Judgment of the General Court (Fifth Chamber, Extended Composition) of 15 September 2021 – MHCS v EUIPO – Lidl Stiftung (Shade of the colour orange)

(Case T‑274/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark depicting a shade of the colour orange – Absolute ground for refusal – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Examination of the facts of the EUIPO’s own motion – Article 95(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Nature of the mark – Colour mark – Right to be heard – Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001)

1.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Persons entitled to appeal and to be parties to the proceedings – Persons whose claims are not upheld by a decision – Decision referring the case back to the lower department for further prosecution

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(4))

(see paras 23, 24)

2.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account

(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7 and 95(1))

(see paras 32, 33, 38)

3.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(a); Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence)

(see para. 46)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 24 February 2020 (Case R 2392/2018-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Lidl Stiftung & Co. & MHCS.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 24 February 2020 (Case R 2392/2018-1);

2. Orders EUIPO to pay, in addition to its own costs, half of the costs incurred by MHCS;

3. Orders Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG to pay, in addition to its own costs, half of the costs incurred by MHCS.