Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 26 July 2023 –  
Apart v EUIPO – S. Tous (Representation of the outline of a bear)

(Case T‑638/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0638_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU figurative mark representing the outline of a bear – Partial revocation – Genuine use of the trade mark – Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Proof of genuine use)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Decision of the Board of Appeal going beyond the subject matter of the application for revocation – Unlawfulness  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 64(5), first sentence, 71(1), first sentence, and 95(1); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 21(1)(e))  (see paragraph 23) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Revocation proceedings – Facts and evidence not submitted within the prescribed time limit – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(5))  (see paragraphs 31-34) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU  (Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)  (see paragraphs 47, 48) |

| 4. | Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Brief statement of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Abstract statement – Inadmissibility  (Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))  (see paragraphs 58, 136) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Probative value of the evidence – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraph 64) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Figurative mark representing the outline of a bear  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 67, 83-86, 96, 109, 112, 125) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1))  (see paragraphs 72-75, 82) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Use of the mark in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and scope of point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second subpara., point (a), and 51(1)(a))  (see paragraphs 102, 103) |

| 9. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))  (see paragraphs 119-122) |

| 10. | EU law – Principles – Equal treatment – Concept – Difference in treatment for situations which are factually different and, accordingly, not comparable – No infringement  (see paragraph 128) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Apart sp. z o.o. to pay the costs. |

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(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0638_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 481, 29.11.2021](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2021:481:TOC).

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