1. 

Judicial proceedings — Application initiating proceedings — Formal requirements — Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based — Pleas in law not set out in the application — General reference to other documents — Inadmissibility

(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para. and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))

(see paras 29, 30)

2. 

EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Re-examination of the facts in the light of evidence not previously submitted before EUIPO bodies — Precluded

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

(see para. 39)

3. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade — Conditions — Interpretation in the light of EU law — Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))

(see paras 53-55)

4. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade — Review by the competent bodies of EUIPO and by the Court as to the national law applicable — Scope

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 8(4) and 72(1) and (2))

(see paras 68, 78-82)

5. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade — Sign giving its holder the right to prohibit the use of a more recent trade mark — Burden of proof

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4)(b); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, rule 37)

(see paras 70, 77, 83, 85)

6. 

EU trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of the EUIPO’s own motion — Opposition proceedings — Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided — Assessment by the Office of the correctness of the facts pleaded and the probative value of evidence submitted — Scope

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95)

(see para. 84)

7. 

EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Relative grounds for refusal — Opposition by the proprietor of an unregistered trade mark or other sign used in the course of trade — Word mark and commercial designation Peek & Cloppenburg

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 8(4))

(see paras 87-94, 97, 101, 104)

8. 

EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeals before the Boards of Appeal — Stay of proceedings — Conditions

(Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, rules 20(7)(c) and 50(1))

(see paras 114-116)

9. 

EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeals before the Boards of Appeal — Stay of proceedings — Discretion of the Board of Appeal — Prima facie examination of the chances of success of a counterclaim for the declaration of a right — Scope

(Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, rules 20(7)(c) and 50(1))

(see paras 118, 120-123, 125)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Peek & Cloppenburg KG (Düsseldorf) to pay the costs.