Penguin Random House v EUIPO - Ediciones Literarias Independientes (PLAN B) (EU trade mark - Judgment) French Text [2024] EUECJ T-777/22 (29 May 2024)

Penguin Random House v EUIPO - Ediciones Literarias Independientes (PLAN B) (EU trade mark - Judgment) French Text [2024] EUECJ T-777/22 (29 May 2024)

The applicant filed for the EU trade mark PLAN B with knowledge of the prior Spanish commercial name and after failing to secure national registration due to opposition. The Board of Appeal correctly found that the applicant's conduct was not in line with honest commercial practices and amounted to bad faith under...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2024] EUECJ T-777/22
Parties
Applicant: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, SAU; Respondent: Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO); Intervener: Ediciones Literarias Independientes, SL
Jurisdiction
European Union
Procedural Posture
EU Trade Mark Annulment Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From EUIPO Board of Appeal
Outcome
Appeal dismissed; application rejected in its entirety.
Legal Topics
EU Trade Mark Law, Absolute Grounds for Invalidity, Bad Faith, Priority Rights, Risk of Confusion
Intellectual Property European Union Law EU Trade Mark Law Absolute Grounds for Invalidity Bad Faith Priority Rights Risk of Confusion

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Parties

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, SAU

Applicant

Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO)

Respondent

Ediciones Literarias Independientes, SL

Intervener

Procedural Posture

EU Trade Mark Annulment Appeal / Judgment on Appeal From EUIPO Board of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether the applicant was in bad faith when filing for the EU trade mark PLAN B under Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001
  2. 2 Whether the Board of Appeal erred in its assessment of bad faith and relevant factors

Ratio Decidendi

The applicant filed for the EU trade mark PLAN B with knowledge of the prior Spanish commercial name and after failing to secure national registration due to opposition. The Board of Appeal correctly found that the applicant's conduct was not in line with honest commercial practices and amounted to bad faith under Article 59(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. The applicant failed to provide legitimate justification for the filing, and all relevant circumstances support the finding of bad faith.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed; application rejected in its entirety.

Orders

  • The action is dismissed.
  • Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, SAU is ordered to pay the costs.