General Court provides guidance on revocation of EUTMs for non-use

In IR v EUIPO, the General Court has upheld a EUIPO decision granting Pirelli’s application for the revocation of the mark POPCHRONO on the ground of non-use. The decision provides guidance on several issues relating to the revocation of EUTMs under Article 51(1)(a) of Regulation 207/2009. The mark owner had put forward several ‘imaginative’ arguments, such as Pirelli’s alleged anti-competitive behaviour and the EUIPO’s alleged failure to invite the parties to settle.