Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 8 September 2021 –
SBG v EUIPO – VF International (Geographical Norway)

(Case T‑460/20)

(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark Geographical Norway – Absolute ground for refusal – Absolute ground for invalidity – Article 52(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Bad faith – Obligation to state reasons)

1.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Taking into account of all relevant factors at the time of filing the application for registration – Applicant’s knowledge that a third party is using an identical or similar sign – Intention of the applicant

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(2) and (4) and 52(1)(b))

(see paras 15, 16, 78)

2.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Concept of bad faith – Scope

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 52(1)(b))

(see paras 17, 18)

3.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Applicant in bad faith when lodging the trade mark application – Criteria for assessment – Need to prove the existence of the likelihood of confusion between the marks at issue – Not included

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 8(1)(a) and (b), (2) and (5), 52(1)(b) and 53(1)(a))

(see paras 19-21)

4.      EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU

(Art. 296 TFEU; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)

(see paras 23, 91, 92)

5.      Action for annulment – Pleas in law – Infringement of essential procedural requirements – Lack of or inadequate statement of reasons – To be considered of the Court's own motion

(Arts 263 and 296 TFEU)

(see para. 24)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 6 April 2020 (Case R 662/2019-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between VF International and SBG.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 6 April 2020 (Case R 662/2019-1);

2. Orders EUIPO and VF International Sagl to pay the costs.