Order of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 16 September 2021 –
H&H v EUIPO – Giuliani (Swisse)

(Case T‑486/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Swisse – Cross-claim – Subject matter of the action – No interest in bringing proceedings – Inadmissibility)

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 granting an application for invalidity on the basis of part of the arguments put forward – No interest in bringing proceedings – Inadmissibility

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

(see paras 32, 33, 35)

2.      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 para. 40)

3.      EU law – Principles – Right to effective judicial protection – Enshrined by the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights reaffirmed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 47)

(see para. 43)

Operative part

1. The cross-claim is dismissed as inadmissible.

2. Giuliani SpA is ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings relating to the cross-claim.

3. The Association for the Protection of the Origin of Swiss Cosmetics (Swisscos), Health and Happiness (H&H) Hong Kong Ltd, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and Giuliani shall each bear their own costs relating to Swisscos’ application for leave to intervene in the cross-claim.