Information;Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2025:743
Date: 2025-07-23
Language of the case: English
Court formation: First Chamber
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded

Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber) of 23 July 2025 – Summer Fridays v EUIPO (JET LAG) (Case T‑472/24) ( EU trade mark – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark JET LAG – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptiveness – 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 – Aim – Need to preserve availability (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraph 15) 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 – Meaning (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraphs 16, 17) 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 – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraph 18) 4. EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the goods or services covered by the application for registration – Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register – Scope (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1) and 94(1), first sentence) (see paragraph 22) 5. 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 JET LAG (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraphs 23, 25, 26, 31, 32, 36) 6. 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 33-35) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Summer Fridays LLC to pay the costs.