Judgment of the General Court of 8 September 2021 – SBG v EUIPO – VF International (GEØGRAPHICAL NØRWAY)

(Case T-458/20) ¹

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark GEØGRAPHICAL NØRWAY – Absolute ground for refusal – Absolute ground for invalidity – Article 51(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Bad faith – Obligation to state reasons)

Language of the case: French

Parties

Applicant: Super Brand Licencing (SBG) (Villeurbanne, France) (represented by: T. de Haan and A. Sion, lawyers)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: D. Hanf and V. Ruzek, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: VF International Sagl (Stabio, Switzerland) (represented by: T. van Innis and A. Van der Planken, lawyers)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 April 2020 (Case R 1178/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VF International and SBG.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

1.    Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 6 April 2020 (Case R 1178/2019-1);

2.    Orders EUIPO and VF International Sagl to pay the costs.

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¹     OJ C 287, 31.8.2020.