Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 12 May 2016

1. EU trade markProcedural provisionsExamination of the facts of the Office’s own motionFacts and evidence not submitted in timeAccount takenDiscretion of the Office (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22) (see paras 25-30)

2. EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markUse of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the markSubject-matter and scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a), and 57(2)) (see paras 53-55)

3. EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markUse of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the markFigurative mark mobile (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1)(a), and 57(2)) (see paras 61, 74)

4. EU 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)(a), and 57(2)) (see paras 63, 64)

5. EU trade markDecisions of the OfficeLegalityEUIPO’s previous decision-making practicePrinciple of non-discriminationNo effect (Council Regulation No 207/2009) (see para. 73)

Re:

Two actions brought against the decisions of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 9 January (Case R 922/2013-1) and 13 February 2014 (Case R 951/2013-1) relating to two cancellation proceedings between mobile.international GmbH and Rezon OOD.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the actions;

2. Orders mobile.international GmbH to pay the costs.