Order of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 3 October 2012 — Tecnimed v OHIM — Ecobrands (ZAPPER-CLICK)

(Case T‑360/10)

Community trade mark — Period allowed for bringing proceedings — Out of time — No unforeseeable circumstances — No force majeure — Right of access to a court — Manifest inadmissibility

1.                     Actions for annulment — Time-limits — Mandatory — Examination by the EU judicature of its own motion (Art. 263, sixth para., TFEU; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 102(2)) (see paras 11, 12)

2.                     Proceedings — Time-limit for instituting proceedings — Claim barred by lapse of time — Unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure — Concept (Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 45, second para.) (see para. 22)

3.                     European Union law — Direct effect — National procedural rules — Conditions under which applicable — Compliance with principles of equivalence and effectiveness (see paras 29, 33-35)

4.                     Proceedings — Time-limit for instituting proceedings — Action introduced by fax — Requirement that fax be identical with the original of the application — Aim — Proportionality (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 43(6)) (see paras 37-40, 42-47)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 14 June 2010 (Case R 1795/2008-4), concerning invalidity proceedings between Tecnimed Srl and Ecobrands Ltd.

Operative part

1. The action is dismissed.

2. Tecnimed Srl is ordered to pay the costs.