Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 17.1.2022 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 24/31 |

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Judgment of the General Court of 10 November 2021 — VF International v EUIPO — National Geographic Society (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)

(Case T-518/20) [(1)](#ntr1-C_2022024EN.01003101-E0001)

(EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - EU figurative mark NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - Earlier non-registered mark GEOGRAPHIC - Relative ground for refusal - Use in the course of trade of a sign of more than mere local significance - Article 8(4) and Article 52(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

(2022/C 24/40)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: VF International Sagl (Stabio, Switzerland) (represented by: T. van Innis and A. Van der Planken, lawyers)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: M. Fischer and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: National Geographic Society (Washington, District of Columbia, United States) (represented by: S. Malynicz QC, and C. de Haas, lawyer)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 21 May 2020 (Case R 1664/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VF International and National Geographic Society.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

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| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

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| 2. | Orders VF International Sagl to pay the costs. |

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