Judgment of the General Court (Eighth Chamber) of 15 September 2011 – Prinz Sobieski zu Schwarzenberg v OHIM – British-American Tobacco Polska (Romuald Prinz Sobieski zu Schwarzenberg)

(Case T-271/09)

Community trade mark – Opposition proceedings – Application for Community word mark Romuald Prinz Sobieski zu Schwarzenberg – Earlier national word mark JAN III SOBIESKI and earlier national figurative mark JAN III Sobieski – Failure to comply with the obligation to pay the application fee or to do so by bank transfer within the period prescribed – Decision of the Board of Appeal declaring the action to be unfounded – Article 8(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2869/95 – Application for restitutio in integrum – Lack of exceptional or unforeseeable circumstances – Article 81 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark – Appeals procedure – Time-limit and form of appeal – Payment of the application fee after the deadline (Commission Regulation No 2869/95, Art. 8(3)) (see paras 37-43)

2.                     Community trade mark – Procedural provisions – Restitutio in integrum – Conditions – Vigilance required by the circumstances – Exceptional, and thus unforeseeable, events – Concept (Council Regulation No 207/09, Art. 81(1)) (see paras 53-54, 60-62)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 13 May 2009 (Case R 771/2008-4), relating to opposition proceedings between British-American Tobacco Polska S.A. and Romuald Sobieski zu Schwarzenberg.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Romuald Prinz Sobieski zu Schwarzenberg to pay the costs.