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Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 July 2020

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 July 2020

Data

Court
General Court
Case date
8 juli 2020

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 July 2020 –
Austria Tabak v EUIPO – Mignot & De Block (AIR)

(Case T‑800/19)

"(EU trade mark - Revocation proceedings - European Union word mark AIR - Genuine use of the trade mark - Article 18(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 - Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001 - Alteration of the distinctive character)"

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of its earlier markGenuine useCriteria for assessmentRequirement of solid and objective evidence

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))

(see para. 12)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of its earlier markSimultaneous use of several signs

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))

(see para. 14)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityCauses of revocationAbsence of genuine use of a trade markUse of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the markSubject matter and scope of Article 18(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001Examination of alteration of distinctive character

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))

(see paras 15, 19-23)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of its earlier markGenuine useDefinitionMark used solely as an element of a complex mark or in combination with another mark

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 18(1)(a))

(see paras 16, 17)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityCauses of revocationAbsence of genuine use of a trade markUse of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the markSimultaneous use of several signs

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))

(see para. 18)

EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityCauses of revocationAbsence of genuine use of a trade markWord mark AIR

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1)(a) and 58(1)(a))

(see paras 32, 36-38)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 16 September 2019 (Case R 1665/2018-4), concerning revocation proceedings between Mignot & De Block and Austria Tabak.

Operative part

The Court:

Dismisses the action.

Orders Austria Tabak GmbH to pay the costs.