Judgment of the General Court of 25 October 2018 — Devin v EUIPO — Haskovo (DEVIN)

(Case T-122/17) ¹

(EU trade mark — Cancellation proceeding — European Union word mark DEVIN — Absolute ground for refusal — Descriptive character — Geographical name — Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Devin AD (Devin, Bulgaria) (represented by: B. Van Asbroeck, lawyer)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: S. Di Natale and D. Gája, acting as Agents)

Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Haskovo, Bulgaria)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 2 December 2016 (Case R 579/2016-2) relating to invalidity proceedings between Devin AD and Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 2 December 2016 (Case R 579/2016-2);

Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Devin AD;

Orders Haskovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bear its own costs.

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¹     OJ C 121, 18.4.2017.