TITLE IGENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1Subject matterThis Regulation lays down rules specifying:(a)the details of the procedure for filing and examining an opposition to the registration of an EU trade mark at the European Union Intellectual Property Office ("the Office");(b)the details of the procedure governing the amendment of an application for an EU trade mark;(c)the details governing the revocation and declaration of invalidity of an EU trade mark, as well as the transfer of an EU trade mark registered in the name of an unauthorised agent;(d)the formal content of a notice of appeal and the procedure for the filing and the examination of an appeal, the formal content and form of the Boards of Appeal's decisions and the reimbursement of the appeal fee, the details concerning the organisation of the Boards of Appeal, and the conditions under which decisions on appeals are to be taken by a single member;(e)the detailed arrangements for oral proceedings and for the taking of evidence;(f)the detailed arrangements for notification by the Office and the rules on the means of communication with the Office;(g)the details regarding the calculation and duration of time limits;(h)the procedure for the revocation of a decision or for the cancellation of an entry in the Register of EU trade marks;(i)the detailed arrangements for the resumption of proceedings before the Office;(j)the conditions and the procedure for the appointment of a common representative, the conditions under which employees and professional representatives shall file an authorisation, and the content of that authorisation, and the circumstances in which a person may be removed from the list of admitted professional representatives;(k)the details of the procedure concerning international registrations based on a basic application or basic registration relating to a collective mark, certification mark or guarantee mark, and the procedure for the filing and examination of an opposition to an international registration.

TITLE IIPROCEDURE FOR OPPOSITION AND PROOF OF USE

Article 2Notice of opposition1.A notice of opposition may be entered on the basis of one or more earlier marks or other rights within the meaning of Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, provided that the proprietors or authorised persons entering the notice pursuant to Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 are entitled to do so for all the earlier marks or rights. Where an earlier mark has more than one proprietor ("co-ownership") or where an earlier right may be exercised by more than one person, an opposition pursuant to Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 may be filed by any or all of the proprietors or authorised persons.2.The notice of opposition shall contain:(a)the file number of the application against which opposition is entered and the name of the applicant for the EU trade mark;(b)a clear identification of the earlier mark or right on which the opposition is based, namely:(i)where the opposition is based on an earlier mark within the meaning of Article 8(2)(a) or (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the file number or registration number of the earlier mark, an indication of whether the earlier mark is registered or an application for registration of that mark, as well as an indication of the Member States including, where applicable, the Benelux, in or for which the earlier mark is protected, or, if applicable, the indication that it is an EU trade mark;(ii)where the opposition is based on a well-known mark within the meaning of Article 8(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the indication of the Member State(s) where the mark is well known and a representation of the mark;(iii)where the opposition is based on the absence of the proprietor's consent as referred to in Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an indication of the territory in which the earlier trade mark is protected, the representation of the mark and, if applicable, an indication whether the earlier mark is an application or a registration, in which case the filing or registration number shall be provided;(iv)where the opposition is based on an earlier mark or another sign within the meaning of Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an indication of its kind or nature, a representation of the earlier mark or sign, and an indication of whether the right to the earlier mark or sign exists in the whole Union or in one or more Member States, and if so, an indication of those Member States;(v)where the opposition is based on an earlier designation of origin or geographical indication within the meaning of Article 8(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, an indication of its nature, a representation of the earlier designation of origin or geographical indication, and an indication of whether it is protected in the whole Union or in one or more Member States, and if so, an indication of those Member States;(c)the grounds on which the opposition is based by means of a statement to the effect that the requirements under Article 8(1), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 in respect of each of the earlier marks or rights invoked by the opposing party are fulfilled;(d)in the case of an earlier trade mark application or registration, the filing date and, where available, the registration date and the priority date of the earlier mark;(e)in the case of earlier rights pursuant to Article 8(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the date of application for registration or, if that date is not available, the date from which protection is granted;(f)in the case of an earlier trade mark application or registration, a representation of the earlier mark as registered or applied for; if the earlier mark is in colour, the representation shall be in colour;(g)an indication of the goods or services on which each of the grounds of the opposition is based;(h)as concerns the opposing party:(i)the identification of the opposing party in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626 of 5 March 2018 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union trade mark, and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1431 (OJ L 104, 24.4.2018, p. 37).;(ii)where the opposing party has appointed a representative, or where representation is mandatory pursuant to 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;(iii)where the opposition 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, a statement to that effect and indications concerning the authorisation or the entitlement to file the opposition;(i)an indication of the goods or services against which the opposition is directed; in the absence of such an indication, the opposition shall be considered to be directed against all of the goods or services of the opposed EU trade mark application.3.Where the opposition is based on more than one earlier mark or earlier right, paragraph 2 shall apply for each of those marks, signs, designations of origin or geographical indications.4.The notice of opposition may also contain a reasoned statement on the grounds, the facts and arguments on which the opposition relies, and supporting evidence.

Article 3Use of languages in opposition proceedingsThe opposing party or the applicant may, before the date on which the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings is deemed to commence pursuant to Article 6(1), inform the Office that the applicant and the opposing party have agreed on a different language for the opposition proceedings pursuant to Article 146(8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. Where the notice of opposition has not been filed in that language, the applicant may request that the opposing party file a translation in that language. Such a request must be received by the Office not later than the date on which the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings is deemed to commence. The Office shall specify a time limit for the opposing party to file a translation. Where that translation is not filed or filed late, the language of the proceedings as determined in accordance with Article 146 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 ("language of proceedings") shall remain unchanged.

Article 4Information to the parties to opposition proceedingsThe notice of opposition and any document submitted by the opposing party, 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 purposes of informing of the introduction of an opposition.

Article 5Admissibility of the opposition1.Where the opposition fee has not been paid within the opposition period laid down in Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the opposition shall be deemed not to have been entered. Where the opposition fee has been paid after the expiry of the opposition period, it shall be refunded to the opposing party.2.Where the notice of opposition has been filed after the expiry of the opposition period, the Office shall reject the opposition as inadmissible.3.Where the notice of opposition 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 where it does not comply with Article 2(2)(a), (b) or (c) of this Regulation, and where those deficiencies have not been remedied before the expiry of the opposition period, the Office shall reject the opposition as inadmissible.4.Where the opposing party does not submit a translation as required under Article 146(7) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the opposition shall be rejected as inadmissible. Where the opposing party submits an incomplete translation, the part of the notice of opposition that has not been translated shall not be taken into account in the examination of admissibility.5.Where the notice of opposition does not comply with the provisions of Article 2(2)(d) to (h), the Office shall inform the opposing party accordingly and shall invite it 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 opposition as inadmissible.6.The Office shall notify the applicant of any finding pursuant to paragraph 1 that the notice of opposition is deemed not to have been entered and of any decision to reject the opposition on the grounds of inadmissibility under paragraphs 2, 3, 4 or 5. Where an opposition is rejected in its entirety as inadmissible pursuant to paragraphs 2, 3, 4 or 5, prior to the notification of Article 6(1), no decision on costs shall be taken.

Article 6Commencement of the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings and prior closure of the proceedings1.Where the opposition is found admissible pursuant to Article 5, the Office shall send a communication to the parties informing them that the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings shall be deemed to commence two months after receipt of the communication. That period may be extended to a total of 24 months if both parties request an extension before the two-month period expires.2.Where, within the period referred to in paragraph 1, the application is withdrawn or restricted to goods or services against which the opposition is not directed, or the Office is informed about a settlement between the parties, or the application is rejected in parallel proceedings, the opposition proceedings shall be closed.3.Where, within the period referred to in paragraph 1, the applicant restricts the application by deleting some of the goods or services against which the opposition is directed, the Office shall invite the opposing party to state, within such a period as it may specify, whether it maintains the opposition, and if so, against which of the remaining goods or services. Where the opposing party withdraws the opposition in light of the restriction, the opposition proceedings shall be closed.4.Where, before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1, the opposition proceedings are closed pursuant to paragraphs 2 or 3, no decision on costs shall be taken.5.Where, before the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 1, the opposition proceedings are closed following a withdrawal or restriction of the application pursuant to paragraph 2 or following a withdrawal of the opposition pursuant to paragraph 3, the opposition fee shall be refunded.

Article 7Substantiation of the opposition1.The Office shall give the opposing party the opportunity to submit the facts, evidence and arguments in support of the opposition or to complete any facts, evidence or arguments that have already been submitted pursuant to Article 2(4). For that purpose, the Office shall specify a time limit which shall be at least two months, starting on the date on which the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings is deemed to commence in accordance with Article 6(1).2.Within the period referred to in paragraph 1, the opposing party shall also file evidence of the existence, validity and scope of protection of its earlier mark or right, as well as evidence proving its entitlement to file the opposition. In particular, the opposing party shall provide the following evidence:(a)where the opposition is based on an earlier trade mark within the meaning of Article 8(2)(a) and (b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, which is not an EU trade mark, evidence of its filing or registration, by submitting:(i)a copy of the relevant filing certificate or an equivalent document from the administration with which the trade mark application was filed, if the trade mark is not yet registered; or(ii)where the earlier trade mark is registered, a copy of the relevant registration certificate and, if applicable, of the latest renewal certificate, showing that the term of protection of the trade mark extends beyond the time limit referred to in paragraph 1 or any extension thereof, or equivalent documents from the administration by which the trade mark was registered;(b)where the opposition is based on a well-known mark within the meaning of Article 8(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, evidence showing that that mark is well known in the relevant territory for the goods or services indicated in accordance with Article 2(2)(g) of this Regulation;(c)where the opposition is based on the absence of the proprietor's consent as referred to in Article 8(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, evidence of the opposing party's proprietorship of the prior trade mark and of its relationship with the agent or representative;(d)where the opposition is based on an earlier right within the meaning of Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, evidence showing use of that right in the course of trade of more than mere local significance, as well as evidence of its acquisition, continued existence and scope of protection 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;(e)where the opposition is based on an earlier designation of origin or geographical indication within the meaning of Article 8(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, evidence of its acquisition, continued existence and scope of protection including, where the earlier designation of origin or geographical indication 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;(f)if the opposition is based on a mark with a reputation within the meaning of Article 8(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, in addition to the evidence referred to in point (a) of this paragraph, evidence showing that the mark has a reputation in the Union or in the Member State concerned for the goods or services indicated in accordance with Article 2(2)(g) of this Regulation, as well as evidence or arguments showing that use without due cause of the trade mark applied for would take unfair advantage of, or be detrimental to, the distinctive character or the repute of the earlier trade mark.3.Where the evidence concerning the filing or registration of the earlier rights referred to in paragraph 2(a) or, where applicable, paragraph 2(d) or (e), or the evidence concerning the content of the relevant national law, is accessible online from a source recognised by the Office, the opposing party may provide such evidence by making reference to that source.4.Any filing, registration or renewal certificates or equivalent documents referred to in paragraph 2(a), (d) or (e), as well as any provisions of the applicable national law governing the acquisition of rights and their scope of protection as referred to in paragraph 2(d) and (e), including evidence accessible online as referred to in paragraph 3, shall be in the language of the proceedings or shall be accompanied by a translation into that language. The translation shall be submitted by the opposing party of its own motion within the time limit specified for submitting the original document. Any other evidence submitted by the opposing party to substantiate the opposition 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.5.The Office shall not take into account written submissions, or parts thereof, which have not been submitted in or not been translated into the language of the proceedings within the time limit set by the Office in accordance with paragraph 1.

Article 8Examination of the opposition1.Where, until the expiry of the period referred to in Article 7(1), the opposing party has not provided any evidence, or where the evidence provided is manifestly irrelevant or manifestly insufficient to meet the requirements laid down in Article 7(2) for any of the earlier rights, the opposition shall be rejected as unfounded.2.Where the opposition is not rejected pursuant to paragraph 1, the Office shall communicate the submission of the opposing party to the applicant and shall invite it to file its observations within a period specified by the Office.3.Where the applicant submits no observations, the Office shall base its ruling on the opposition on the evidence before it.4.The observations submitted by the applicant shall be communicated to the opposing party who shall be invited, if the Office considers it necessary, to reply within a period specified by the Office.5.Where, after the expiry of the period referred to in Article 7(1), the opposing party submits facts or evidence that supplement relevant facts or evidence provided within that period and that relate to the same requirement laid down in Article 7(2), the Office shall exercise its discretion under Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 in deciding whether to accept these supplementing facts or evidence. For that purpose, the Office shall take into account, in particular, the stage of proceedings and whether the facts or evidence are, prima facie, likely to be relevant for the outcome of the case and whether there are valid reasons for the late submission of the facts or evidence.6.The Office shall invite the applicant to submit further observations in response if it deems it appropriate under the circumstances.7.Where the opposition has not been rejected pursuant to paragraph 1 and the evidence submitted by the opposing party is not sufficient to substantiate the opposition in accordance with Article 7 for any of the earlier rights, the opposition shall be rejected as unfounded.8.Article 6(2) and (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis after the date on which the adversarial part of the opposition proceedings is deemed to commence. Where the applicant wishes to withdraw or restrict the contested application, it shall do so by way of a separate document.9.In appropriate cases, the Office may invite the parties to limit their observations to particular issues, in which case it shall allow them to raise the other issues at a later stage of the proceedings. The Office shall not be required to inform a party of the possibility of producing certain relevant facts or evidence which that party previously failed to produce.

Article 9Multiple oppositions1.Where a number of oppositions have been entered in respect of the same application for the registration of an EU trade mark, the Office may examine them in one set of proceedings. The Office may subsequently decide to examine those oppositions separately.2.Where a preliminary examination of one or more oppositions reveals that the EU trade mark for which an application for registration has been filed may be ineligible for registration in respect of some or all of the goods or services for which registration is sought, the Office may suspend the other opposition proceedings relating to that application. The Office shall inform the opposing parties affected by the suspension of any relevant decisions taken in the context of those proceedings which are ongoing.3.Once a decision rejecting an application as referred to in paragraph 1 has become final, the oppositions for which proceedings have been suspended in accordance with paragraph 2 shall be deemed to have been disposed of and the opposing parties concerned shall be informed accordingly. Such a disposition shall be considered to constitute a case which has not proceeded to judgment within the meaning of Article 109(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.4.The Office shall refund 50 % of the opposition fee paid by each opposing party whose opposition is deemed to have been disposed of in accordance with paragraph 3, provided that the suspension of the proceedings relating to that opposition took place before the commencement of the adversarial part of the proceedings.

Article 10Proof of use1.A request for proof of use of an earlier mark pursuant to Article 47(2) or (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be admissible if it is submitted as an unconditional request in a separate document within the period specified by the Office pursuant to Article 8(2) of this Regulation.2.Where the applicant has made a request for proof of use of an earlier mark which complies with the requirements of Article 47(2) or (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office shall invite the opposing party to provide the proof required within a time limit specified by the Office. Where the opposing party does not provide any evidence or reasons for non-use before the time limit expires or where the evidence or reasons provided are manifestly irrelevant or manifestly insufficient, the Office shall reject the opposition in so far as it is based on that earlier mark.3.The indications and evidence of use shall establish the place, time, extent and nature of use of the opposing trade mark for the goods or services in respect of which it is registered and on which the opposition is based.4.The evidence referred to in paragraph 3 shall be filed in accordance with Article 55(2) and Articles 63 and 64 and shall be limited to the submission of supporting documents and items such as packages, labels, price lists, catalogues, invoices, photographs, newspaper advertisements, and statements in writing as referred to in Article 97(1)(f) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.5.A request for proof of use may be filed at the same time as observations on the grounds on which the opposition is based. Such observations may also be filed together with the observations in reply to the proof of use.6.Where the evidence supplied by the opposing party is not in the language of the opposition proceedings, the Office may require the opposing party to submit a translation of that evidence in that language pursuant to Article 24 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626.7.Where after the expiry of the time limit referred to in paragraph 2, the opposing party submits indications or evidence that supplement relevant indications or evidence already submitted before expiry of that time limit and relate to the same requirement laid down in paragraph 3, the Office shall exercise its discretion under Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 in deciding whether to accept those supplementary indications or evidence. For that purpose, the Office shall take into account, in particular, the stage of proceedings and whether the indications or evidence are, prima facie, likely to be relevant for the outcome of the case and whether there are valid reasons for the late submission of the indications or evidence.

TITLE IIIAMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION

Article 11Amendment of the application1.A request for amendment of an application pursuant to Article 49(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall contain:(a)the file number of the application;(b)the name and address of the applicant in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;(c)an indication of the element of the application to be amended, and that element in its amended version;(d)where the amendment relates to the representation of the mark, a representation of the mark as amended, in accordance with Article 3 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626.2.Where the requirements for the amendment of the application are not fulfilled, the Office shall communicate the deficiency to the applicant and shall specify a time limit for remedying the deficiency. Where the applicant does not remedy the deficiency within the specified time limit, the Office shall reject the request for amendment.3.Where the amended trade mark application is published pursuant to Article 49(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, Articles 2 to 10 of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis.4.A single request for amendment may be made for the amendment of the same element in two or more applications by the same applicant.5.Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 shall apply mutatis mutandis for applications to correct the name or the business address of a representative appointed by the applicant.

TITLE IVREVOCATION AND INVALIDITY OR ASSIGNMENT

Article 12Application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 13Languages used in revocation or invalidity proceedingsThe 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.

Article 14Information to the parties concerning an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidityAn 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.

Article 15Admissibility of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 16Substantiation of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 17Examination on the merits of an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 18Multiple applications for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 19Proof of use in relation to an application for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity1.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.

Article 20Request for assignment1.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.

TITLE VAPPEALS

Article 21Notice of appeal1.A notice of appeal filed in accordance with Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall contain the following:(a)the name and address of the appellant in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;(b)where the appellant has appointed a representative, the name and the business address of the representative in accordance with Article 2(1)(e) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;(c)where representation of the appellant is mandatory pursuant to Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the name and the business address of the representative in accordance with Article 2(1)(e) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;(d)a clear and unambiguous identification of the decision subject to appeal indicating the date on which it was issued and the file number of the proceedings to which the decision subject to appeal relates;(e)where the decision subject to appeal is only contested in part, a clear and unambiguous identification of the goods or services in respect of which the decision subject to appeal is contested.2.Where the notice of appeal is filed in another official language of the Union than the language of proceedings, the appellant shall provide a translation thereof within four months of the date of notification of the decision subject to appeal.3.Where in ex parte proceedings the decision subject to appeal has been taken in an official language other than the language of proceedings, the appellant may file the notice of appeal either in the language of the proceedings or in the language in which the decision subject to appeal was taken; in either case, the language used for the notice of appeal shall become the language of the appeal proceedings and paragraph 2 shall not apply.4.As soon as the notice of appeal has been filed in inter partes proceedings, it shall be notified to the defendant.

Article 22Statement of grounds1.A statement setting out the grounds of appeal filed pursuant to the fourth sentence of Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall contain a clear and unambiguous identification of the following:(a)the appeal proceedings to which it refers by indicating either the corresponding appeal number or the decision subject to appeal in accordance with the requirements laid down in Article 21(1)(d) of this Regulation;(b)the grounds of appeal on which the annulment of the contested decision is requested within the extent identified in accordance with Article 21(1)(e) of this Regulation;(c)the facts, evidence and arguments in support of the grounds invoked, submitted in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 55(2).2.The statement of grounds shall be filed in the language of the appeal proceedings as determined in accordance with Article 21(2) and (3). Where the statement of grounds is filed in another official language of the Union, the appellant shall provide a translation thereof within one month of the date of the submission of the original statement.

Article 23Admissibility of an appeal1.The Board of Appeal shall reject an appeal as inadmissible in any of the following events:(a)where the notice of appeal has not been filed within two months of the date of notification of the decision subject to appeal;(b)where the appeal does not comply with Articles 66 and 67 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, or with those laid down in Article 21(1)(d) and Article 21(2) and (3) of this Regulation, unless those deficiencies are remedied within four months of the date of notification of the decision subject to appeal;(c)where the notice of appeal does not comply with the requirements laid down in Article 21(1)(a), (b), (c) and (e), and the appellant has, despite having been informed thereof by the Board of Appeal, not remedied those deficiencies within the time limit specified by the Board of Appeal to that effect;(d)where the statement of grounds has not been filed within four months of the date of notification of the decision subject to appeal;(e)where the statement of grounds does not comply with the requirements laid down in Article 22(1)(a) and (b), and the appellant has, despite having been informed thereof by the Board of Appeal, not remedied those deficiencies within the time limit specified by the Board of Appeal to that effect or has not submitted the translation of the statement of grounds within one month of the date of the submission of the original statement in accordance with Article 22(2).2.Where the appeal appears to be inadmissible, the chairperson of the Board of Appeal to which the case has been allocated pursuant to Article 35(1) may request the Board of Appeal to decide without delay on the admissibility of the appeal prior to the notification to the defendant of the notice or of the statement of grounds, as the case may be.3.The Board of Appeal shall declare an appeal as deemed not to have been filed where the appeal fee has been paid after the expiry of the time limit set out in the first sentence of Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. In such a case, paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply.

Article 24Response1.In inter partes proceedings, the defendant may file a response within two months of the date of notification of the appellant's statement of grounds. In exceptional circumstances, that time limit may be extended upon reasoned request by the defendant.2.The response shall contain the name and address of the defendant in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626 and shall comply, mutatis mutandis, with the conditions laid down in Article 21(1)(b), (c) and (d), Article 22(1)(a) and (c) and Article 22(2) of this Regulation.

Article 25Cross appeal1.Where the defendant seeks a decision annulling or altering the contested decision on a point not raised in the appeal, pursuant to Article 68(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, that cross appeal shall be filed within the time limit for filing a response in accordance with Article 24(1) of this Regulation.2.A cross appeal shall be submitted by a document separate from the response.3.The cross appeal shall contain the name and address of the defendant in accordance with Article 2(1)(b) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626 and shall comply mutatis mutandis with the conditions laid down in Article 21(1)(b) to (e) and Article 22 of this Regulation.4.A cross appeal shall be rejected as inadmissible in any of the following events:(a)where it has not been filed within the time limit laid down in paragraph 1;(b)where it has not been filed in observance of the requirements laid down either in paragraph 2 or Article 21(1)(d);(c)where it does not comply with the requirements referred to in paragraph 3, and the defendant has, despite having been informed thereof by the Board of Appeal, not remedied these deficiencies within the time limit specified by the Board of Appeal to that effect or has not submitted the translation of the cross appeal and the corresponding statement of grounds within one month of the date of submission of the original.5.The appellant shall be invited to submit observations on the defendant's cross appeal within two months of the date of notification to the appellant. In exceptional circumstances, that time limit may be extended by the Board of Appeal upon the reasoned request of the appellant. Article 26 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 26Reply and rejoinder in inter partes proceedings1.Upon the appellant's reasoned request filed within two weeks of the notification of the response, the Board of Appeal may, pursuant to Article 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, authorise the appellant to supplement the statement of grounds with a reply within a period specified by the Board of Appeal.2.In such a case, the Board of Appeal shall also authorise the defendant to supplement the response with a rejoinder within a period specified by the Board of Appeal.

Article 27Examination of the appeal1.In ex parte proceedings, and with respect to those goods or services which form part of the subject matter of the appeal, the Board of Appeal, in compliance with Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, shall proceed in accordance with Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 where it raises a ground for refusal of the trade mark application which had not already been invoked in the decision subject to appeal in application of that provision.2.In inter partes proceedings, the examination of the appeal and, as the case may be, the cross appeal, shall be restricted to the grounds invoked in the statement of grounds and, as the case may be, in the cross appeal. Matters of law not raised by the parties shall be examined by the Board of Appeal only where they concern essential procedural requirements or where it is necessary to resolve them in order to ensure a correct application of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 having regard to the facts, evidence and arguments presented by the parties.3.The examination of the appeal shall include the following claims or requests provided that they have been raised in the statement of grounds of the appeal or, as the case may be, in the cross appeal and provided that they were raised in due time in the proceedings before the instance of the Office which adopted the decision subject to appeal:(a)distinctiveness acquired through use as referred to in Article 7(3) and Article 59(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(b)recognition of the earlier trade mark on the market acquired through use for the purposes of Article 8(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(c)proof of use pursuant to Article 47(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 or Article 64(2) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.4.In accordance with Article 95(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Board of Appeal may accept facts or evidence submitted for the first time before it only where those facts or evidence meet the following requirements:(a)they are, on the face of it, likely to be relevant for the outcome of the case; and(b)they have not been produced in due time for valid reasons, in particular where they are merely supplementing relevant facts and evidence which had already been submitted in due time, or are filed to contest findings made or examined by the first instance of its own motion in the decision subject to appeal.5.The Board of Appeal shall, at the latest in its decision on the appeal and, as the case may be, the cross appeal, decide on requests for restriction, division or partial surrender of the contested mark declared during the appeal proceedings by the applicant or the proprietor in accordance with Articles 49, 50 or 57 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. Where the Board of Appeal accepts the restriction, division or partial surrender, it shall without delay inform the department in charge of the Register and the departments dealing with parallel proceedings involving the same mark accordingly.

Article 28Communications by the Board of Appeal1.Communications by the Board of Appeal in the course of the examination of the appeal or with a view to facilitating an amicable settlement of proceedings shall be prepared by the rapporteur and shall be signed by the rapporteur on behalf of the Board of Appeal, in agreement with the chairperson of the Board of Appeal.2.Where a Board of Appeal communicates with the parties regarding its provisional opinion on matters of fact or law, it shall state that it is not bound by such a communication.

Article 29Comments on questions of general interestThe Board of Appeal may, on its own initiative or upon the written, reasoned request of the Executive Director of the Office, invite the Executive Director to comment on questions of general interest which arise in the course of proceedings pending before it. The parties shall be entitled to submit their observations on the Executive Director's comments.

Article 30Reopening of the examination of absolute grounds1.Where, in ex parte proceedings, the Board of Appeal considers that an absolute ground for refusal may be applicable to goods or services listed in the trade mark application which do not form part of the subject matter of the appeal, it shall inform the examiner competent for examining that application who may decide to reopen the examination pursuant to Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 with respect to those goods or services.2.Where a decision of the Opposition Division is subject to an appeal, the Board of Appeal may, by means of a reasoned interim decision and without prejudice to Article 66(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, suspend the appeal proceedings and remit the contested application to the examiner competent for examining that application with a recommendation to reopen the examination pursuant to Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, where it considers that an absolute ground for refusal shall apply to some or all of the goods or services listed in the trade mark application.3.Where the contested application has been remitted in application of paragraph 2, the examiner shall inform the Board of Appeal without delay whether or not the examination of the contested application has been reopened. Where the examination has been reopened, the appeal proceedings shall remain suspended until the examiner's decision has been taken and, where the contested application is rejected in whole or in part, until the examiner's decision to this effect has become final.

Article 31Examination of an appeal as a matter of priority1.Upon reasoned request of the appellant or of the defendant and after hearing the other party, the Board of Appeal may decide, having regard to the particular urgency and the circumstances of the case, to examine the appeal as a matter of priority, without prejudice to the provisions in Articles 23 and 26, including the provisions on time limits.2.The request for the examination of the appeal as a matter of priority may be filed at any time in the course of the appeal proceedings. It shall be filed in a separate document and shall be supported by evidence as to the urgency and the particular circumstances of the case.

Article 32Formal content of the Board of Appeal's decisionThe Board of Appeal's decision shall contain:(a)a statement that it is delivered by the Boards of Appeal;(b)the date when the decision was taken;(c)the names of the parties and of their representatives;(d)the number of the appeal to which it refers and an identification of the decision subject to appeal in accordance with the requirements laid down in Article 21(1)(d);(e)an indication as to the formation of the Board of Appeal;(f)the name and, without prejudice to Article 39(5), the signature of the chairperson and members who took part in the decision, including an indication of who acted as rapporteur in the case, or, where the decision is delivered by a single member, the name and signature of the member who took the decision;(g)the name and the signature of the Registrar or, as the case may be, of the member of the Registry signing on the Registrar's behalf;(h)a summary of the facts and of the arguments submitted by the parties;(i)a statement of the reasons for which the decision has been taken;(j)the order of the Board of Appeal, including, where necessary, a decision on costs.

Article 33Reimbursement of the appeal feeThe appeal fee shall be reimbursed by order of the Board of Appeal in either of the following events:(a)where the appeal is not deemed to have been filed in accordance with the second sentence of Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(b)where the decision-making instance of the Office which adopted the contested decision grants revision pursuant to Article 69(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 or revokes the contested decision in application of Article 103 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(c)where, following reopening of the examination proceedings within the meaning of Article 45(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 upon the Board of Appeal's recommendation pursuant to Article 30(2) of this Regulation, the contested application has been rejected by final decision of the examiner and the appeal has become devoid of purpose as a consequence thereof;(d)where the Board of Appeal considers such reimbursement equitable by reason of a substantial procedural violation.

Article 34Revision and revocation of the decision subject to appeal1.Where, in ex parte proceedings, the appeal is not rejected pursuant to Article 23(1), the Board of Appeal shall submit the notice of appeal and the statement of grounds of appeal to the instance of the Office which adopted the contested decision for the purposes of Article 69 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.2.Where the instance of the Office which adopted the decision subject to appeal decides to grant revision pursuant to Article 69(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, it shall inform the Board of Appeal thereof without delay.3.Where the instance of the Office which adopted the decision subject to appeal has initiated the procedure for revoking the decision subject to appeal pursuant to Article 103(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, it shall inform the Board of Appeal thereof without delay for the purposes of Article 71 of this Regulation. It shall also inform the Board of Appeal without delay about the final outcome of that procedure.

Article 35Allocation of an appeal to a Board and designation of a rapporteur1.As soon as the notice of appeal has been filed, the President of the Boards shall allocate the case to a Board of Appeal according to the objective criteria determined by the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal referred to in Article 166(4)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.2.For each case allocated to a Board of Appeal pursuant to paragraph 1, its chairperson shall designate a member of that Board of Appeal, or the chairperson, as rapporteur.3.Where a case falls under the authority of a single member pursuant to Article 36(1), the Board of Appeal handling a case shall designate the rapporteur as single member pursuant to Article 165(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.4.Where a decision of a Board of Appeal on a case has been annulled or altered by a final ruling of the General Court or, as the case may be, of the Court of Justice, the President of the Boards of Appeal shall, with a view to complying with that ruling in accordance with Article 72(6) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, reallocate the case pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article to a Board of Appeal, which shall not comprise those members who had adopted the annulled decision, except where the case is referred to the enlarged Board of Appeal ("Grand Board") or where the annulled decision had been taken by the Grand Board.5.Where several appeals are filed against the same decision, those appeals shall be considered in the same proceedings. Where appeals involving the same parties are filed against separate decisions concerning the same mark, or have other relevant factual or legal elements in common, those appeals may be considered in joined proceedings with the consent of the parties.

Article 36Cases falling under the authority of a single member1.The Board of Appeal handling the case may designate a single member within the meaning of Article 165(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 for the purposes of the following decisions:(a)decisions pursuant to Article 23;(b)decisions closing the appeal proceedings following withdrawal, rejection, surrender or cancellation of the contested or the earlier mark;(c)decisions closing the appeal proceedings following withdrawal of the opposition, of the request for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity or of the appeal;(d)decisions on measures pursuant to Article 102(1) and Article 103(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, provided that the correction or, as the case may be, the revocation of the decision on the appeal concerns a decision taken by a single member;(e)decisions pursuant to Article 104(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(f)decisions pursuant to Article 109(4), (5) and (8) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(g)decisions on appeals against decisions in ex parte proceedings taken on the grounds laid down in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, which are either manifestly unfounded or manifestly well founded.2.Where the single member considers that the conditions set out in paragraph 1 or in Article 165(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 are not, or no longer, met, the single member shall refer the case back to the Board of Appeal in its composition of three members by submitting a draft decision pursuant to Article 41 of this Regulation.

Article 37Referral to the Grand Board1.Without prejudice to the faculty to refer a case to the Grand Board under Article 165(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, a Board of Appeal shall refer a case allocated to it to the Grand Board if it considers that it must deviate from an interpretation of the relevant legislation given in an earlier decision of the Grand Board, or if it observes that the Boards of Appeal have issued diverging decisions on a point of law which is liable to affect the outcome of the case.2.All decisions on referrals of appeal cases to the Grand Board shall state the reasons for which the referring Board of Appeal or, as the case may be, the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal considers that this is justified, shall be communicated to the parties to the case and shall be published in the Official Journal of the Office.3.The Grand Board shall, without delay, refer the case back to the Board of Appeal to which it was originally allocated if it believes that the conditions for the original referral are not, or no longer, met.4.Requests for a reasoned opinion on questions on a point of law pursuant to Article 157(4)(l) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be referred to the Grand Board in writing, shall state the questions of law of which the interpretation is sought, and may also state the Executive Director's view on the different possible interpretations as well as on their respective legal and practical consequences. The request shall be published in the Official Journal of the Office.5.Where a Board of Appeal has to decide, in a case pending before it, on the same point in law that has already been raised in a referral to the Grand Board pursuant to Article 165(3) or Article 157(4)(l) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, it shall suspend the proceedings until the Grand Board has taken its decision or delivered its reasoned opinion.6.Groups or bodies representing manufacturers, producers, suppliers of services, traders or consumers which can establish an interest in the result of a case on appeal or a request for a reasoned opinion brought before the Grand Board, may submit written observations within two months following the publication in the Official Journal of the Office of the decision of referral or, as the case may be, the request for a reasoned opinion. They shall not be parties to the proceedings before the Grand Board and shall bear their own costs.

Article 38Change in the composition of a Board1.Where, after oral proceedings, the composition of a Board of Appeal is changed pursuant to Article 43(2) and (3), all parties to the proceedings shall be informed that, at the request of any party, fresh oral proceedings shall be held before the Board of Appeal in its new composition. Fresh oral proceedings shall also be held if the new member so requests and provided that the other members of the Board of Appeal have given their agreement.2.The new member of a Board of Appeal shall be bound to the same extent as the other members by any interim decision which has already been taken.

Article 39Deliberation, voting and signing of decisions1.The rapporteur shall submit to the other members of the Board of Appeal a draft of the decision to be taken and shall set a reasonable time limit within which to oppose it or to ask for changes.2.The Board of Appeal shall meet to deliberate on the decision to be taken if it appears that its members are not all of the same opinion. Only members of the Board of Appeal shall participate in the deliberations; the chairperson of the Board of Appeal may, however, authorise other officers such as the Registrar or interpreters to attend. Deliberations shall be and remain secret.3.During the deliberations between members of a Board of Appeal, the opinion of the rapporteur shall be heard first, and, if the rapporteur is not the chairperson, the opinion of the chairperson shall be heard last.4.If voting is necessary, votes shall be taken in the same sequence, save that the chairperson shall always vote last. Abstentions shall not be permitted.5.All members of the Board of Appeal taking the decision shall sign it. However, where the Board of Appeal has already reached a final decision and a member is unable to act, that member shall not be replaced and the chairperson shall sign the decision on the member's behalf. Where the chairperson is unable to act, the most senior member of the Board of Appeal as determined in accordance with Article 43(1) shall sign the decision on behalf of the chairperson.6.Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall not apply where a decision is to be taken by a single member pursuant to Article 165(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and Article 36(1) of this Regulation. In such cases, decisions shall be signed by the single member.

Article 40Chairperson of a Board of AppealA chairperson shall preside over a Board of Appeal and shall have the following duties:(a)designate a member of the Board of Appeal, or himself or herself, as rapporteur for each case allocated to that Board of Appeal in accordance with Article 35(2);(b)designate, on behalf of the Board of Appeal, the rapporteur as single member pursuant to Article 165(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(c)request the Board of Appeal to decide on the admissibility of the appeal in accordance with Article 23(2) of this Regulation;(d)direct the preparatory examination of the case carried out by the rapporteur in accordance with Article 41 of this Regulation;(e)preside over, and sign the minutes of, oral hearings and the taking of evidence.

Article 41Rapporteur to a Board of Appeal1.The rapporteur shall carry out a preliminary study of the appeal assigned to the rapporteur, prepare the case for examination and deliberation by the Board of Appeal, and draft the decision to be taken by the Board of Appeal.2.To that effect, the rapporteur shall, where necessary and subject to the direction of the chairperson of the Board of Appeal, have the following duties:(a)invite the parties to file observations in accordance with Article 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(b)decide on requests for the extension of time limits and, as the case may be, set time limits within the meaning of Article 24(1), Article 25(5) and Article 26 of this Regulation, and on suspensions pursuant to Article 71;(c)prepare communications in accordance with Article 28 and the oral hearing;(d)sign the minutes of oral proceedings and of the taking of evidence.

Article 42Registry1.A Registry shall be set up at the Boards of Appeal. It shall be responsible for the receipt, dispatch, safekeeping and notification of all documents relating to the proceedings before the Boards of Appeal, and for the compilation of the relevant files.2.The Registry shall be headed by a Registrar. The Registrar shall fulfil the tasks referred to in this Article under the authority of the President of the Boards of Appeal, without prejudice to the provisions in paragraph 3.3.The Registrar shall ensure that all formal requirements and time limits, laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, in this Regulation or in decisions of the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal adopted in accordance with Article 166(4)(c) and (d) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 are respected. To this effect, the Registrar shall have the following duties:(a)sign the decisions taken by the Boards of Appeal in respect of appeals;(b)take and sign the minutes of oral proceedings and of the taking of evidence;(c)provide, either of its own motion or upon request from the Board of Appeal, reasoned opinions to the Board of Appeal on procedural and formal requirements including on irregularities pursuant to Article 23(2) of this Regulation;(d)submit the appeal, in accordance with Article 34(1) of this Regulation, to the instance of the Office which adopted the contested decision;(e)order, on behalf of the Board of Appeal, in the cases referred to in Article 33(a) and (b) of this Regulation, the reimbursement of the appeal fee.4.The Registrar shall, upon delegation of the President of the Boards of Appeal, have the following duties:(a)allocate cases in accordance with Article 35(1) and (4);(b)implement, pursuant to Article 166(4)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, decisions of the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal relating to the conduct of proceedings before the Boards of Appeal.5.The Registrar may, upon delegation of the Presidium of the Boards of Appeal made upon proposal of the President of the Boards of Appeal, perform other tasks relating to the conduct of appeal proceedings before the Boards of Appeal and the organisation of their work.6.The Registrar may delegate the tasks referred to in this Article to a member of the Registry.7.Where the Registrar is prevented from acting within the meaning of Article 43(4), or where the post of Registrar is vacant, the President of the Boards of Appeal shall appoint a member of the Registry who shall perform the tasks of the Registrar in the Registrar's absence.8.The members of the Registry shall be managed by the Registrar.

Article 43Order of seniority and replacement of members and chairpersons1.The seniority of chairpersons and members shall be calculated according to the date on which they took up their duties as specified in the instrument of appointment or, failing that, as fixed by the Management Board of the Office. Where there is equal seniority on that basis, the order of seniority shall be determined by age. Chairpersons and members whose term of office is renewed shall retain their former seniority.2.Where the chairperson of a Board of Appeal is prevented from acting, that chairperson shall be replaced, on the basis of seniority as determined in accordance with paragraph 1, by the most senior member of that Board of Appeal, or, where no member of that Board of Appeal is available, by the most senior of the other members of the Boards of Appeal.3.Where a member of a Board of Appeal is prevented from acting, that member shall be replaced, on the basis of seniority as determined in accordance with paragraph 1, by the most senior member of that Board of Appeal, or, where no member of that Board of Appeal is available, by the most senior of the other members of the Boards of Appeal.4.For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, chairpersons and members of the Boards of Appeal shall be considered to be prevented from acting in case of leave, sickness, inescapable commitments and exclusion pursuant to Article 169 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and Article 35(4) of this Regulation. A chairperson shall also be considered to be prevented from acting where that chairperson acts ad interim as President of the Boards of Appeal pursuant to Article 47(2) of this Regulation. Where the post of chairperson or member is vacant, their respective functions shall be exercised ad interim pursuant to the provisions in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article concerning replacement.5.Any members considering themselves prevented from acting shall without delay inform the chairperson of the Board of Appeal concerned. Any chairpersons considering themselves prevented from acting shall without delay inform simultaneously that chairperson's alternate determined in accordance with paragraph 2 and the President of the Boards of Appeal.

Article 44Exclusion and objection1.Before a decision is taken by a Board of Appeal pursuant to Article 169(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the chairperson or member concerned shall be invited to present comments as to whether there is a reason for exclusion or objection.2.Where the Board of Appeal obtains knowledge, from a source other than the member concerned or a party to the proceedings, of a possible reason for exclusion or objection under Article 169(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the procedure laid down in Article 169(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be applied.3.The proceedings concerned shall be suspended until a decision is taken on the action to be taken pursuant to Article 169(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.

Article 45Grand Board1.The list comprising the names of all members of the Boards of Appeal other than the President of the Boards of Appeal and the chairpersons of the Boards of Appeal for the purposes of drawing in rotation the members of the Grand Board referred to in Article 167(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be drawn up in the order of seniority determined in accordance with Article 43(1) of this Regulation. Where an appeal has been referred to the Grand Board pursuant to Article 165(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Grand Board shall comprise the rapporteur designated prior to the referral.2.Article 40 shall apply to the President of the Boards of Appeal acting in the capacity of chairperson of the Grand Board. Article 41 shall apply to the rapporteur to the Grand Board.3.Where the President of the Boards of Appeal is prevented from acting as chairperson of the Grand Board, the President of the Boards of Appeal shall be replaced in that function and, as the case may be, as rapporteur to the Grand Board, on the basis of seniority as determined in accordance with Article 43(1), by the most senior chairperson of the Boards of Appeal. Where a member of the Grand Board is prevented from acting, that member shall be replaced by another member of the Boards of Appeal to be designated pursuant to Article 167(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and paragraph 1 of this Article. Article 43(4) and (5) of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis.4.The Grand Board shall not deliberate or vote on cases, and oral proceedings shall not take place before the Grand Board unless seven of its members are present, including its chairperson and the rapporteur.5.Article 39(1) to (5) shall apply to the deliberations and voting of the Grand Board. In the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson shall be decisive.6.Article 32 shall apply to decisions of the Grand Board and mutatis mutandis to its reasoned opinions within the meaning of Article 157(4)(l) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.

Article 46Presidium of the Boards of Appeal1.The Presidium of the Boards of Appeal shall have the following duties:(a)decide on the constitution of Boards of Appeal;(b)determine the objective criteria for the allocation of appeal cases to the Boards of Appeal and rule on any conflict as regards the application thereof;(c)upon proposal of the President of the Boards of Appeal, establish the Boards of Appeal's expenditure requirements with a view to drawing up the Office's expenditure estimates;(d)lay down its internal rules;(e)lay down rules for the processing of excluding and objecting to members pursuant to Article 169 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(f)lay down the working instructions for the Registry;(g)take any other measure for the purpose of exercising its functions of laying down the rules and of organising the work of the Boards of Appeal pursuant to Article 165(3)(a) and Article 166(4)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.2.The Presidium may validly deliberate only if at least two thirds of its members, including the chairperson of the Presidium and half of the chairpersons of the Boards of Appeal, rounded up if necessary, are present. Decisions of the Presidium shall be taken by a majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson shall be decisive.3.The decisions adopted by the Presidium pursuant to Article 43(1), to Article 45(1), and to paragraph 1(a) and (b) of this Article shall be published in the Official Journal of the Office.

Article 47President of the Boards of Appeal1.Where the President of the Boards of Appeal is prevented from acting within the meaning of Article 43(4), the managerial and organisational functions conferred upon the President of the Boards of Appeal by Article 166(4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be exercised, on the basis of seniority as determined in accordance with Article 43(1) of this Regulation, by the most senior chairperson of the Boards of Appeal.2.Where the post of the President of the Boards of Appeal is vacant, the functions of that president shall be exercised ad interim, on the basis of seniority as determined in accordance with Article 43(1), by the most senior chairperson of the Boards of Appeal.

Article 48Applicability to appeal proceedings of provisions relating to other proceedingsUnless otherwise provided in this title, the provisions relating to proceedings before the instance of the Office which adopted the decision subject to appeal shall be applicable to appeal proceedings mutatis mutandis.

TITLE VIORAL PROCEEDINGS AND TAKING OF EVIDENCE

Article 49Summons to oral proceedings1.The parties shall be summoned to oral proceedings provided for in Article 96 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and their attention shall be drawn to paragraph 3 of this Article.2.When issuing the summons, the Office shall request, where necessary, that the parties provide all relevant information and documents before the hearing. The Office may invite the parties to concentrate on one or more specified issues during the oral proceedings. It may also offer to the parties the possibility to take part in the oral proceedings by videoconference or other technical means.3.If a party who has been duly summoned to oral proceedings before the Office does not appear as summoned, the proceedings may continue without that party.4.The Office shall ensure that the case is ready for decision at the conclusion of the oral proceedings, unless there are special reasons to the contrary.

Article 50Languages of oral proceedings1.Oral proceedings shall be conducted in the language of the proceedings unless the parties agree to use a different official language of the Union.2.The Office may communicate in oral proceedings in another official language of the Union and it may, upon request, authorise a party to do so provided that simultaneous interpretation into the language of proceedings can be made available. The costs of providing simultaneous interpretation shall be borne by the party making the request or by the Office as the case may be.

Article 51Oral evidence of parties, witnesses or experts and inspection1.Where the Office considers it necessary to hear the oral evidence of parties, witnesses or experts or to carry out an inspection, it shall take an interim decision to that end, stating the means by which it intends to obtain the evidence, the relevant facts to be proved and the date, time and place of hearing or inspection. Where the hearing of oral evidence of witnesses or experts is requested by a party, the Office shall determine in its decision the period within which that party must make known to the Office the names and addresses of the witnesses or experts.2.The summons of parties, witnesses or experts to give evidence shall contain:(a)an extract from the decision referred to in paragraph 1, indicating the date, time and place of the hearing ordered and stating the facts regarding which the parties, witnesses and experts are to be heard;(b)the names of the parties to the proceedings and particulars of the rights which the witnesses or experts may invoke under Article 54(2) to (5).The summons shall also offer to the parties, witnesses or experts being summoned the possibility to take part in the oral proceedings by videoconference or other technical means.3.Article 50(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 52Commissioning of and opinions by experts1.The Office shall decide in what form an opinion is to be submitted by an expert.2.The terms of reference of the expert shall include:(a)a precise description of the expert's task;(b)the time limit laid down for the submission of the expert opinion;(c)the names of the parties to the proceedings;(d)particulars of the rights which the expert may invoke pursuant to Article 54(2), (3) and (4).3.Where an expert is appointed, the expert opinion shall be submitted in the language of the proceedings or accompanied by a translation into that language. A copy of any written opinion, and of the translation if needed, shall be sent to the parties.4.The parties may object to the appointment of an expert on grounds of incompetence or on the same grounds as those on which objection may be made against an examiner or against a member of a Division or Board of Appeal pursuant to Article 169(1) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. Any objection to the appointment of an expert shall be submitted in the language of the proceedings, or accompanied by a translation into that language. The department of the Office concerned shall rule on the objection.

Article 53Minutes of oral proceedings1.Minutes of oral proceedings or the taking of oral evidence shall be drawn up, containing:(a)the number of the case to which the oral proceedings relate and the date of the oral proceedings;(b)the names of the officials of the Office, the parties, their representatives, and of the witnesses and experts who are present;(c)the submissions and requests made by the parties;(d)the means of giving or obtaining evidence;(e)where applicable, the orders or the decision issued by the Office.2.The minutes shall become part of the file of the relevant EU trade mark application or registration. They shall be notified to the parties.3.Where oral proceedings or the taking of evidence before the Office are recorded, the recording shall replace the minutes and paragraph 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 54Costs of taking of evidence in oral proceedings1.The taking of evidence by the Office may be made conditional upon deposit with it, by the party who has requested the evidence to be taken, of a sum which shall be fixed by reference to an estimate of the costs.2.Witnesses and experts who are summoned by and appear before the Office shall be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses for travel and subsistence where such expenses are incurred. An advance for such expenses may be granted to them by the Office.3.Witnesses entitled to reimbursement pursuant to paragraph 2 shall also be entitled to appropriate compensation for loss of earnings, and experts to fees for their work. That compensation shall be paid to the witnesses and experts after they have fulfilled their duties or tasks, where such witnesses and experts have been summoned by the Office of its own initiative.4.The amounts and advances for expenses to be paid pursuant to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall be determined by the Executive Director and shall be published in the Official Journal of the Office. The amounts shall be calculated on the same basis as laid down in the Staff Regulations of the Officials of the Union and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the Union, laid down in Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68Regulation (EEC, Euratom, ECSC) No 259/68 of the Council of 29 February 1968 laying down the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities and instituting special measures temporarily applicable to officials of the Commission (Conditions of Employment of Other Servants) (OJ L 56, 4.3.1968, p. 1). and Annex VII thereto.5.Liability for the amounts due or paid pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4 shall lie with:(a)the Office where it, at its own initiative, has summoned the witnesses or experts;(b)the party concerned where that party has requested the giving of oral evidence by witnesses or experts, subject to the decision on apportionment and fixing of costs pursuant to Articles 109 and 110 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and Article 18 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626. Such party shall reimburse the Office for any advances duly paid.

Article 55Examination of written evidence1.The Office shall examine any evidence given or obtained in any proceedings before it to the extent necessary to take a decision in the proceedings in question.2.The documents or other items of evidence shall be contained in annexes to a submission which shall be numbered consecutively. The submission shall include an index indicating, for each document or item of evidence annexed:(a)the number of the annex;(b)a short description of the document or item and, if applicable, the number of pages;(c)the page number of the submission where the document or item is mentioned.The submitting party may also indicate, in the index of annexes, which specific parts of a document it relies upon in support of its arguments.3.Where the submission or the annexes do not comply with the requirements set out in paragraph 2, the Office may invite the submitting party to remedy any deficiency, within a period specified by the Office.4.Where the deficiency is not remedied within the period specified by the Office, and where it is still not possible for the Office to clearly establish to which ground or argument a document or item of evidence refers, that document or item shall not be taken into account.

TITLE VIINOTIFICATIONS BY THE OFFICE

Article 56General provisions on notifications1.In proceedings before the Office, notifications to be made by the Office shall be in accordance with Article 94(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and shall consist in the transmission of the document to be notified to the parties concerned. Transmission may be effected by providing electronic access to that document.2.Notifications shall be made by one of the following means:(a)electronic means pursuant to Article 57;(b)post or courier pursuant to Article 58;(c)public notification pursuant to Article 59.3.Where the addressee has indicated contact details for communicating with the addressee through electronic means, the Office shall have the choice between those means and notification by post or courier.

Article 57Notification by electronic means1.Notification by electronic means covers transmissions by wire, by radio, by optical means or by other electromagnetic means, including the internet.2.The Executive Director shall determine the details regarding the specific electronic means to be used, the manner in which electronic means will be used, and the time limit for notification by electronic means.

Article 58Notification by post or courier1.Notwithstanding Article 56(3), decisions subject to a time limit for appeal, summons and other documents as determined by the Executive Director shall be notified by courier service or registered post, in both cases with advice of delivery. All other notifications shall be either by courier service or registered post, whether or not with advice of delivery, or by ordinary post.2.Notwithstanding Article 56(3), notifications in respect of addressees having neither their domicile nor their principal place of business or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the European Economic Area ("EEA") and who have not appointed a representative as required by Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be effected by posting the document requiring notification by ordinary post.3.Where notification is effected by courier service or registered post, whether or not with advice of delivery, it shall be deemed to be delivered to the addressee on the tenth day following that of its posting, unless the letter has failed to reach the addressee or has reached the addressee at a later date. In the event of any dispute, it shall be for the Office to establish that the letter has reached its destination or to establish the date on which it was delivered to the addressee, as the case may be.4.Notification by courier service or registered post shall be deemed to have been effected even if the addressee refuses to accept the letter.5.Notification by ordinary post shall be deemed to have been effected on the 10th day following that of its posting.

Article 59Notification by public noticeWhere the address of the addressee cannot be established or where after at least one attempt at notification in accordance with Article 56(2)(a) and (b) has proved impossible, notification shall be effected by public notice.

Article 60Notification to representatives1.Where a representative has been appointed or where the applicant first named in a common application is considered to be the common representative pursuant to Article 73(1), notifications shall be addressed to that appointed or common representative.2.Where a single party has appointed several representatives, notification shall be effected in accordance with Article 2(1)(e) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626. Where several parties have appointed a common representative, notification of a single document to the common representative shall be sufficient.3.A notification or other communication addressed by the Office to the duly authorised representative shall have the same effect as if it had been addressed to the represented person.

Article 61Irregularities in notificationWhere a document has reached the addressee and where the Office is unable to prove that it has been duly notified or where provisions relating to its notification have not been observed, the document shall be deemed to have been notified on the date established as the date of receipt.

Article 62Notification of documents in the case of several partiesDocuments emanating from parties shall be notified to the other parties as a matter of course. Notification may be dispensed with where the document contains no new pleadings and the matter is ready for decision.

TITLE VIIIWRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AND FORMS

Article 63Communications to the Office in writing or by other means1.Applications for the registration of an EU trade mark as well as any other application provided for in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and all other communications addressed to the Office shall be submitted as follows:(a)by transmitting a communication by electronic means, in which case the indication of the name of the sender shall be deemed to be equivalent to the signature;(b)by submitting a signed original of the document in question to the Office by post or courier.2.In proceedings before the Office, the date on which a communication is received by the Office shall be considered to be its date of filing or submission.3.Where a communication received by electronic means is incomplete or illegible or where the Office has reasonable doubts as to the accuracy of the transmission, the Office shall inform the sender accordingly and shall invite the sender, within a period to be specified by the Office, to retransmit the original or to submit it in accordance with paragraph (1)(b). Where that request is complied with within the period specified, the date of receipt of the retransmission or of the original shall be deemed to be the date of the receipt of the original communication. However, where the deficiency concerns the granting of a filing date for an application to register a trade mark, the provisions on the filing date shall apply. Where the request is not complied with within the period specified, the communication shall be deemed not to have been received.

Article 64Annexes to communications by post or courier1.Annexes to communications may be submitted on data carriers in accordance with the technical specifications determined by the Executive Director.2.Where a communication with annexes is submitted in accordance with Article 63(1)(b) by a party to proceedings involving more than one party, the party shall submit as many copies of the annexes as there are parties to the proceedings. Annexes shall be indexed in accordance with the requirements laid down in Article 55(2).

Article 65Forms1.The Office shall make forms available to the public free of charge, which may be completed online, for the purposes of:(a)filing an application for an EU trade mark, including, where appropriate, requests for the search reports;(b)entering an opposition;(c)applying for revocation of rights;(d)applying for a declaration of invalidity or the assignment of an EU trade mark;(e)applying for the registration of a transfer and the transfer form or document referred to in Article 13(3)(d) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626;(f)applying for the registration of a licence;(g)applying for the renewal of an EU trade mark;(h)making an appeal;(i)authorising a representative, in the form of an individual authorisation or a general authorisation;(j)submitting an international application or a subsequent designation pursuant to the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the international registration of marks, adopted at Madrid on 27 June 1989OJ L 296, 14.11.2003, p. 22. to the Office.2.Parties to the proceedings before the Office may also use:(a)forms established under the Trademark Law Treaty or pursuant to recommendations of the Assembly of the Paris Union for the Protection of Industrial Property;(b)with the exception of the form referred to in point (i) of paragraph 1, forms with the same content and format as those referred to in paragraph 1.3.The Office shall make the forms referred to in paragraph 1 available in all the official languages of the Union.

Article 66Communications by representativesAny communication addressed to the Office by the duly authorised representative shall have the same effect as if it originated from the represented person.

TITLE IXTIME LIMITS

Article 67Calculation and duration of time limits1.The calculation of a time limit shall start on the day following the day on which the relevant event occurred, either a procedural step or the expiry of another time limit. Where that procedural step is a notification, the event shall be the receipt of the document notified, unless otherwise provided for.2.Where a time limit is expressed as one year or a certain number of years, it shall expire on the relevant subsequent year in the month having the same name and on the day having the same number as the month and the day on which the relevant event occurred. Where the relevant month has no day with the same number, the time limit shall expire on the last day of that month.3.Where a time limit is expressed as one month or a certain number of months, it shall expire on the relevant subsequent month on the day which has the same number as the day on which the relevant event occurred. Where the relevant subsequent month has no day with the same number, the time limit shall expire on the last day of that month.4.Where a time limit is expressed as one week or a certain number of weeks, it shall expire on the relevant subsequent week on the day having the same name as the day on which the said event occurred.

Article 68Extension of time limitsSubject to specific or maximum time limits laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626 or this Regulation, the Office may grant an extension of a time limit upon reasoned request. Such request shall be submitted by the party concerned before the time limit in question expires. Where there are two or more parties, the Office may subject the extension of a time limit to the agreement of the other parties.

Article 69Expiry of time limits in special cases1.Where a time limit expires on a day on which the Office is not open for receipt of documents or on which, for reasons other than those referred to in paragraph 2, ordinary post is not delivered in the locality in which the Office is located, the time limit shall be extended until the first day thereafter on which the Office is open for receipt of documents and on which ordinary mail is delivered.2.Where a time limit expires on a day on which there is a general interruption in the delivery of mail in the Member State where the Office is located, or, if and to the extent that the Executive Director has allowed communications to be sent by electronic means pursuant to Article 100(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, on which there is an actual interruption of the Office's connection to those electronic means of communication, the time limit shall be extended until the first day thereafter on which the Office is open for receipt of documents and on which ordinary mail is delivered or the Office's connection to those electronic means of communication is restored.

TITLE XREVOCATION OF A DECISION

Article 70Revocation of a decision or entry in the Register1.Where the Office finds of its own motion or pursuant to corresponding information provided by the parties to the proceedings that a decision or entry in the Register is subject to revocation pursuant to Article 103 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, it shall inform the affected party about the intended revocation.2.The affected party shall submit observations on the intended revocation within a time limit specified by the Office.3.Where the affected party agrees to the intended revocation or does not submit any observations within the time limit, the Office shall revoke the decision or entry. If the affected party does not agree to the intended revocation, the Office shall take a decision on the intended revocation.4.Where the intended revocation is likely to affect more than one party, paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis. In those cases the observations submitted by one of the parties pursuant to paragraph 3 shall always be communicated to the other party or parties with an invitation to submit observations.5.Where the revocation of a decision or an entry in the Register affects a decision or entry that has been published, the revocation shall also be published.6.Competence for revocation pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4 shall lie with the department or unit which took the decision.

TITLE XISUSPENSION OF PROCEEDINGS

Article 71Suspension of proceedings1.As regards opposition, revocation and declaration of invalidity and appeal proceedings, the competent department or Board of Appeal may suspend proceedings:(a)of its own motion where a suspension is appropriate under the circumstances of the case;(b)at the reasoned request of one of the parties in inter partes proceedings where a suspension is appropriate under the circumstances of the case, taking into account the interests of the parties and the stage of the proceedings.2.At the request of both parties in inter partes proceedings, the competent department or Board of Appeal shall suspend the proceedings for a period which shall not exceed six months. That suspension may be extended upon a request of both parties up to a total maximum of two years.3.Any time limits related to the proceedings in question, other than the time limits for the payment of the applicable fee, shall be interrupted as from the date of suspension. Without prejudice to Article 170(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the time limits shall be recalculated to begin in full as from the day on which the proceedings are resumed.4.Where appropriate under the circumstances of the case, the parties may be invited to submit their observations as regards the suspension or resumption of the proceedings.

TITLE XIIINTERRUPTION OF PROCEEDINGS

Article 72Resumption of proceedings1.Where proceedings before the Office have been interrupted pursuant to Article 106(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office shall be informed of the identity of the person authorised to continue the proceedings before it pursuant to Article 106(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. The Office shall communicate to that person and to any interested third parties that the proceedings shall be resumed as from a date to be fixed by the Office.2.Where, three months after the beginning of the interruption of the proceedings pursuant to Article 106(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the Office has not been informed of the appointment of a new representative, it shall inform the applicant for or proprietor of the EU trade mark that:(a)where Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall apply, the EU trade mark application shall be deemed to be withdrawn if the information is not submitted within two months after the communication is notified;(b)where Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 does not apply, the proceedings will be resumed with the applicant for or proprietor of the EU trade mark as from the date on which this communication is notified.3.The time limits in force as regards the applicant for or proprietor of the EU trade mark at the date of interruption of the proceedings, other than the time limit for paying the renewal fees, shall begin again as from the day on which the proceedings are resumed.

TITLE XIIIREPRESENTATION

Article 73Appointment of a common representative1.Where there is more than one applicant and the application for an EU trade mark does not name a common representative, the first applicant named in the application having its domicile or principal place of business or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the EEA, or its representative if appointed, shall be considered to be the common representative. Where all of the applicants are obliged to appoint a professional representative, the professional representative who is named first in the application shall be considered to be the common representative. This shall apply mutatis mutandis to third parties acting jointly in filing notice of opposition or applying for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity and to joint proprietors of an EU trade mark.2.Where, during the course of proceedings, transfer is made to more than one person and those persons have not appointed a common representative, paragraph 1 shall apply. Where such an appointment is not possible, the Office shall require those persons to appoint a common representative within two months. If that request is not complied with, the Office shall appoint the common representative.

Article 74Authorisations1.Employees who represent natural or legal persons within the meaning of Article 119(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, as well as legal practitioners and professional representatives entered on the list maintained by the Office pursuant to Article 120(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, shall file a signed authorisation with the Office for insertion in the files pursuant to Article 119(3) and Article 120(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 only where the Office expressly requires it or where there are several parties to the proceedings in which the representative acts before the Office and the other party expressly asks for it.2.Where it is required, pursuant to Article 119(3) or Article 120(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, that a signed authorisation be filed, such an authorisation may be filed in any official language of the Union. It may cover one or more applications or registered trade marks or may be in the form of a general authorisation authorising the representative to act in respect of all proceedings before the Office to which the person giving the authorisation is a party.3.The Office shall specify a time limit within which such an authorisation shall be filed. Where the authorisation is not filed in due time, proceedings shall be continued with the represented person. Any procedural steps taken by the representative other than the filing of the application shall be deemed not to have been taken if the represented person does not approve them within a time limit specified by the Office.4.Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a document withdrawing an authorisation.5.Any representative who has ceased to be authorised shall continue to be regarded as the representative until the termination of that representative's authorisation has been communicated to the Office.6.Subject to any provisions to the contrary contained therein, an authorisation shall not automatically cease to be valid vis-à-vis the Office upon the death of the person who gave it.7.Where the appointment of a representative is communicated to the Office, the name and the business address of the representative shall be indicated in accordance with Article 2(1)(e) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626. Where a representative who has already been appointed appears before the Office, that representative shall indicate the name and the identification number attributed to the representative by the Office. Where several representatives are appointed by the same party, they may, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in their authorisations, act either jointly or singly.8.The appointment or authorisation of an association of representatives shall be deemed to be an appointment or authorisation of any representative who practises within that association.

Article 75Amendment of the list of professional representatives1.Pursuant to Article 120(5) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the entry of a professional representative shall be deleted automatically:(a)in the event of the death or legal incapacity of the professional representative;(b)where the professional representative is no longer a national of one of the Member States of the EEA, unless the Executive Director has granted an exemption under Article 120(4)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;(c)where the professional representative no longer has a place of business or employment in the EEA;(d)where the professional representative no longer possesses the entitlement referred to in the first sentence of Article 120(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.2.The entry of a professional representative shall be suspended of the Office's own motion where the representative's entitlement to represent natural or legal persons before the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property or the central industrial property office of a Member State as referred to in the first sentence of Article 120(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 has been suspended.3.Where the conditions for deletion no longer exist, a person whose entry has been deleted shall, upon request, accompanied by a certificate pursuant to Article 120(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, be reinstated in the list of professional representatives.4.The Benelux Office for Intellectual Property and the central industrial property offices of the Member States concerned shall, where they are aware of any relevant events referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, promptly inform the Office thereof.

TITLE XIVPROCEDURES CONCERNING THE INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION OF MARKS

Article 76Collective and certification marks1.Without prejudice to Article 193 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, where an international registration designating the Union is dealt with as an EU collective mark or as an EU certification mark pursuant to Article 194(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, a notification of an ex officio provisional refusal shall also be issued in accordance with Article 33 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/626 in the following cases:(a)where one of the grounds for refusal provided for in Article 76(1) or (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, in conjunction with paragraph 3 of that Article, or in Article 85(1) or (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, in conjunction with paragraph 3 of that Article exists;(b)where the regulations governing use of the mark have not been submitted in accordance with Article 194(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.2.Notice of amendments to the regulations governing the use of the mark pursuant to Articles 79 and 88 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 shall be published in the European Union Trade Marks Bulletin.

Article 77Opposition proceedings1.Where an opposition is entered against an international registration designating the Union pursuant to Article 196 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the notice of opposition shall contain:(a)the number of the international registration against which opposition is entered;(b)an indication of the goods or services listed in the international registration against which opposition is entered;(c)the name of the holder of the international registration;(d)the requirements laid down in Article 2(2)(b) to (h) of this Regulation.2.Article 2(1), (3) and (4) and Articles 3 to 10 of this Regulation shall apply for the purposes of opposition proceedings relating to international registrations designating the Union, subject to the following conditions:(a)any reference to an application for registration of the EU trade mark shall be read as a reference to an international registration;(b)any reference to a withdrawal of the application for registration of the EU trade mark shall be read as a reference to the renunciation of the international registration in respect of the Union;(c)any reference to the applicant shall be read as a reference to the holder of the international registration.3.Where the notice of opposition is filed before the expiry of the period of one month referred to in Article 196(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the notice of opposition shall be deemed to have been filed on the first day following the expiry of the period of one month.4.Where the holder of the international registration is obliged to be represented in proceedings before the Office pursuant to Article 119(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, and where the holder of the international registration has not already appointed a representative within the meaning of Article 120(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the communication of the opposition to the holder of the international registration pursuant to Article 6(1) of this Regulation shall contain a request for the appointment of a representative within the meaning of Article 120(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 within a time limit of two months of the date of notification of the communication.Where the holder of the international registration fails to appoint a representative within that time limit, the Office shall take a decision refusing the protection of the international registration.5.The opposition procedure shall be stayed where an ex officio provisional refusal of protection is issued pursuant to Article 193 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. Where the ex officio provisional refusal has led to a decision to refuse protection of the mark which has become final, the Office shall not proceed to a decision and refund the opposition fee and no decision on the apportionment of costs shall be taken.

Article 78Notification of provisional refusals based on an opposition1.Where a notice of opposition against an international registration is entered at the Office pursuant to Article 196(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, or where an opposition is deemed to have been entered pursuant to Article 77(3) of this Regulation, the Office shall issue a notification of provisional refusal of protection based on an opposition to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation ("the International Bureau").2.The notification of provisional refusal of protection based on an opposition shall contain:(a)the number of the international registration;(b)the indication that the refusal is based on the fact that an opposition has been filed, together with a reference to the provisions of Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 upon which the opposition relies;(c)the name and the address of the opposing party.3.Where the opposition is based on a trade mark application or registration, the notification referred to in paragraph 2 shall contain the following indications:(a)the filing date, the registration date and the priority date, if any;(b)the filing number and, the registration number, if different;(c)the name and address of the owner;(d)a reproduction of the mark;(e)the list of goods or services upon which the opposition is based.4.Where the provisional refusal relates to only part of the goods or services, the notification referred to in paragraph 2 shall indicate those goods or services.5.The Office shall inform the International Bureau of the following:(a)where as a result of the opposition proceedings the provisional refusal has been withdrawn, the fact that the mark is protected in the Union;(b)where a decision to refuse protection of the mark has become final following an appeal pursuant to Article 66 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 or an action pursuant to Article 72 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the fact that protection of the mark is refused in the Union;(c)where the refusal referred to in point (b) concerns only part of the goods or services, the goods or services for which the mark is protected in the Union.6.Where more than one provisional refusal has been issued for one international registration pursuant to Article 193(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 or paragraph 1 of this Article, the communication referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article shall relate to the total or partial refusal of protection of the mark pursuant to Articles 193 and 196 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001.

Article 79Statement of grant of protection1.Where the Office has not issued an ex officio provisional notification of refusal pursuant to Article 193 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and no opposition has been received by the Office within the opposition period referred to in Article 196(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 and the Office has not issued an ex officio provisional refusal as a result of the third party observations submitted, the Office shall send a statement of grant of protection to the International Bureau indicating that the mark is protected in the Union.2.For the purposes of Article 189(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the statement of grant of protection referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall have the same effect as a statement by the Office that a notice of refusal has been withdrawn.

TITLE XVFINAL PROVISIONS

Article 80Transitional measuresThe provisions of Regulations (EC) No 2868/95 and (EC) No 216/96 shall continue to apply to ongoing proceedings where this Regulation does not apply in accordance with its Article 82, until such proceedings are concluded.

Article 81RepealCommission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1430 is repealed.

Article 82Entry into force and application1.This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.2.It shall be applicable from the date of entry into force referred to in paragraph 1, subject to the following exceptions:(a)Articles 2 to 6 shall not apply to notices of opposition entered before 1 October 2017;(b)Articles 7 and 8 shall not apply to opposition proceedings, the adversarial part of which has started before 1 October 2017;(c)Article 9 shall not apply to suspensions made before 1 October 2017;(d)Article 10 shall not apply to requests for proof of use made before 1 October 2017;(e)Title III shall not apply to requests for amendment entered before 1 October 2017;(f)Articles 12 to 15 shall not apply to applications for revocation or for a declaration of invalidity or requests for assignment entered before 1 October 2017;(g)Articles 16 and 17 shall not apply to proceedings, the adversarial part of which has started before 1 October 2017;(h)Article 18 shall not apply to suspensions made before 1 October 2017;(i)Article 19 shall not apply to requests for proof of use made before 1 October 2017;(j)Title V shall not apply to appeals entered before 1 October 2017;(k)Title VI shall not apply to oral proceedings initiated before 1 October 2017 or to written evidence where the period for its presentation has started before that date;(l)Title VII shall not apply to notifications made before 1 October 2017;(m)Title VIII shall not apply to communications received and to forms made available before 1 October 2017;(n)Title IX shall not apply to time limits set before 1 October 2017;(o)Title X shall not apply to revocations of decisions taken or entries in the Register made before 1 October 2017;(p)Title XI shall not apply to suspensions requested by the parties or imposed by the Office before 1 October 2017;(q)Title XII shall not apply to proceedings interrupted before 1 October 2017;(r)Article 73 shall not apply to EU trade mark applications received before 1 October 2017;(s)Article 74 shall not apply to representatives appointed before 1 October 2017;(t)Article 75 shall not apply to entries on the list of professional representatives made before 1 October 2017;(u)Title XIV shall not apply to designations of the EU trade mark made before 1 October 2017.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 5 March 2018.For the CommissionThe PresidentJean-Claude Juncker

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625 of 5 March 2018 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union trade mark, and repealing Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1430