Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 23 September 2014 — Tegometall International v OHIM — Irega (MEGO)

(Case T‑11/13)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Community word mark MEGO — Relative ground for refusal — Earlier opposition proceedings — No application of the principle of res judicata

1.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Action for cancellation — Relationship between a final decision on an opposition matter and an application for invalidity — Res judicata — Scope (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 53(4), and 100(2)) (see para. 12)

2.                     Community trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Power of the General Court to alter the contested decision — Limits (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(3)) (see para. 15)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 25 October 2012 (Case R 1522/2011-1), concerning invalidity proceedings between Tegometall International AG and Irega AG.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM) of 25 October 2012 (Case R 1522/2011-1);

2. Orders OHIM to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Tegometall International AG before the General Court as well as the Board of Appeal.