Judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) of 14 December 2017 — GeoClimaDesign v EUIPO — GEO (GEO)
(Case T‑280/16)
(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark GEO — Absolute grounds for refusal — Distinctive character — Lack of descriptive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001) — Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009 (now Article 59(1)(a) of Regulation 2017/1001))
1.      EU trade mark — Appeals procedure — Action before the EU judicature — Jurisdiction of the General Court — Declaratory judgments — Not included
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 65(2) and (3))
(see para. 14)
2.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — 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, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 26)
3.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Meaning
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 27-29)
4.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign — Criteria
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 30)
5.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Perception of the sign by the relevant public
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))
(see para. 35)
6.      EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Word mark GEO
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b) and (c))
(see paras 36, 37, 47, 66-70)
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 — Earlier registration of the mark in certain Member States or third countries — Decisions not binding EU bodies
(Council Regulation No 207/2009)
(see para. 49)
8.      EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks devoid of any distinctive character — Meaning — Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Art. 7(1)(b))
(see paras 55-58)
Re:
ACTION brought against the decision of the Fourth Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 29 March 2016 (Case R 1679/2015-4) relating to invalidity proceedings between GEO and GeoClimaDesign.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders GeoClimaDesign AG to pay the costs.