Link: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-07/cp220117en.pdf

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PRESS RELEASE No 117/22

Luxembourg, 6 July 2022

Judgment of the General Court in Case T-478/21 | Les Éditions P. Amaury v EUIPO - Golden Balls (BALLON D’OR)

The General Court annuls EUIPO’s decision revoking the EU trade mark BALLON D’OR in respect of entertainment services

However, it upholds the revocation of that mark for services consisting in the broadcasting or production of television programmes, the production of shows or films and the publication of books, magazines or newspapers

The French company Les Éditions P. Amaury, which holds the rights relating to the Ballon d’or (an award given to the best football player of the year), obtained registration of an EU trade mark at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in respect of the word sign BALLON D’OR. That registration concerned, inter alia, printed matter, books and magazines, as well as services consisting in the organisation of sports competitions and awarding of trophies, entertainment, the broadcasting or production of television programmes, the production of shows or films and the publication of books, magazines or newspapers. 

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