62019TJ0729_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 8 July 2020 –Dinamo v EUIPO (Favorit)
(Case T‑729/19)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark Favorit – Absolute ground for refusal – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001)
1.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Identification of the subject matter of the dispute – Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para. and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paras 11, 12)
2.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Separate examination of the various grounds for refusal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1))
(see para. 13)
3.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Meaning – Criteria for assessment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see para. 23)
4.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Distinctive character – Application of specific criteria for assessment – Not permissible
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 24, 25)
5.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Marks consisting of advertising slogans – Laudatory promotional formula
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 26, 27)
6.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks devoid of distinctive character – Word mark Favorit
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 30-32, 46)
7.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Assessment of the registrability of a sign – EU rules only taken into account – Decisions of national authorities not binding EU bodies
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see para. 39)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – 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 para. 45)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 18 September 2019 (Case R 985/2019-2) relating to the application for registration of the word sign Favorit as an EU trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Dinamo GmbH to pay the costs.