Community trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - Community figurative mark esf école du ski français - Absolute grounds for refusal - State emblem - Article 7(1)(h) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 - Article 6ter of the Paris Convention - Mark of such a nature as to deceive the public - Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation No 207/2009.

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 5 May 2011 – SIMS – École de ski internationale v OHIM – SNMSF (esf école du ski français) (Case T-41/10) Community trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Community figurative mark esf école du ski français – Absolute grounds for refusal – State emblem – Article 7(1)(h) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 – Article 6ter of the Paris Convention – Mark of such a nature as to deceive the public – Article 7(1)(g) of Regulation No 207/2009 1.                     Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Trade marks to be refused under the Paris Convention – Protection of emblems of States and international organisations – Extent of protection (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(h)) (see para. 20) 2.                     Community trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Trade marks to be refused under the Paris Convention – Protection of emblems of States and international organisations – Imitation from the heraldic point of view (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(h)) (see paras 21-25) 3.                     Community trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds of invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(g) and (h) of Regulation No 207/2009 (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(g) and (h) and 52(1)(a)) (see paras 27, 37, 52-54, 63-64) Re: ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of OHIM of 11 November 2009 (Case R 235/2009-1), concerning invalidity proceedings between the Syndicat international des moniteurs de ski – École de ski internationale (SIMS – École de ski internationale) and the Syndicat national des moniteurs du ski français (SNMSF). Information relating to the case Registered Community trade mark of which cancellation sought: Figurative mark esf école du ski français for goods and services in Classes 25, 28 and 41 (Community trade mark No 4624987 Proprietor of the Community trade mark: Syndicat national des moniteurs du ski français (SNMSF) Party requesting the declaration of invalidity of the Community trade mark: Syndicat international des moniteurs de ski – Ecole de ski internationale (SIMS – Ecole de ski internationale) Decision of the Cancellation Division: Application for declaration of invalidity dismissed Decision of the Board of Appeal: Appeal dismissed Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders the Syndicat international des moniteurs de ski – École de ski internationale (SIMS – École de ski internationale) to pay the costs incurred by the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (OHIM); 3. Orders the Syndicat national des moniteurs du ski français to bear its own costs.