Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 26 June 2024 –Peikko Group v EUIPO – Anstar (Shape of metal beams for construction)
(Case T-192/23) (1)
( EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – Three-dimensional EU trade mark – Shape of metal beams for construction – Absolute ground for invalidity – Sign consisting exclusively of the shape of the product necessary to obtain a technical result – Article 7(1)(e)(ii) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Lack of essential non-functional characteristics )
1.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Interpretation in the light of the general interest underlying the ground of refusal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 12, 13)
2.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Concept – Presence of non-essential characteristics with no technical function – Existence of other shapes allowing the same technical result to be obtained – No relevance for the cause of nullity
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 14, 54)
3.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Identification of the essential characteristics of a sign – Distinctive character of the elements of a sign or distinctive character acquired through use of a sign – Irrelevant
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 24-26, 41)
4.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Perception of the average consumer – Effect
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 36-38)
5.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Three-dimensional mark consisting of the shape of metal beams for construction
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 39, 44, 60, 68, 77, 79, 98, 110)
6.      EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Signs which consist exclusively of the shape of goods which is necessary to obtain a technical result – Assessment of the essential characteristics in the light of the technical function of the goods
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Arts 7(1)(e)(ii) and 59(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 52, 53, 62)
7.      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 and 95(1))
(see paragraph 93)
8.      EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Condition of admissibility – Pleas directed only against decisions of the Boards of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72(1))
(see paragraph 97)
9.      Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary statement of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – General reference to other documents – Inadmissibility
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paragraph 109)
Operative part
The Court
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Peikko Group Oy to pay its own costs as well as those incurred by Anstar Oy for the purposes of the proceedings before the General Court;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.
1 OJ C 189, 30.5.2023.