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 23 October 2024 –  
İlbay v EUIPO – Pella-eu (PELLA)

(Case T‑514/23)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark PELLA – Absolute ground for invalidity – Bad faith – Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account all relevant factors at the time of filing of the application for registration – Applicant’s knowledge that a third party is using an identical or similar sign – Intention of the applicant – Degree of legal protection of the signs at issue – Origin and use of the contested sign – Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark – Chronology of events leading up to the filing of the trade mark application  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 15, 21-24) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 17-20) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Burden of proof  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))  (see paragraph 25) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when filing the trade mark application – Word mark PELLA  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 59(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 29, 30, 32, 35-38) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Mr Ümit İlbay to bear his own costs and to pay those incurred by Pella-eu vof; |

| 3. | Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs. |

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