Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 21 February 2013 — Laboratoire Bioderma v OHIM — Cabinet Continental (BIODERMA)

(Case T‑427/11)

Community trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — Community word mark BIODERMA — No infringement of the rights of the defence — Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptive character — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation No 207/2009

1.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Decisions of the Office — Observance of the rights of the defence — Scope of the principle (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75) (see para. 17)

2.                     Community trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Word mark BIODERMA (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c), and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 38-40, 42-55, 62-64)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 28 February 2011 (Case R 861/2009-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Cabinet Continental and Laboratoire Bioderma.

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 28 February 2011 (Case R 861/2009-1) in so far as concerns dietetic substances adapted for medical use, in Class 5;

2. Dismisses the action as to the remainder;

3. Orders Laboratoire Bioderma to bear its own costs and half of those incurred by OHIM and Cabinet Continental;

4. Orders OHIM and Cabinet Continental to bear half of their own costs.