Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 12 December 2017 — Sony Computer Entertainment Europe v EUIPO — Vieta Audio (Vita)

(Case T‑35/16)

(EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — EU word mark Vita — Genuine use of the mark — Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Use in connection with the goods in question — Obligation to state reasons)

| 1. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Causes of revocation—Absence of genuine use of a trade mark—Proof of use of the earlier mark—Genuine use—Meaning—Criteria for assessment  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a) and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Arts 1, Rule 22(3) and (4), and 40(5))  (see paras 33-37) |

| 2. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Causes of revocation—Absence of genuine use of a trade mark—Proof of use of the earlier mark—Genuine use—Application of the criteria to the case in question  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a) and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Arts 1, Rule 22(3) and (4), and 40(5))  (see para. 38) |

| 3. | EU trade mark—Surrender, revocation and invalidity—Causes of revocation—Absence of genuine use of a trade mark—Word mark Vita  (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a) and 51(1)(a))  (see paras 39-43, 50-54, 58, 59) |

| 4. | EU trade mark—Procedural provisions—Statement of reasons for decisions—First sentence of Article 75 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 paras 44, 45) |

| 5. | EU law—Principles—Rights of defence—Audi alteram partem rule—Compliance in the context of judicial proceedings  (Art. 263 TFEU)  (see paras 47, 48) |

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 12 November 2015 (Case R 2232/2014-5), relating to revocation proceedings between Vieta Audio and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Operative part

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 12 November 2015 (Case R 2232/2014-5), relating to revocation proceedings between Vieta Audio, SA and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd; |

| 2. | Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe; |

| 3. | Orders Vieta Audio to bear its own costs. |

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