Judgment;Information — ECLI:EU:T:2022:118
Date: 2022-03-09
Language of the case: English
Court formation: Third Chamber
Subject matter: Trade marks;Intellectual, industrial and commercial property
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded
Origin: France

Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 9 March 2022 – Lea Nature Services v EUIPO – Debonair Trading Internacional (SO …?) (Case T‑197/21) (1) (EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark SO …? – Absolute grounds for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Lack of descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 40/94 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation 2017/1001)) 1. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Definition – Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and 51(1)(a)) (see paras 22-24) 2. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Slogan conveying an objective message (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and 51(1)(a)) (see paras 25, 26) 3. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark SO …? (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and 51(1)(a)) (see paras 33, 39, 45, 48, 52, 55, 56) 4. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Trade mark made up of several elements – Possible for the competent authority to examine each of the elements making up the trade mark – Need to take account of the overall perception of the combination by the relevant public (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(b), and 51(1)(a)) (see para. 42) 5. 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 strict and complete examination in each particular case (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001) (see paras 53, 54) 6. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Definition (Council Regulation No 40/94, Arts 7(1)(c), and 51(1)(a)) (see para. 62) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Lea Nature Services to pay the costs. 1 OJ C 217, 7.6.2021.