Judgment of the General Court (Second Chamber) of 25 March 2014 — Deutsche Bank v OHIM (Leistung aus Leidenschaft)
(Case T‑539/11)
Community trade mark — Application for Community word mark Leistung aus Leidenschaft — Trade mark consisting of an advertising slogan — Absolute grounds for refusal — No distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Equal treatment — Obligation to state reasons — Evidence presented for the first time before the General Court
1.                     Community trade mark — Procedural provisions — Statement of reasons for decisions — Article 75, first sentence, of Regulation No 207/2009 — Scope identical to that of Article 296 TFEU (Art. 296 TFEU; Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 75, first sentence) (see para. 13)
2.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Separate examination of the grounds for refusal in relation to each of the products or services covered by the application for registration — Obligation to state the reasons for refusing to register — Scope (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1), and 75) (see paras 14, 15)
3.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Marks constituted of advertising slogans — Flattering promotional formula (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 29)
4.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Lack of distinctive character of a sign — 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 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see para. 36)
5.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Word mark Leistung aus Leidenschaft (Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b)) (see paras 41-47)
6.                     Community trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the Community trade mark — Assessment of the registrability of a sign — Account to be taken only of Community legislation — Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries — Decisions not binding Community bodies (see para. 53)
7.                     Community trade mark — Decisions of the Office — Principle of equal treatment — Principle of sound administration — OHIM’s previous decision-making practice (see paras 61-63)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of OHIM of 3 August 2011 (Case R 188/2011‑4) concerning an application for registration of word sign Leistung aus Leidenschaft as a Community trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Deutsche Bank AG to pay the costs.