Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 14 July 2021 –  
Abitron Germany v EUIPO – Hetronic International (NOVA)

(Case T‑75/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark NOVA – Non-registered earlier national trade mark NOVA – Relative ground for refusal – Article 8(4) and Article 53(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(4) and Article 60(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, respectively) – Reference to the national law governing the earlier mark – Absolute ground for refusal – 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 – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Re-evaluation of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded  (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)  (see para. 27) |

| 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  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 53(1)(c))  (see para. 35) |

| 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 para. 36) |

| 4. | 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 NOVA and non-registered mark NOVA  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 53(1)(c))  (see paras 38, 39) |

| 5. | 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 – Intention of the applicant  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 47, 48) |

| 6. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 49, 50) |

| 7. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Burden of proof  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see para. 51) |

| 8. | EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Word mark NOVA and non-registered mark NOVA  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))  (see paras 53, 61-63, 70-73) |

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 10 December 2019 (Case R 521/2019-4), relating to invalidity proceedings between Abitron Germany and Hetronic International.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Dismisses the action; |

| 2. | Orders Abitron Germany GmbH to pay the costs. |

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