Application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. An application to the Office for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity pursuant to Article 63 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall contain:
(a)
the registration number of the EU trade mark in respect of which revocation or a declaration of invalidity is sought and the name of its proprietor;
(b)
the grounds on which the application is based by means of a statement that the respective requirements laid down in Articles 58, 59, 60, 81, 82, 91 or 92 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 are fulfilled;
(c)
as concerns the applicant:
(i)
the identification of the applicant in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;
(ii)
where the applicant has appointed a representative or where representation is mandatory within the meaning of Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the name and business address of the representative, in accordance with Article 2(1)(e) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;
(d)
an indication of the goods or services in respect of which revocation or a declaration of invalidity is sought, in the absence of which the application shall be deemed to be directed against all the goods or services covered by the contested EU trade mark.
2. In addition to the requirements laid down in paragraph 1, an application for a declaration of invalidity based on relative grounds shall contain the following:
(a)
in the case of an application pursuant to Article 60(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an identification of the earlier right on which the application is based, in accordance with Article 2(2)(b) of this Regulation, which shall apply mutatis mutandis to such an application;
(b)
in the case of an application pursuant to Article 60(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an indication of the nature of the earlier right on which the application is based, its representation and an indication of whether this earlier right exists in the whole of the Union or in one or more Member States, and if so, an indication of those Member States;
(c)
particulars pursuant to Article 2(2)(d) to (g) of this Regulation, which apply mutatis mutandis to such an application;
(d)
where the application is entered by a licensee or by a person who is entitled under the relevant Union legislation or national law to exercise an earlier right, an indication concerning the authorisation or entitlement to file the application.
3. Where the application for a declaration of invalidity pursuant to Article 60 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 is based on more than one earlier mark or earlier right, paragraphs 1(b) and 2 of this Article shall apply for each of those marks or rights.
4. The application may contain a reasoned statement on the grounds setting out the facts and arguments on which it is based and supporting evidence.
Languages used in revocation or invalidity proceedings
The applicant for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity or the proprietor of the EU trade mark may inform the Office before the expiry of a period of two months of receipt by the EU trade mark proprietor of the communication referred to in Article 17(1), that a different language of proceedings has been agreed pursuant to Article 146(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. Where the application has not been filed in that language, the proprietor may request that the applicant file a translation in that language. Such a request shall be received by the Office before the expiry of the period of two months of receipt by the EU trade mark proprietor of the communication referred to in Article 17(1). The Office shall specify a time limit for the applicant to file such a translation. Where that translation is not filed or filed late, the language of the proceedings shall remain unchanged.
Information to the parties concerning an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
An application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity and any document submitted by the applicant, as well as any communication addressed to one of the parties by the Office prior to the finding on admissibility shall be sent by the Office to the other party for the purposes of informing of the introduction of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity.
Admissibility of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. Where the fee required under Article 63(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 has not been paid, the Office shall invite the applicant to pay the fee within a period specified by it. Where the required fee is not paid within the specified period, the Office shall inform the applicant that the application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity is deemed not to have been entered. Where the fee has been paid after the expiry of the specified period, it shall be refunded to the applicant.
2. Where the application has been filed in a language which is not one of the languages of the Office as required under Article 146(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, or it does not comply with Article 12(1)(a) or (b) or, where applicable, Article 12(2)(a) or (b) of this Regulation, the Office shall reject the application as inadmissible.
3. Where the translation required under the second subparagraph of Article 146(7) Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 is not filed within a period of one month of the date of filing an application for revocation or a declaration of invalidity, the Office shall reject the application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity as inadmissible.
4. Where the application does not comply with the provisions laid down in Article 12(1)(c), Article 12(2)(c) or (d), the Office shall inform the applicant accordingly and shall invite the applicant to remedy the deficiencies noted within a period of two months. If the deficiencies are not remedied before the time limit expires, the Office shall reject the application as inadmissible.
5. The Office shall notify the applicant and the proprietor of the EU trade mark of any finding pursuant to paragraph 1 that the application for revocation or a declaration of invalidity is deemed not to have been entered and of any decision to reject the application for revocation or a declaration of invalidity on the grounds of inadmissibility under paragraphs 2, 3 or 4. Where an application for revocation or a declaration of invalidity is rejected in its entirety as inadmissible pursuant to paragraphs 2, 3 or 4, prior to the notification of Article 17(1), no decision on costs shall be taken.
Substantiation of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. The applicant shall present the facts, evidence and arguments in support of the application up to the closure of the adversarial part of revocation or invalidity proceedings. In particular, the applicant shall provide the following:
(a)
in the case of an application pursuant to Article 58(1)(b) or (c) or Article 59 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, facts, arguments and evidence to support the grounds on which the application for revocation or a declaration of invalidity is based;
(b)
in the case of an application pursuant to Article 60(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the evidence required by Article 7(2) of this Regulation and the provisions of Article 7(3) shall apply mutatis mutandis ;
(c)
in the case of an application pursuant to Article 60(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, evidence of acquisition, continued existence and scope of protection of the relevant earlier right as well as evidence proving that the applicant is entitled to file the application, including, where the earlier right is invoked pursuant to the law of a Member State, a clear identification of the content of the national law relied upon by adducing publications of the relevant provisions or jurisprudence. Where the evidence concerning the filing or registration of an earlier right under Article 60(2)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 or the evidence concerning the contents of the relevant national law is accessible online from a source recognised by the Office, the applicant may provide such evidence by making reference to that source.
2. Evidence concerning the filing, registration or renewal of earlier rights or, where applicable, the content of the relevant national law, including evidence accessible online, as referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c), shall be filed in the language of the proceedings or shall be accompanied by a translation into that language. The translation shall be submitted by the applicant of the applicant's own motion within one month from the filing of such evidence. Any other evidence submitted by the applicant to substantiate the application or, in case of an application for revocation under Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, by the proprietor of the contested EU trade mark, shall be subject to Article 24 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626. Translations submitted after the expiry of the relevant time limits shall not be taken into account.
Examination on the merits of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. Where the application is found admissible pursuant to Article 15, the Office shall send a communication to the parties informing them that the adversarial part of the revocation or invalidity proceedings has commenced and inviting the proprietor of the EU trade mark to file observations within a specified period.
2. Where the Office has invited a party in accordance with Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 to file observations within a specified period and that party does not submit any observations within that period, the Office shall close the adversarial part of the proceedings and base its ruling on the revocation or invalidity on the basis of the evidence before it.
3. Where the applicant has not submitted the facts, arguments or evidence required to substantiate the application, the application shall be rejected as unfounded.
4. Without prejudice to Article 62, all observations filed by the parties shall be sent to the other party concerned.
5. Where the proprietor surrenders the EU trade mark subject to an application as referred to in Article 12 to cover only goods or services against which the application is not directed, or the EU trade mark is revoked or declared invalid in parallel proceedings, or expires, the proceedings shall be closed except where Article 57(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall apply or the applicant shows a legitimate interest in obtaining a decision on the merits.
6. Where the proprietor partially surrenders the EU trade mark by deleting some of the goods or services against which the application is directed, the Office shall invite the applicant to state, within such a period as it may specify, whether it maintains the application and if so, against which of the remaining goods or services. Where the applicant withdraws the application in light of the surrender, or the Office is informed about a settlement between the parties, the proceedings shall be closed.
7. Where the proprietor wishes to surrender the contested EU trade mark, it shall do so by way of a separate document.
8. Article 8(9) shall apply mutatis mutandis .
Multiple applications for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. Where a number of applications for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity have been filed relating to the same EU trade mark, the Office may examine them in one set of proceedings. The Office may subsequently decide to examine those applications separately.
2. Article 9(2), (3) and (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis .
Proof of use in relation to an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity
1. In the case of an application for revocation based on Article 58(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office shall invite the proprietor of the EU trade mark to provide proof of genuine use of that mark or of proper reasons for non-use, within such period as it shall specify. Where the proprietor does not provide any evidence of genuine use or of reasons for non-use before the time limit expires or the evidence or reasons provided are manifestly irrelevant or manifestly insufficient, the EU trade mark shall be revoked. Article 10(3), (4), (6) and (7) of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis .
2. A request for proof of use pursuant to Article 64(2) or (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be admissible if the proprietor of the EU trade mark submits it as an unconditional request in a separate document within the period specified by the Office pursuant to Article 17(1) of this Regulation. Where the proprietor of the EU trade mark has made a request for proof of use of an earlier mark or of proper reasons for non-use which complies with the requirements of Article 64(2) or (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office shall invite the applicant for a declaration of invalidity to provide the proof required within a time limit specified by the Office. Where the applicant for a declaration of invalidity does not provide any evidence of genuine use or of reasons for non-use before the time limit expires or the evidence or reasons provided are manifestly irrelevant or manifestly insufficient, the Office shall reject the application for a declaration of invalidity in so far as it is based on that earlier mark. Article 10(3) to (7) of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis .
Request for assignment
1. Where the proprietor of a trade mark requests, in accordance with Article 21(1) and (2)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an assignment instead of a declaration of invalidity, the provisions of Articles 12 to 19 of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis .
2. Where a request for assignment pursuant to Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 is partially or totally granted by the Office or by an EU trade mark court and the decision or judgment has become final, the Office shall ensure that the resulting partial or total transfer of the EU trade mark is entered in the Register and published.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
