1. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Substantiation of the application – Proof of the existence, validity and scope of the protection of an earlier registered trade mark – Extract from the EUIPO’s TMview database relating to a national mark – Included – Requirement to submit a translation in the language of the proceedings

(Commission Regulation No 2018/625, Arts 16(2) and 17(3))

(see para. 32)

2. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Decision of an EUIPO body forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal

(see para. 35)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Definition – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 57(2) and (3); Commission Regulation 2018/625)

(see paras 55-58, 63, 64)

4. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Genuine use – Use during a five year period – Consideration of evidence concerning use outside of that period

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 57(2) and (3); Commission Regulation 2018/625)

(see para. 86)

5. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier 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)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 57(2) and (3))

(see para. 89)

6. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))

(see paras 98, 99, 101, 134)

7. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Similarity of the marks concerned – Criteria for assessment – Composite mark

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))

(see paras 116, 117)

8. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Relative grounds for invalidity – Existence of an identical or similar earlier mark registered for identical or similar goods or services – Likelihood of confusion with the earlier mark – Figurative marks SmartThinQ and SMARTTHING

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(b), and 53(1)(a))

(see paras 105, 109, 118, 123, 127, 133, 135, 136)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders LG Electronics, Inc., to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).