62024TJ0090_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 5 March 2025 –Kapitan Navi Elżbieta Stramek i Waldemar Karpiński v EUIPO –Homann Feinkost (Matjeshappen nach ‘Kolberger Art’)
(Case T‑90/24)
(EU trade mark – Invalidity proceedings – EU word mark Matjeshappen nach ‘Kolberger Art’ – Absolute grounds for invalidity – No distinctive character – Descriptive character – No distinctive character acquired through use – Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b) and (c) and (3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001))
1.
EU trade mark – Appeals procedure – Action before the EU judicature – Jurisdiction of the General Court – Review of the facts in the light of evidence produced for the first time before it – Not included
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 72)
(see paragraphs 16, 17)
2.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Meaning
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 24, 26, 41)
3.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate 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 paragraph 25)
4.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Concept of characteristic
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraph 27)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – 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
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 28, 45)
6.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks consisting exclusively of signs or indications which may serve to designate the characteristics of a product or service – Word mark Matjeshappen nach ‘Kolberger Art’
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraphs 33, 48-50)
7.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Refusal of registration based on one of the absolute grounds for refusal set out in Article 7(1) of Regulation 2017/1001 – Whether sufficient
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1) and 52(1)(a))
(see paragraph 54)
8.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Burden of proof
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3), and 52(2))
(see paragraph 60)
9.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Criteria for assessment
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3), and 52(2))
(see paragraphs 61, 62, 75)
10.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Marks devoid of any distinctive character – Exception – Distinctive character acquired through use – Word mark Matjeshappen nach ‘Kolberger Art’
(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(3), and 52(2))
(see paragraphs 68, 69, 72, 73, 76, 77)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Kapitan Navi Elżbieta Stramek i Waldemar Karpiński sp.j., in addition to bearing its own costs, to pay those incurred by Homann Feinkost GmbH for the purposes of the proceedings before the Court;
3.
Orders the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to bear its own costs.