Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 15 November 2018.DRH Licensing & Managing AG v European Union Intellectual Property Office.EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — EU figurative mark Flexagil — Genuine use of the mark — Article 18(1), second subparagraph,(a) and Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character.Case T-831/17.

Judgment // 15/11/2018 // 2 min read
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Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 15 November 2018 –DRH Licensing & Managing v EUIPO — Merck (Flexagil)

(Case T‑831/17)

(EU trade mark — Revocation proceedings — EU figurative mark Flexagil — Genuine use of the mark — Article 18(1), second subparagraph,(a) and Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 — Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character)

  1. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Subject-matter and scope of Article 15(1), second subpara., (a), of Regulation No 207/2009

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a) and 51(1) (a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18 (1), second para., (a) and 58(1) (a))

(see paras 15-20)

  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) and 51(1) (a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18 (1) and 58 (1) (a))

(see paras 23-30)

  1. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — Absence of genuine use of a trade mark — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Figurative mark Flexagil

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a) and 51(1) (a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18 (1), second para., (a) and 58(1) (a))

(see paras 38, 44, 46, 59, 60, 67, 68)

  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 — Territorial extent of the use

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1) (a), replaced by European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18 (1) and 58 (1) (a))

(see paras 64-66)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 17 October 2017 (Case R 2043/2016-4), relating to revocation proceedings between DRH Licensing & Managing and Merck.

Operative part

The Court:

  1. Dismisses the action;

  2. Orders DRH Licensing & Managing AG to pay the costs.

Trade marks