Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 23 November 2022

Data

Court: General Court

Case date: 23 november 2022

Verdict

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 23 November 2022 –
Zeta Farmaceutici v EUIPO – Specchiasol (EUPHYTOS)

(Case T‑515/21)⁽¹⁾

"(EU trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - EU word mark EUPHYTOS - Earlier EU figurative mark EuPhidra - Proof of genuine use of the earlier mark - Article 56(2) and Article 43(2) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 64(2) and Article 47(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) - Relevant periods - Submission of evidence for the first time before the Board of Appeal - Discretion of the Board of Appeal - Classification of new or complementary evidence - Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 - Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625)"

1. EU trade markDecisions of EUIPOLegalityExamination by the EU judicatureCriteriaEUIPO examination guidelinesEffect

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)

(see paragraph 43)

2. EU trade markSurrender, revocation and invalidityExamination of the applicationProof of use of the earlier markGenuine useMeaningCriteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 43(2) and (3))

(see paragraphs 52, 57)

3. EU trade markProcedural provisionsInvalidity proceedingsFacts and evidence not submitted in support of the claim for invalidity within the time limitAccount takenDiscretion of the Board of Appeal

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 56(2); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 27(4))

(see paragraphs 79, 80, 91-93, 95-97)

4. EU trade markAppeals procedureAction before the EU judicaturePower of the General Court to alter the contested decisionLimits

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))

(see paragraph 116)

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 10 June 2021 (Case R 2094/2019-1);

2. Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

3. Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Zeta Farmaceutici SpA.