Judgment;Information — ECLI:EU:T:2026:215
Date: 2026-03-25
Language of the case: Spanish
Court formation: Seventh Chamber
Procedure: Action for annulment
Origin: Spain

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 25 March 2026 – Maresma Bernal v EUIPO (Brief Therapy Center BARCELONA) (Case T‑411/25) ( EU trade mark – Application for the EU figurative mark Brief Therapy Center BARCELONA – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – Lack of distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (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 – Concept (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraph 13) 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 paragraph 14) 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 – Figurative mark Brief Therapy Center BARCELONA (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraphs 19, 24, 25, 30) 4. 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 – Perception of the sign by the relevant public (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c)) (see paragraph 21) 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 stringent and full examination in each individual case (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001) (see paragraphs 27, 28) 6. EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)) (see paragraphs 33, 34) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Ms Raquel Maresma Bernal and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to each bear their own costs.