62023TJ1100_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Sixth Chamber) of 6 November 2024 –IN tIME Express Logistik v EUIPO (inTime AGILE LOGISTICS)
(Case T-1100/23)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU figurative mark inTime Agile Logistics – Absolute grounds for refusal – Descriptive character – No distinctive character – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Obligation to state reasons – Article 94(1) of Regulation 2017/1001)
1.
Action for annulment – Jurisdiction of the EU judicature – Request that directions be issued to an institution – Not included
(Art. 263 TFEU)
(see paragraph 16)
2.
Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Pleas in law not set out in the application – Reference to statement submitted to the Board of Appeal reproduced in the application – Inadmissibility
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Art. 21, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 177(1)(d))
(see paragraphs 20-22)
3.
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 – Recourse by the Board of Appeal to implicit reasoning – Whether permissible – Conditions
(Art. 296 TFEU; Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 41(2)(c); European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 94(1), first sentence)
(see paragraphs 27-29)
4.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Decision of a unit of the Office forming part of the context of the decision of the Board of Appeal
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 71(1))
(see paragraph 33)
5.
EU trade mark – Decisions of EUIPO – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of good administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a stringent and full examination in each individual case
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001)
(see paragraphs 37, 38)
6.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Meaning
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001; Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 46, 47, 49)
7.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Assessment of the descriptive character of a sign – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001; Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 48, 65, 66)
8.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001; Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 50, 51)
9.
EU trade mark – Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark – Absolute grounds for refusal – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Figurative Mark inTime Agile Logistics
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001; Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paragraphs 60-62, 67-70, 72, 73)
10.
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 paragraph 77)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders IN tIME Express Logistik GmbH and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) each to bear their own costs.