Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 14 May 2019 –
Moreira v EUIPO — Da Silva Santos Júnior (NEYMAR)

(Case T‑795/17)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark NEYMAR — Declaration of invalidity — Bad faith — Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

1.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application — Criteria for assessment — Taking into account of all relevant factors at the time of filing the application for registration — Intention of the applicant — Origin of the contested sign — Commercial logic underlying the registration of the contested sign as an EU trade mark — Chronology of events characterising the filing of the trade mark application

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))

(see paras 16, 18-24, 49)

2.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application –Word mark NEYMAR

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))

(see paras 43-47, 51-57)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 September 2017 (Case R 80/2017-2), relating to invalidity proceedings between Mr Da Silva Santos Júnior and Mr Moreira.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Mr Carlos Moreira to pay the costs.