Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 20 December 2023 –
Feed v EUIPO – The Feed.com (THE FEED)
(Case T‑27/23) (1)
(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark THE FEED – Genuine use of the mark – Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a); Commission Regulation 2018/625, Art. 10(3) and (4))
(see paragraphs 23-27, 29, 79, 80)
2. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Word mark THE FEED
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 39, 69, 73, 75, 81-89)
3. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Grounds for revocation – Lack of genuine use of the mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Use during a five year period – Consideration of evidence concerning use outside of that period – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 18(1) and 58(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 42, 43)
4. EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Probative value of the evidence – Solemn declarations
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 97(1)(f))
(see paragraph 60)
Operative part
The Court:
2. | | Orders Feed SA to pay the costs. |