62020TJ0481_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 16 June 2021 –Magnetec v EUIPO (CoolTUBE)
(Case T‑481/20)
(EU trade mark – Application for the EU word mark CoolTUBE – Absolute ground for refusal – Distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Limitation of the list of products and services after the decision of the Board of Appeal – Consequences
(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 188; Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2017/1001, Art. 49(1))
(see paras 11, 12)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Concept – Criteria for assessment – Recognition of the distinctive character of the sign not subject to a finding of a specific level of linguistic or artistic creativity or imaginativeness
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 17, 27, 28, 30)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal – Interpretation of the grounds for refusal in the light of the public interest underlying each of them
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))
(see para. 26)
4.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – 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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see para. 29)
5.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark CoolTUBE
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 36-41)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 15 May 2020 (Case R 1755/2019-1), concerning an application for registration of the word sign CoolTUBE as an EU trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the First Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 15 May 2020 (Case R 1755/2019-1);
2.
Orders EUIPO to bear its own costs and to pay those incurred by Magnetec – Gesellschaft für Magnettechnologie mbH, including the costs necessarily incurred for the purposes of the appeal proceedings before the Board of Appeal.