Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 7 July 2021 –
S. Tous v EUIPO – Zhejiang China-Best Import & Export (Luminaire)

(Case T‑492/20)

(Community design – Invalidity proceedings – Registered Community design representing a lamp – Earlier EU figurative marks representing a teddy bear – Grounds for invalidity – Article 25(1)(b) and (e) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002)

1.      Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – No individual character – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Global assessment of all the elements of the earlier design

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 3(a) and 6(1)(b))

(see paras 14, 16, 17)

2.      Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – Conflict with an earlier design – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Criteria for assessment – Creative licence – Similarities between the designs concerning common characteristics

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 10 and 25(1)(d))

(see paras 19-21, 23)

3.      Community designs – Grounds for invalidity – Conflict with an earlier design – Design not giving the informed user a different overall impression from that produced by the earlier design – Informed user – Definition

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Arts 6(2) and 25(1)(b))

(see paras 25-28)

4.      EU trade mark – Effects of the EU trade mark – Rights conferred by a trade mark – Right to prohibit the use of the mark – Sign used for identical or similar goods or services without due cause which takes unfair advantage of, or is detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the trade mark

(Council Regulation No 6/2002, Art. 25(1)(e); Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 9(2)(c))

(see para. 40)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Third Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 May 2020 (Case R 1553/2019-3), relating to invalidity proceedings between S. Tous and Zhejiang China-Best Import & Export.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders S. Tous, SL to pay the costs.