Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 30 September 2016 —

Alpex Pharma v EUIPO — Astex Pharmaceuticals (ASTEX)

(Case T‑355/15)

‛EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU word mark ASTEX — Earlier EU word mark ALPEX — No genuine use of the earlier mark — Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 76(1) of Regulation No 207/2009’

| 1. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal — Not permissible (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188) (see para. 15) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Definition — Interpretation taking account of the ratio legis of Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see para. 23) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Definition — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 25-28) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Criteria for assessment — Requirement of solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 29, 30) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Subject-matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a), and 42(2) and (3)) (see para. 31) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence) (see para. 45) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion — Duty of diligence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(1)) (see para. 51) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 28 April 2015 (Case R 593/2014-2), relating to opposition proceedings between Alpex Pharma and Astex Pharmaceuticals.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Alpex Pharma SA to pay the costs. |

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