Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 15 January 2013 — Welte-Wenu v OHIM — Commission (EUROPEAN DRIVESHAFT SERVICES)

(Case T‑413/11)

Community trade mark — Proceedings for a declaration of invalidity — Community figurative mark EUROPEAN DRIVESHAFT SERVICES — Absolute ground for refusal — Imitation of the emblem of an international inter-governmental organisation — Article 7(1)(h) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Article 6b of the Paris Convention — Content of the application for a declaration of invalidity — Admissibility of new elements — Article 56(2) and Article 76 of Regulation No 207/2009 — Rule 37(b)(iv) of Regulation (EC) No 2868/95 — Jurisdiction of the Board of Appeal in the case of an action limited to part of the decision of the Cancellation Division

1.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Examination of the facts of the Office’s own motion — Facts and evidence not submitted in time — Taking into account, for the purposes of interpreting EU law, the case-law of the EU or national or international case-law — Lawfulness (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76) (see para. 32)

2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Trade marks to be refused under the Paris Convention — Protection of emblems of States and international organisations — Imitation from the heraldic point of view (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(h)) (see paras 36-38)

3.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(h) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Figurative mark composed of a circle of stars containing a crosspiece and the verbal element EUROPEAN DRIVESHAFT SERVICES (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(h)) (see paras 44, 56-62, 64, 67)

4.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal to a Board of Appeal — Competence of the Boards of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 64(1)) (see para. 76)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 12 May 2011 (Case R 1590/2010‑1) concerning proceedings for a declaration of invalidity between the European Commission and Welte-Wenu GmbH.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls paragraph 3 of the operative part of the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 12 May 2011 (Case R 1590/2010‑1) concerning proceedings for a declaration of invalidity between the European Commission and Welte-Wenu GmbH, in so far as it states that Welte-Wenu shall pay the costs of the proceedings for a declaration of invalidity and includes them in the global sum of EUR 2 500 which Welte-Wenu must reimburse to the European Commission;

2. Dismisses the remainder of the action;

3. Orders Welte-Wenu to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by OHIM. The Commission is ordered to bear its own costs.