Information;Judgment — ECLI:EU:T:2025:687
Date: 2025-07-09
Language of the case: English
Court formation: Second Chamber
Procedure: Action for annulment - unfounded

Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 9 July 2025 – Target Brands v EUIPO – Polipol Polstermöbel (Representation of red and white concentric circles) (Case T‑347/24) ( EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU figurative mark representing three red and white concentric circles – Absolute ground for invalidity – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Right to be heard – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 ) 1. EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Statement of reasons for decisions – First sentence of Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU (Art. 296, second para., TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence) (see paragraph 16) 2. EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Decisions of EUIPO – Observance of the rights of the defence – Scope of the principle (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), second sentence) (see paragraph 26) 3. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Concept of distinctiveness (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paragraph 33) 4. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Criteria (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 34, 62, 63) 5. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation 2017/1001 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for invalidity – Date of filing of the application for registration (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7 and 59(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 45, 46) 6. EU trade mark – Procedural provisions – Examination of the facts of EUIPO’s own motion – Invalidity proceedings concerning absolute grounds for refusal – Examination restricted to the facts, evidence and arguments provided – Well-known facts taken into account (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7, 59 and 95(1)) (see paragraphs 49, 53) 7. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Figurative mark representing three red and white concentric circles (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 57, 65-72) 8. EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Assessment of distinctive character – Sign composed of a basic geometric figure (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(b) and 59(1)(a)) (see paragraphs 60, 61) 9. EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality (European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001) (see paragraph 73) Operative part The Court: 1. Dismisses the action; 2. Orders Target Brands, Inc. to pay the costs.