Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 29 November 2018 –  
Khadi and Village Industries Commission v EUIPO — BNP Best Natural Products (khadí Naturprodukte aus Indíen)

(Case T‑682/17)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU figurative mark ‘khadí Naturprodukte aus Indíen’ — Production of evidence for the first time before the Board of Appeal — Discretion of the Board of Appeal — Article 76(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Absolute grounds for refusal — Mark of such a nature as to deceive the public — Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation 2017/1001) — No bad faith — Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation 2017/1001))

| 1. | EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion — Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal — Examination restricted to the submissions of the parties  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), 52, 55 and 76(1))  (see paras 12, 13) |

| 2. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope — Evidence submitted for the first time before the Board of Appeal — Account taken — Discretion of the Board of Appeal  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 64(1) and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 50(1), third para.)  (see paras 19-21) |

| 3. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope — Application by analogy of Rule 50(1) of Regulation No 2868/95 in the context of invalidity proceedings based on absolute grounds of refusal — Not permissible  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7, 52(1) and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 50(1), third para.)  (see para. 23) |

| 4. | EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks likely to deceive the public — Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(g))  (see paras 44-46) |

| 5. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Figurative mark khadí Naturprodukte aus Indíen  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(g) and 52(1)(a))  (see paras 48, 53, 54) |

| 6. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application — Criteria for assessment — Taking into account of all relevant factors at the time of filing 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 — Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark — Chronology of events characterising the filing of the trade mark application  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 60-64) |

| 7. | EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application — Figurative mark khadí Naturprodukte aus Indíen  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see para. 72) |

| 8. | EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2) and (3))  (see para. 74) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 July 2017 (Case R 2085/2016-5) relating to invalidity proceedings between Khadi and Villages Industries Commission and BNP Best Natural Products.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Khadi and Village Industries Commission to pay the costs. |

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