Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 24 October 2014 —
Grau Ferrer v OHIM — Rubio Ferrer (Bugui va)

(Case T‑543/12)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the figurative Community mark Bugui va — Earlier national figurative mark Bugui and earlier Community figurative mark BUGUI — Relative ground for refusal — Rejection of the opposition — Article 76(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Existence of the earlier mark — Evidence presented in support of the opposition before the Board of Appeal not taken into account — Board of Appeal’s discretion — Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Article 15(1), second paragraph, point (a) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Genuine use of the earlier mark — Form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Direction issued to the Office — Not included (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(6)) (see para. 14)

2.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of OHIM — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope — Facts and evidence not produced in support of the opposition within the period prescribed for that purpose — Account taken — Discretion of the Board of Appeal (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 76(2); Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rules 19(2)(a)(ii), 20(1), and 50(1), third para.) (see paras 22, 23, 34-37, 45)

3.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 74-76)

4.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark — Subject-matter and material scope of Article 15(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1), second para., (a)) (see paras 77-79)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 11 October 2012 (Joined Cases R 274/2011-4 and R 520/2011-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Xavier Grau Ferrer on the one hand and, on the other hand, Juan Cándido Rubio Ferrer and Alberto Rubio Ferrer.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 11 October 2012 (Joined Cases R 274/2011-4 and R 520/2011-4);

2. Orders OHIM to bear its own costs and pay the costs incurred by Mr Xavier Grau Ferrer;

3. Orders Mr Juan Cándido Rubio Ferrer and Mr Alberto Rubio Ferrer to bear their own costs.