Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 13 October 2021 –
M. I. Industries v EUIPO – Natural Instinct (INSTINCT)

(Case T‑1/20)

(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark INSTINCT – No genuine use of the trade mark – Extent of use – Overall assessment of the evidence – Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

1. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Meaning – Criteria for assessment

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

(see paras 27-32, 34, 35, 83)

2. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Meaning – Determination of a minimal quantitative use threshold – Precluded

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

(see para. 33)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Use during a five year period – Consideration of evidence concerning use outside of that period – Conditions

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

(see paras 44, 45, 49)

4. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Word mark INSTINCT

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

(see paras 51, 56, 59, 67, 90, 93)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 28 October 2019 (Case R 178/2019-5), relating to revocation proceedings between Natural Instinct and M.I. Industries.

Operative part

The Court:

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders M.I. Industries, Inc. to pay the costs.