Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 15 September 2015 —
Nestlé Unternehmungen Deutschland v OHIM — Lotte (Representation of a koala bear)

(Case T‑483/12)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Application for the Community figurative mark representing koala bears — Earlier national three-dimensional mark KOALA-BÄREN and earlier national figurative mark KOALA — Genuine use of the mark — Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Review of the lawfulness of decisions of the Boards of Appeal — Annulment or variation for reasons appearing after judgment was delivered — Not included (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2)) (see para. 24)

2.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Interpretation having regard to the rationale of Article 42(2) and (3) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 42(2) and (3)) (see para. 56)

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 58-60, 95-98)

4.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Use of the mark in a form differing by elements not altering the distinctive character of the mark (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1), second para., (a), and 42(2) and (3)) (see paras 73, 74)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 3 September 2012 (Case R 2103/2010-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Nestlé Schöller GmbH & Co. KG and Lotte Co. Ltd.

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 3 September 2012 (Case R 2103/2010-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Nestlé Schöller GmbH & Co. KG and Lotte Co. Ltd;

2. Orders OHIM to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Nestlé Unternehmungen Deutschland GmbH;

3. Orders Lotte Co. Ltd to bear its own costs.