Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 15 July 2015

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 15 juli 2015

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 15 July 2015 —

Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll v OHIM — Recticel (λ)

(Case T‑215/13)

"Community trade mark - Revocation proceedings - Community figurative mark λ - Genuine use - Use as part of a composite mark - Proof of use - Articles 15 and 51(1) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009"

1. Community trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markGenuine useConceptCriteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 21-24, 31-33)

2. Community trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markGenuine useConceptCriteria for assessmentRequirement for solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see para. 26)

3. Community trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markGenuine useConceptMark used solely as an element of a complex mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3)) (see paras 30, 59)

4. Community trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityCauses of revocationNo genuine use of a trade markFigurative mark λ (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a)) (see paras 41, 42, 48, 56-60)

5. Community trade markProcedural provisionsRevocation proceedingsEvidence not submitted within the time-limitAccount takenDiscretion of the Board of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 51(1)(a), 57(1), and 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(5)) (see paras 63-67, 69)

6. Community trade markAppeals procedureAction before the EU judicatureCondition for admissibilityGrounds of appeal directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(1)) (see para. 77)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 4 February 2013 (Case R 112/2012-5), relating to cancellation proceedings between Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG and Recticel SA.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Deutsche Rockwool Mineralwoll GmbH & Co. OHG to pay the costs.