1. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Appeal brought against a decision by the Cancellation Division of EUIPO – Decision of the Board of Appeal going beyond the subject matter of the application for revocation – Unlawfulness

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 64(5), first sentence, 71(1), first sentence, and 95(1); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 21(1)(e))

(see paragraph 23)

2. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Revocation proceedings – Facts and evidence not submitted within the prescribed time limit – Account taken – Discretion of the Board of Appeal

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 95(2); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 40(5))

(see paragraphs 31-34)

3. 

EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU

(Art. 296 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)

(see paragraphs 47, 48)

4. 

Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Brief statement of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Abstract statement – 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 paragraphs 58, 136)

5. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Examination of the application – Proof of use of the earlier mark – Probative value of the evidence – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))

(see paragraph 64)

6. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Figurative mark representing the outline of a bear

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))

(see paragraphs 67, 83-86, 96, 109, 112, 125)

7. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1))

(see paragraphs 72-75, 82)

8. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Use of the mark in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark – Subject matter and scope of point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 15(1) of Regulation No 207/2009 – Examination of alteration of distinctive character

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second subpara., point (a), and 51(1)(a))

(see paragraphs 102, 103)

9. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Three-dimensional trade marks consisting of the shape of the product itself – Distinctive character – Criteria for assessment

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 119-122)

10. 

EU law – Principles – Equal treatment – Concept – Difference in treatment for situations which are factually different and, accordingly, not comparable – No infringement

(see paragraph 128)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Apart sp. z o.o. to pay the costs.