Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 1 September 2021 –
Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe v EUIPO – Vieta Audio (Vita)

(Case T‑561/20)

(EU trade mark – Revocation proceedings – EU word mark Vita – Genuine use of the mark – Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Use in connection with the goods in respect of which the mark was registered)

1.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Genuine use – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Requirement of solid and objective evidence

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))

(see paras 50-53, 59)

2.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Word mark Vita

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 15(1) and 51(1)(a))

(see paras 58, 60-63, 69-71, 78, 79, 81, 88, 89)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 22 June 2020 (Case R 425/2020-2), relating to revocation proceedings between Vieta Audio and Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the action;

2. Orders Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Ltd to pay the costs.