Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 1 March 2016 —
Advance Magazine Publishers v OHIM — Selecciones Americanas (VOGUE CAFÉ)

(Case T‑40/09)

Community trade mark — Opposition proceedings — Community word mark VOGUE CAFÉ — Earlier national figurative marks Vogue and VOGUE studio and application for the Community figurative mark VOGUE — Genuine use of earlier marks — Article 42(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Interest in bringing proceedings — Revocation of the earlier Community trade mark founding the opposition (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 45, 54(1), 57(1), second sentence, and 62(3)) (see paras 24, 29)

2.                     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 40/94, Art. 43(2) and (3)) (see paras 39, 40)

3.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Application of the criteria to the case in question (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 43(2) and (3)) (see para. 41)

4.                     Community trade mark — Observations of third parties and opposition — Examination of the opposition — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Criteria for assessment — Requirement of solid and objective evidence (Council Regulation No 40/94, Art. 43(2) and (3)) (see para. 42)

5.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal to a Board of Appeal — Stay of proceedings — Conditions (Commission Regulation No 2868/95, Art. 1, Rule 20(7)(c)) (see paras 61-63)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 19 November 2008 (Case R 0280/2008-4) relating to opposition proceedings between Selecciones Americanas, SA and Advance Magazine Publishers, Inc.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Declares that there is no longer any need to adjudicate on the application for annulment of the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 19 November 2008 (Case R 0280/2008-4), in so far as it concludes that there is a likelihood of confusion between the Community trade mark applied for, VOGUE CAFÉ, and the Spanish figurative mark VOGUE studio registered under number 2529728;

2. Dismisses the remainder of the action;

3. Orders Advance Magazine Publishers, Inc. to pay the costs.