Information;Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2024:847
Date: 2024-11-20
Language of the case: English
Court formation: Third Chamber
Subject matter: Trade marks;Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded
Origin: Poland

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 20 November 2024 – Solidexpert Polska v EUIPO (woodexpert) (Case T‑68/24) ( EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark woodexpert – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 ) 1. EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Meaning (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraph 14) 2. EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraphs 15, 24-26) 3. EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark woodexpert (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraphs 27-34) 4. EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001) (see paragraphs 36-38) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders each party to bear its own costs.