62016TJ0842_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 28 April 2021 –Repower v EUIPO – repowermap.org (REPOWER)
(Case T‑842/16)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – International registration designating the European Union – Word mark REPOWER – Absolute ground for invalidity – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) – Obligation to state reasons – Article 75 of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 94 of Regulation 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Definition
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see paras 26, 28-40, 44, 45)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Aim – Need to preserve availability
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))
(see para. 27)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark REPOWER
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 68-70)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 September 2016 (Case R 2311/2014-5) relating to invalidity proceedings between repowermap.org and Repower.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of the Fifth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of 26 September 2016 (Case R 2311/2014-5) in so far as the application for a declaration of invalidity has been upheld in respect of voice tubes in Class 9;
2.
Dismisses the action for the remainder;
3.
Orders Repower AG to bear, in addition to its own costs, those incurred by EUIPO and repowermap.org.