Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 16 April 2015 —
Matratzen Concord v OHIM — KBT (ARKTIS)

(Case T‑258/13)

Community trade mark — Revocation proceedings — Community word mark ARKTIS — Genuine use of the mark — Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Form of use of the mark — Proof of use for the registered goods — Consent of the trade mark owner

1.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Causes of revocation — No genuine use of a trade mark — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Genuine use — Concept — Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a)) (see paras 13-15, 33)

2.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Appeal against a decision of the Opposition Division of OHIM — Examination by the Board of Appeal — Scope (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(2), and 51(1)(a)) (see para. 37)

3.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Examination of the application — Proof of use of the earlier mark — Use by a third party with the consent of the trade mark proprietor — Express or implied consent (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 15(1) and (2)) (see paras 39, 40)

4.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Modification of the terms of the dispute as brought before the Board of Appeal — Not permissible (Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 135(4); Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65) (see para. 46)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 4 March 2013 (Case R 2133/2011-4) relating to revocation proceedings between Matratzen Concord GmbH and KBT & Co. Ernst Kruchen agenzia commerciale sociétá in accomandita.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Matratzen Concord GmbH to pay the costs including the expenses necessarily incurred by KBT & Co. Ernst Kruchen agenzia commerciale sociétá in accomandita for the purposes of the proceedings before the Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM).