Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 10 November 2021 –
Monster Energy v EUIPO – Frito-Lay Trading Company (MONSTER and MONSTER ENERGY)

(Joined Cases T‑758/20 and T‑759/20)

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

1.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Proof of use – Burden of proof

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a))

(see para. 26)

2.      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, Art. 51(1)(a))

(see paras 27-30)

3.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Causes of revocation – Absence of genuine use of a trade mark – Word marks MONSTER and MONSTER ENERGY

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 51(1)(a))

(see paras 52, 53, 57, 63, 70)

Re:

Two actions brought against the decisions of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 5 October 2020 (Cases R 2927/2019-2 and R 2928/2019-2), relating to two revocation proceedings between Frito-Lay Trading Company and Monster Energy.

Operative part

The Court:

1. Dismisses the actions;

2. Orders Monster Energy Co. to pay the costs.