Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 14 December 2017 — Consejo Regulador "Torta del Casar" v EUIPO — Consejo Regulador "Queso de La Serena" (QUESO Y TORTA DE LA SERENA)

(Case T‑828/16)

(EU trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for EU figurative trade mark QUESO Y TORTA DE LA SERENA — Protection of the designation of origin ‘Torta del Casar’ — Relative ground for refusal — Article 2(2), Article 3(1) and Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 — Article 8(4) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

1.      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 — Assessment by reference to the criteria determined by the national law governing the sign relied on

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(4) and 41(1)(c))

(see paras 18, 19)

2.      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 — Geographical indications and designations of origin

(Council Regulation No 2081/92, Arts 13 and 14; Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 142)

(see para. 24)

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 — Geographical indications and designations of origin — Use in a trade mark of a generic component contained in a designation of origin composed of several components — Lawfulness — Assessment of the generic nature of that component — EUIPO’s competence

(Council Regulation No 2081/92, Art. 13(1), second para.)

(see paras 25-27)

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 — Geographical indications and designations of origin — Assessment of the generic nature of a component contained in a protected designation of origin — Factors to be taken into consideration — Obligations of EUIPO

(Council Regulation No 2081/92, Art. 13(1), second para)

(see paras 28, 29)

5.      Agriculture — Uniform legislation — Protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs — Regulation No 2081/92 — Protection of registered names — Limits — Composite descriptions containing generic components

(Council Regulation No 2081/92, Arts 3 and 13(1), second para.)

(see paras 30-35)

6.      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 — Figurative mark QUESO Y TORTA DE LA SERENA — Designation of origin Torta del Casar

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 8(4))

(see paras 37-52, 63-66)

7.      Agriculture — Uniform legislation — Protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs — Regulation No 510/2006 — Evocation of a registered name — Meaning

(Council Regulation No 510/2006, Art. 13(1), first para., (b))

(see paras 57-62)

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

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3))

(see para. 69)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 September 2016 (Case R 2573/2014–4), concerning opposition proceedings between Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen ‘Torta del Casar’ and Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Protegida ‘Queso de La Serena’.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the Decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 26 September 2016 (Case R 2573/2014–4);

2. Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those of the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen ‘Torta del Casar’.