62020TJ0348_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 28 April 2021 –Freistaat Bayern v EUIPO (GEWÜRZSOMMELIER)
(Case T‑348/20)
(EU trade mark – Application for EU word mark GEWÜRZSOMMELIER – Absolute ground for refusal – Descriptive character – Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 – Neologism)
1.
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 – Concept – Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 19, 21, 29, 39, 62)
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
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 20)
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 – Assessment of the descriptive nature of a sign – Criteria
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 22)
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 – Word mark GEWÜRZSOMMELIER
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see paras 35-37, 46-49, 58-60, 72-74)
5.
EU trade mark – Surrender, revocation and invalidity – Absolute grounds for invalidity – Registration contrary to Article 7 of Regulation No 207/2009 – Relevant date for the examination of an absolute ground for nullity – Date of lodging the application for registration
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2017/1001, Art. 7(1)(c))
(see para. 68)
6.
EU trade mark – Decisions of the Office – Principle of equal treatment – Principle of sound administration – EUIPO’s previous decision-making practice – Principle of legality – Need for a strict and complete examination in each particular case
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 2017/1001)
(see paras 70, 71)
Re:
Action brought against the decision of the Second Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 26 March 2020 (Case R 2430/2019-2) concerning an application for registration of the word sign GEWÜRZSOMMELIER as an EU trade mark.
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Freistaat Bayern to pay the costs.