Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber) of 12 July 2023 –  
aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik v EUIPO – aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik (aTmos)

(Case T‑694/21) (
[1](#t-ECR_62021TJ0694_INF_EN_01-E0001)
)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark aTmos – Earlier national trade names aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH and aTmos – Relative ground for invalidity – Article 53(1)(c) and Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 60(1)(c) and Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Examination of the facts by the Office of its own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)

| 1. | EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning relative grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Examination of a legal question of the Office’s own motion – Condition  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(1))  (see paragraphs 24-26) |

| 2. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Conditions – Interpretation in the light of EU law – Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 39, 40) |

| 3. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Invalidity action based on the existence of an earlier national right – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 41, 74) |

| 4. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Use of the mark capable of being prohibited by virtue of another earlier right – Review by the competent bodies of the Office and by the Court as to the national law applicable – Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 42, 64) |

| 5. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Non-registered mark or another sign used in the course of trade – Word mark aTmos – Trade names aTmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH and aTmos  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4), and 53(1)(c))  (see paragraphs 61, 65, 76, 77, 85) |

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders ATmos Industrielle Lüftungstechnik GmbH, Düsseldorf to pay the costs. |

---

(
[1](#c-ECR_62021TJ0694_INF_EN_01-E0001)
) [OJ C 2, 3.1.2022](./../../../legal-content/EN/AUTO/?uri=OJ:C:2022:002:TOC).

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