1. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Meaning – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3))

(see paragraphs 23-25)

2. 

EU trade mark – Lodging of application for EU trade mark – Identification of the goods or services concerned by the trade mark – Use of the general indications in the headings of the classes of the Nice Classification – Scope

(Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 2(1))

(see paragraphs 30, 31, 87, 88)

3. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Word mark BIG MAC

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

(see paragraphs 47, 55, 71, 93, 105, 107, 112)

4. 

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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions

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

(see paragraph 58)

5. 

EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Partial use – Effect – Concept of ‘some of the goods or services covered by the registration’

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 22(3))

(see paragraphs 64-66)

6. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Precluded

(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)

(see paragraph 81)

7. 

EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision – Limits

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(3))

(see paragraph 109)

1. 

Partially annuls and alters the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 14 December 2022 (Case R 543/2019-4) to the effect that the appeal brought before that Board of Appeal of EUIPO by McDonald’s International Property Co. Ltd against the Cancellation Division’s decision of 11 January 2019 is dismissed as regards the goods ‘chicken sandwiches’ in Classes 29 and 30, the goods ‘foods prepared from poultry products’ in Class 29 and the ‘services rendered or associated with operating restaurants and other establishments or facilities engaged in providing food and drink prepared for consumption and for drive-through facilities; preparation of carry-out foods’ in Class 42, with regard to which the contested mark had been revoked;

2. 

Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

3. 

Orders each party to bear its own costs.