Judgment of the General Court of 6 October 2021 – Esteves Lopes Granja v EUIPO – IVDP (PORTWO GIN)
(Case T-417/20) 1
(EU trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for EU word mark PORTWO GIN – Earlier designation of origin ‘Porto’– Concepts of ‘use’ and ‘exploitation’ of a protected designation of origin – Article 103(2)(a)(ii) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013)
Language of the case: English
Parties
Applicant: Joaquim José Esteves Lopes Granja (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) (represented by: O. Santos Costa, lawyer)
Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (represented by: D. Gája, acting as Agent)
Other party to the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of EUIPO, intervener before the General Court: Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, IP (IVDP) (Peso da Régua, Portugal) (represented by: P. Sousa e Silva, lawyer)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 21 April 2020 (Case R 993/2019-2) relating to opposition proceedings between Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, IP and Joaquim Jósé Esteves Lopes Granja.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
Dismisses the action;
Orders Joaquim José Esteves Lopes Granja to pay the costs.
____________
1 OJ C 279, 24.8.2020.