# C_2016232EN.01001101.xml

| 27.6.2016 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 232/11 |
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Judgment of the General Court of 12 May 2016 — Zuffa v EUIPO (ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP)

(Case T-590/14)( 1 )

((EU trade mark - Application for the EU word mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP - Absolute grounds for refusal - Lack of distinctive character - Descriptiveness - Distinctive character acquired through use - Obligation to state reasons - Relevant public - Article 7(1)(b) and (c), (2) and (3) and Article 75 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009))

(2016/C 232/13)

Language of the case: English

Parties

Applicant: Zuffa, LLC (Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) (represented by: S. Malynicz, Barrister, and K. Gilbert and C. Balme, Solicitors)

Defendant: European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) (represented by: P. Bullock, acting as Agent)

Re:

Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 19 May 2014 (Case R 1425/2013-2), regarding an application for registration of the sign ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP as an EU trade mark.

Operative part of the judgment

The Court:

| 1. | Annuls the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 19 May 2014 (Case R 1425/2013-2) in so far as it dismisses the appeal of Zuffa, LLC as regards the following goods and services:
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‘pre-recorded audio cassettes; phonograph records; compact discs; pre-recorded video cassettes; laser video discs; digital video discs; digital versatile discs; electronic storage media; USB flashdrives; CD-ROM discs all featuring mixed martial arts competitions, events and programs; motion picture films in the field of mixed martial arts’ in Class 9; —
‘provision of information relating to mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks; providing news and information in the fields of sports, fitness and mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks’ in Class 41; | — | ‘pre-recorded audio cassettes; phonograph records; compact discs; pre-recorded video cassettes; laser video discs; digital video discs; digital versatile discs; electronic storage media; USB flashdrives; CD-ROM discs all featuring mixed martial arts competitions, events and programs; motion picture films in the field of mixed martial arts’ in Class 9; | — | ‘provision of information relating to mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks; providing news and information in the fields of sports, fitness and mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks’ in Class 41; |
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| — | ‘pre-recorded audio cassettes; phonograph records; compact discs; pre-recorded video cassettes; laser video discs; digital video discs; digital versatile discs; electronic storage media; USB flashdrives; CD-ROM discs all featuring mixed martial arts competitions, events and programs; motion picture films in the field of mixed martial arts’ in Class 9; | | | | |
| — | ‘provision of information relating to mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks; providing news and information in the fields of sports, fitness and mixed martial arts via communication and computer networks’ in Class 41; | | | | |

| 2. | Dismisses the present action as to the remainder; |
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| 3. | Orders Zuffa, LLC and EUIPO to bear their own costs. |
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( 1 )  OJ C 351, 6.10.2014.

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